What Can You Do With a Doctorate in Pharmacy (PharmD) Degree in 2025?

by Imed Bouchrika, Phd

Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist

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What jobs can you get with a doctorate in pharmacy degree?

With a doctorate in pharmacy degree, graduates can directly get careers as pharmacists. They earn $137,210 yearly, with salaries ranging between $86,930 and $172,040, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In this career, you mainly sort and dispense medications, educate patients about dosage instructions, and coordinate with different healthcare teams. You may also manage interns or pharmacy technicians, organize patient records, administer vaccines, and check drug inventories.  For those exploring alternative healthcare roles, understanding the certified sterile processing technician salary can provide insight into another essential area of clinical support and career potential.

The most common type of pharmacist is a community pharmacist, who works in retail pharmacies and earns around $123,499. Clinical or hospital pharmacists are more involved in patient care and interventions, and they earn $157,303 annually. Meanwhile, ambulatory care pharmacists work with diverse populations in either hospitals or communities and earn $143,996.

Another common pathway in this field is becoming industry pharmacists who work with pharmaceutical companies by doing research, marketing, sales, or quality control. They earn around $101,000. Lastly, you can explore roles in drug development and studies by becoming a pharmaceutical scientist. The pharmaceutical scientist salary is $130,117 per year.

How to become a pharmacist with a doctorate in pharmacy degree?

Pharmacists need a doctorate in pharmacy degree to become licensed. According to the 2024 National Pharmacist Workforce Study (NPWS), 47.5% of pharmacists have this degree as their highest educational attainment. Before earning this credential, however, several steps must be observed:

• Earn a bachelor's degree in pharmacy or a related discipline, such as chemistry or biology. 
• Pursue a PharmD from an accredited college of pharmacy. 
• Though not required, you can complete a two-year residency (clinical pharmacy) or a fellowship (research pharmacy), depending on your goals.
• Gain experience as a pharmacy aide, pharmacy technician, or a registered intern to develop hands-on skills under the supervision of a licensed professional. 
• Take and pass the North American Pharmacy Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP).
• Comply with state requirements to apply for an initial license.

This entire process spans six to 10 years, which is why some students explore accelerated online PharmD programs. These shorten the typical four-year PharmD program to three years, while others combine bachelor’s and PharmD education into six years.

A PharmD is the minimum requirement to practice as a pharmacist in most states, yet applications and enrollments are slowly falling. Data from the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) show that in 2022–2023, there were 33,922 applicants to PharmD programs, which is thousands fewer than in 2021 and 2020. Similarly, enrollment in accredited programs declined during this period. 

This downward trend reflects reduced student demand, competition among pharmacy schools, and shifts in the job market (Macuto, 2024). The lengthy licensure process could also affect the number of licensed individuals each year. Therefore, professional and educational organizations must act to reverse this challenge and meet the nation’s growing need for licensed pharmacists.

This chart shows pharmacy program applicants, enrollees, and degrees awarded.

Where do doctorate in pharmacy degree graduates work?

Graduates of doctorate in pharmacy degree programs are equipped to work in both traditional and nontraditional settings. These include the following, according to the 2024 NPWS:

• Community Pharmacies: The majority (59.1%) are employed in this setting, with many assigned to large chain pharmacies (22%) and independent pharmacies (11%). Here, they perform their usual tasks of dispensing medicine or assisting patients.
• Hospitals and Healthcare Systems: Clinical pharmacists in this workplace directly manage patients’ medication, work with physicians and other care teams, and ensure safe and effective use of prescribed drugs. For those exploring different healthcare pathways, there are also numerous careers with an associate in respiratory care therapy that offer opportunities to work in hospitals, clinics, and home care environments.
• Ambulatory Care: A small percentage of the workforce are employed in outpatient clinics, where they help patients manage chronic conditions, adjust treatment plans, and provide direct medication counseling.
• Others: The rest of the workforce is spread across diverse settings, including nursing homes and long-term care facilities, managed care organizations, specialty pharmacies, mail order services, academia, and home health or infusion care. In these roles, pharmacists may oversee complex medication regimens, design formularies, teach future professionals, or contribute to research.

Because career options are broad, some students also explore adjacent healthcare fields before pursuing a PharmD. For example, those who begin with the fastest online pharmacy technician certification programs may later transition into advanced roles, using that early experience as a stepping stone toward doctoral training.

This chart displays the employment of licensed pharmacists.

