It’s 6:30 p.m., and the line at the pharmacy counter still stretches past the greeting cards. You’ve skipped lunch again, your phone hasn’t stopped ringing with refill requests and you’re juggling insurance rejections, impatient customers, and a printer that just ran out of labels. You love helping patients, but lately, you can’t help wondering: Is this really what I signed up for?
It’s a common reality, and one that inspires some pharmacists to leave the field altogether. “I don’t work as a pharmacist anymore, but I felt mentally, physically, emotionally drained after every shift,” a pharmacist on Sermo writes. “I knew it wasn’t aligned for me to work 12-hour shifts without breaks.” Another member lamented, “the level of mental drainage I experience is far beyond describable.”
On the other hand, a benefit to working in pharmacy is a diversity of employment options, according to another pharmacist on Sermo. “There are so many different career paths you could follow,” they wrote. “This is what drew me into pharmacy.” Another member believes that “the PharmD is a versatile degree, and with AI, I predict the profession will be transformed in the next 20–30 years.”
If you’re a pharmacist who’s burned out or craving a new direction, read on to discover possible alternative career paths that make the most of your expertise.
Why pharmacists seek alternative careers
As a pharmacist, you’re among the most accessible healthcare professionals. Your primary responsibilities likely include dispensing medications, verifying prescriptions for accuracy and safety, counseling patients on proper medication use and managing drug therapies. In a hospital, a pharmacist’s role often expands to include preparing sterile compounds, participating in clinical rounds and advising other healthcare providers on medication selection.
Discussions on Sermo indicate that pharmacists commonly face challenges that lead them to seek alternative careers:
- Burnout: In one 2022 study, more than half of surveyed pharmacists said they experience burnout. As one retail pharmacist put it, “I don’t know how any career could be much more mentally draining than pharmacy. It’s just non stop something all day long with minimal if any downtime.” This constant demand, often without breaks, can lead to mental and emotional exhaustion. In a Sermo poll to the pharmacist community, better work-life balance was the most common reason pharmacists gave for wanting to change course, with 47% of votes.
- Stagnating conditions: Declining reimbursement rates have squeezed pharmacy profits, leading to stagnant salaries and understaffed environments. Some feel their role has been reduced to that of “an overworked insurance clerk,” as one pharmacist described it, dealing with angry customers and administrative tasks rather than focusing on patient care.
- Desire for greater impact: Some pharmacists want to use their knowledge in more intellectually stimulating ways, moving beyond the repetitive nature of dispensing. In the poll, 15% indicated that they’re looking for more meaningful work.
Even if you know you need a change, you can still feel stuck. A separate poll question on Sermo revealed that 26% of respondents felt unclear paths or limited opportunities are holding them back from switching roles, while 24% point to family obligations and lack of time.
High-earning alternative careers for pharmacists
If you’re motivated by financial stability, several alternative careers can offer lucrative salaries while leveraging your PharmD degree. These roles often involve working within the pharmaceutical industry, where expertise in drug development and regulation is highly valued.
Pharmacologist
Pharmacologists are true drug experts. They study how drugs and chemical compounds affect biological systems, and help develop new drug therapies. While your training as a pharmacist can provide a strong foundation, pursuing a career as a lead pharmacologist typically requires a PhD in pharmacology or a related field. However, a PharmD can be an excellent entry point into supporting roles within a pharmacology team.
Median salary: $181,000, according to Glassdoor.
Medical Science Liaison (MSL)
Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs) are scientific experts who act as a bridge between a pharmaceutical company and “key opinion leaders” (KOLs)—influential physicians and researchers. They don’t sell products; instead, they build relationships, discuss research and gather insights from the medical community. The position requires strong communication skills, a deep understanding of a specific therapeutic area, and a willingness to travel.
Median salary: $204,000, according to Glassdoor.
Pharmacovigilance (drug safety)
Once a drug is on the market, pharmacovigilance professionals monitor its safety. In this role, you’re tasked with collecting and analyzing reports of adverse drug events to identify potential safety signals and manage risks associated with medications.
