Pharmacy Jobs Outlook

Pharmacy Jobs: Pharmacists, pharmacy aides and technicians make up one side of this industry. There are also pharamaceutical sales reps, scientists and engineers who work on the manufacturing end of this ''fast-growing'' industry.

Education: Pharmacy programs grant the degree of Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), which requires at least six years of postsecondary study and the passing of a state board of pharmacy's licensure examination. For other jobs in the field, an associate degree, bachelor's and/or certification are usually required.

Scope: Pharmacists held about 230,000 jobs in 2004. About 61 percent work in community pharmacies that are either independently owned or part of a drugstore chain, grocery store, department store or mass merchandiser. Most community pharmacists are salaried employees, but some are self-employed owners. About 24 percent of salaried pharmacists work in hospitals. Others work in clinics, mail-order pharmacies, pharmaceutical wholesalers, home healthcare agencies or the federal government.

Pharmacy jobs are exceeding expectations and growing faster than the national average. Aides seeking pharmacy jobs should vet cost-conscious employers, while formal training and experience should snap up the best pharmacy jobs. And since openings for pharmacy jobs are expected to exceed the number of degrees granted, becoming a pharmacist is a really good idea.

• Pharmacy Jobs Outlook