What is the job outlook of doctorate in pharmacy degree careers?

Based on BLS projections, the employment for pharmacists will increase by 5.4% from 2023 to 2033, which brings around 14,200 annual job openings on average. Meanwhile, pharmacy technicians will gain a job growth of 7.2%, or around 47,400 annual opportunities. 

These present job growths that are as fast as and faster than the average for all other occupations. The profession will also need to fill positions left by retiring members, especially since 43.9% of pharmacists in 2024 were between ages 56 and over 70.

Moreover, this demand stems from the evolving healthcare systems, including the expanding roles of pharmacists in clinical and nontraditional roles. Similarly, nurses aiming to advance in women’s health can benefit from online graduate certificate programs WHNP, which prepare professionals for specialized practice and leadership in high-demand healthcare settings.

When it comes to specific job outlooks, the PWC highlighted that retail pharmacists got the highest number of job postings during the first quarter of 2025. However, the BLS predicts a limited demand throughout the decade for these community pharmacists due to the growing availability of online or mail prescriptions. 

Other positions with high job postings during the first quarter of 2025 included clinical and hospital pharmacists and pharmacy directors. Lastly, more opportunities are seen in California, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New York, where large populations and complex healthcare systems drive steady demand.

Overall, while community pharmacy openings may be limited, the broader employment outlook for doctorate in pharmacy degree graduates remains stable, with diverse opportunities across clinical, hospital, and administrative settings. Similarly, advanced practice nursing roles continue to expand, and nurses seeking leadership in women’s health can explore best online women's health nurse practitioner DNP programs, which offer rigorous preparation for clinical excellence and high-demand specialty practice.

What challenges do graduates of doctorate in pharmacy face?

Like other professions, pharmacists encounter several challenges. Doctorate in pharmacy degree graduates must not only be aware of these issues but also prepared to face them as part of their commitment to their practice.

Some of the strongest concerns in the workforce and profession include the following:

• Shortages: A 2025 study in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy reported that pharmacy directors expect shortages of skilled technicians, clinical specialists, and coordinators (Pedersen et al.). This shortage is concerning, as pharmacists are expected to assume more advanced responsibilities.
• Regional Disparities: According to the International Pharmaceutical Federation’s evaluation of the state of pharmacy in the Region of the Americas, there are gaps between education and real-world practice and uneven professional representation across the Americas. These could disrupt the workforce pipeline, limiting the region’s ability to prepare and sustain qualified professionals.
• Workload and Safety: The NPWS records that around 73% of full-time pharmacists had a high workload. Moreover, common incidents in the workplace included bullying, harassment, and unprofessionalism. These could potentially push current pharmacists to quit and aspiring candidates to veer away from the profession. 
• Salary Concerns: The NPWS notes that some pharmacists hold second jobs, and a gender pay gap remains, with women earning about $4,000 less than men. Future projections also place pharmacists’ salaries among the lowest in healthcare (Chisholm-Burns et al., 2024), highlighting stagnant income and the need for more competitive pay to attract and retain talent.
• Political Issues: National changes in immunization programs and funding for student loans and research institutions are significantly affecting pharmacists, researchers, students, and patients. These could influence access to education, limit resources for scientific advancement, and reshape how pharmacy professionals deliver care across communities.

Constantly being updated on these problems and understanding broader workforce issues, like comparing pharmacy technician vs medical assistant roles, can also help illustrate how changing responsibilities and external pressures shape the future of pharmacy practice. 

What trends are shaping opportunities for doctorate in pharmacy degree graduates?

The profession also monitors trends that may benefit the workforce. Along with recognizing dilemmas, students pursuing a doctorate in pharmacy degree should pay attention to these opportunities to build the skills and expertise that will help them stay competitive in the job market.

• Expanded Duties: Pharmacists in the U.S. are gradually gaining more advanced or clinical roles, including prescribing medication, renewing prescriptions, administering vaccines, and providing direct care. This presents aspiring clinical and hospital pharmacists with broader career paths and the chance to practice at the top of their license.
• Emerging Specialties: Recently, the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) received a petition to finally add pharmacy informatics as a specialty certification. This new area of focus could open opportunities for graduates interested in data-driven care, technology, and digital health.
• Growing Female Workforce: The NPWS reports that the share of female pharmacists grew from 59% in 2014 to 68% in 2024. Moreover, around 26% of female pharmacists were holding management positions, strengthening diversity and leadership representation in the profession.
• AI and Sustainability: Advances in AI are streamlining medication management and patient monitoring, while sustainability initiatives push for reduced pharmaceutical waste. Together, these trends highlight new areas where pharmacists can contribute to innovation and public health.

These trends reflect how the profession is adapting in response to healthcare, technology, and workforce demands. By staying informed and adaptable, PharmD graduates can position themselves to take advantage of new opportunities while contributing meaningfully to the future of patient care.

What specializations can graduates of doctorate in pharmacy degree programs pursue?

Students with doctorate in pharmacy degree credentials have a number of areas they can concentrate on to develop specialized skills. Currently there are 15 specialized certification options for licensed pharmacists, and these include the following:

• Ambulatory Care: Pharmacists manage medication therapy for patients with chronic diseases in outpatient or clinic settings.
• Cardiology: Specialists focus on optimizing drug therapy for patients with cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension or heart failure.
• Compound Sterile Preparation: These pharmacists ensure the safe preparation of sterile medications like IV solutions and chemotherapy drugs.
• Critical Care: They provide medication management for patients in intensive care units with complex, life-threatening conditions.
• Emergency Medicine: Pharmacists work alongside emergency teams to deliver rapid and accurate drug therapy in urgent situations.
• Geriatric Pharmacy: Specialists tailor medication plans to address the unique needs of older adults with multiple health conditions.
• Infectious Diseases: They oversee antimicrobial therapy, resistance prevention, and stewardship programs to fight infections.
• Nuclear Pharmacy: Pharmacists prepare and dispense radioactive substances for imaging and targeted therapies.
• Nutrition Support: These specialists design and monitor nutrition-related drug therapies such as parenteral or enteral feeding.
• Oncology: Pharmacists develop and manage cancer treatment regimens, including chemotherapy and supportive care.
• Pain Management: They guide safe and effective use of pain medications, including opioids and alternative therapies.
• Pediatric Pharmacy: Specialists focus on age-appropriate medication dosing and safety for infants, children, and adolescents.
• Pharmacotherapy: These pharmacists take a broad approach to optimizing medication use across different disease states.
• Psychiatric Pharmacy: They support mental health treatment through safe use of psychotropic medications and patient counseling.
• Solid Organ Transplantation: Pharmacists manage complex immunosuppressive therapy to prevent organ rejection and maintain patient health.

By gaining a certification in these specialized areas, pharmacists can further hone their abilities, enhance patient outcomes, and stand out in among other candidates in the market.

What advanced career opportunities exist for doctorate in pharmacy degree holders?

Apart from gaining certifications in specialty areas, doctorate in pharmacy degree graduates can explore advanced career opportunities that help them climb up the ranks or lean into other ventures. Consider the following options:

• Administration and Leadership: Pharmacists can move into roles such as pharmacy directors or department heads. These positions allow them to influence policy and shape the delivery of pharmaceutical services.
• Consulting: Experienced pharmacists may provide guidance to healthcare organizations, insurance companies, or biotech firms. Their expertise helps improve medication management strategies and streamline operations.
• Teaching and Research: Many PharmD graduates pursue careers in academia, teaching the next generation of pharmacists. Others contribute to pharmaceutical research, clinical trials, and drug development.
• Entrepreneurship: Some pharmacists establish their own independent pharmacies, consulting firms, or healthcare startups. This path allows them to combine business skills with clinical expertise to meet community or industry needs.
• Educational Opportunities: Tapping into related disciplines can also help extend your role beyond the traditional pharmaceutical sense. For instance, pursuing a dual degree in business administration, public health, or artificial intelligence can open doors to leadership roles and innovative healthcare solutions.

Although 91.3% of pharmacists were very likely to continue working as practicing professionals in the next year, these advancement opportunities can also help them and aspiring members of the profession plan out their long-term goals.

What else can you do with a doctorate in pharmacy degree?

Having a doctorate in pharmacy degree goes a long way, which is why graduates can apply for roles beyond the most common ones. Here are some alternative positions for licensed pharmacists:

• Veterinary Pharmacists ($126,701): These pharmacists prepare and dispense medications specifically for animals, ensuring safe dosing and proper formulations. They typically work in veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, or research facilities supporting animal health.
• Public Health Specialists ($126,701): Pharmacists in this field design and lead programs to improve medication safety, vaccination coverage, and disease prevention. They work in government agencies, nonprofit organizations, or international health organizations such as the WHO or CDC.
• Nuclear Pharmacists ($129,016): They handle radioactive drugs used in diagnostic imaging and cancer treatments. They usually work in nuclear medicine departments within hospitals or specialized nuclear pharmacies.
• Pharmaceutical Marketers ($131,656): They promote drug products by combining clinical knowledge with market strategies to educate providers and patients. Many work for pharmaceutical companies, often in roles overlapping with what is required to be a pharmaceutical sales rep.
• Psychiatric Pharmacists ($149,720): They manage psychotropic medications and monitor patients for effectiveness and side effects. They also work in psychiatric hospitals, community mental health centers, or integrated care teams alongside psychiatrists.
• Informatics Pharmacists ($156,236): These professionals manage medication-related data systems, electronic health records, and clinical decision tools to improve patient safety. They are typically employed in hospitals, health IT companies, or integrated healthcare systems.
• Pharmacy Benefit Managers ($156,381): PBMs evaluate formularies, negotiate drug pricing, and manage patient access to affordable medications. They are employed by insurance companies, managed care organizations, or healthcare networks.
• Pharmacy Directors ($162,289): These professionals oversee the operations of an entire pharmacy department, including staff management, budgeting, regulatory compliance, and patient safety initiatives. They work in hospitals, healthcare systems, or large retail chains.

These careers generally offer salaries in the $100,000 range. By considering both traditional and nontraditional roles and staying informed about advancement opportunities, you can plan your career path, increase your earning potential, and maximize the value of your PharmD.

This chart displays the salaries of different pharmacy roles.

Why should you get a doctorate in pharmacy degree?

A doctorate in pharmacy degree leads not only to a high-paying career but also to opportunities that help you contribute to patient care and public health. While doctors and nurses handle diagnosis and treatment, pharmacists ensure the safe and effective use of medications while collaborating with patients and healthcare providers. 

This degree is a strong fit if:

• You are interested in how medications or substances interact with the body.
• You are prepared to commit at least six to 10 years of education and training to qualify for licensure.
• You enjoy working directly with patients and wish to counsel them about prescriptions and safe medication use.
• You want the flexibility to work in diverse environments, from healthcare systems or government agencies to research institutions or academia.
• You want to contribute to innovation in pharmaceuticals, including clinical research and the development of new therapies.
• You are motivated by opportunities for leadership, entrepreneurship, or policy-making in the healthcare field.

A PharmD equips you with the expertise to bridge science and patient care, making it a rewarding path for those passionate about healthcare innovation and service.

Here’s What PharmD Graduates Have to Say About Their Careers

Other Things You Should Know About a Doctorate in Pharmacy Degree

What is the highest paying PharmD job?

The highest-paying PharmD jobs are often in specialized or leadership roles. Clinical pharmacy specialists in oncology, nuclear pharmacy, or critical care can earn salaries well above the average. Pharmacy directors and pharmaceutical industry roles, such as medical science liaisons or regulatory affairs specialists, are also among the top earners.

These positions typically require advanced training, board certification, or years of experience, but they reward pharmacists with six-figure salaries that can exceed $150,000 to $170,000 annually.

What is the difference between a PhD and a PharmD?

A PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy) is a professional doctorate that prepares graduates for clinical practice as licensed pharmacists. It focuses on patient care, medication therapy management, and applied pharmacy skills.

A PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), on the other hand, is a research-oriented degree designed for those pursuing careers in academic research, teaching, or scientific discovery. While PharmD graduates work directly with patients and healthcare teams, PhD holders often focus on advancing pharmaceutical sciences through lab-based or theoretical research.

What is the meaning of RPh PharmD?

The designation "PharmD" refers to someone who has earned the Doctor of Pharmacy degree, which is the required credential to practice as a pharmacist in the U.S. "RPh" stands for Registered Pharmacist, indicating that the individual has not only completed their PharmD but has also passed the licensure exams necessary to practice professionally.

Together, PharmD and RPh highlight both the academic qualification and the legal licensure, showing that the pharmacist is trained, certified, and authorized to dispense medications.

What is the quickest you can become a pharmacist?

The fastest route to becoming a pharmacist in the U.S. is through an accelerated PharmD program, which can be completed in six years after high school. These programs combine pre-pharmacy coursework and the professional doctorate into a streamlined pathway, compared to the traditional eight years (four years of undergraduate study plus four years of pharmacy school).

However, students must still complete residency hours (if applicable), licensing exams, and state-specific requirements.