Median salary: $98,000, according to Glassdoor.
Pharmaceutical sales representative
While some pharmacists want to move away from customer-facing roles, others excel at it. Pharmaceutical sales representatives use their clinical knowledge to educate healthcare providers about new products. It’s a competitive, relationship-driven field that rewards strong communication skills and an understanding of the therapeutic benefits of the drugs the professionals represent.
Median salary: $163,000, according to Glassdoor, often with significant earning potential through performance-based bonuses.
Intellectually stimulating career alternatives for pharmacists
If your priority is to find a new role that’ll challenge your mind, these are some of the top options to explore:
Pharmacy regulatory affairs
If you have a knack for navigating complex rules and guidelines, a career in regulatory affairs could suit your skills. Professionals in this field ensure that all aspects of drug manufacturing, testing and marketing comply with government regulations (like those from the FDA). The role is critical for getting a new drug approved and keeping it on the market.
Average salary: $71,960, according to ZipRecruiter.
Drug development & testing
This field, also known as clinical development, involves the design and management of clinical trials. Pharmacists in these roles help write study protocols, monitor trial sites, analyze data and ensure patient safety throughout the research process.
Average salary: $77,438, according to ZipRecruiter.
Pharmaceutical research technician
In a Sermo poll, 42% of pharmacists said they’d look for a similar role if they suddenly lost their job, but 22% said they’d explore other options within healthcare. One such option is to become a pharmaceutical research technician and play a key role in drug discovery and development. They work alongside scientists, doctors and veterinarians in labs, assisting with the research and development of new and existing medications. Their responsibilities can include preparing samples, running experiments, documenting results, and maintaining lab equipment.
Average salary: $46,222, according to ZipRecruiter.
Laboratory technician
While similar to a research technician, a laboratory technician role can be broader, encompassing various procedures in a clinical, research or industrial lab. For a pharmacist, this could involve quality control testing for pharmaceutical products, analyzing biological samples for clinical trials or developing new testing methodologies.
Median salary: $61,890, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Flexible and remote pharmacy careers
Sermo discussions reveal that for many pharmacists, the biggest motivator for change is achieving a better work-life balance. Fortunately, a growing number of pharmacist jobs offer the ability to work remotely or with flexible hours.
Medical/science writer
Your ability to understand and translate complex scientific information is a sought-after skill in medical writing. You can write for various audiences, from scientific papers for peer-reviewed journals to patient education leaflets for pharmaceutical companies.
Academic pharmacist/lecturer
If you have a passion for teaching, academia could be your calling. Academic pharmacists work at universities and colleges, educating the next generation of pharmacy professionals. This career path often combines teaching with research and clinical practice, allowing for a varied and intellectually fulfilling workload.
Consultant pharmacist (long-term care)
Consultant pharmacists typically work with long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes, to perform medication regimen reviews for residents. Their goal is to optimize therapy, reduce adverse effects, and ensure regulatory compliance. This role offers more autonomy and a different pace compared to retail pharmacy. Some pharmacists even start their own businesses providing Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services directly to patients.
Pharmacogenomics specialist
Pharmacogenomics combines pharmacology and genomics. Specialists analyze a patient’s genetic makeup to predict their response to certain drugs, allowing for truly personalized medicine. This role is highly specialized and often research-focused, but as the field grows, more clinical positions are emerging in hospitals and specialized clinics.
Pharmacy informatics
This field merges pharmacy with information technology. Pharmacy informaticists work on the development and optimization of technology used in medication management, such as electronic health records (EHRs), e-prescribing systems, and automated dispensing cabinets. If you are tech-savvy and enjoy problem-solving, this career path offers a chance to improve patient safety and efficiency on a large scale.
Sermo paid surveys as a means to achieving your goals
Career transitions often require financial resources. Whether you need to pay for a new certification, attend a professional conference or bridge an income gap while you search for a new role, supplemental income can help make those goals more attainable.
Sermo offers a flexible way for healthcare providers, including pharmacists, to earn additional income on your own schedule. As a member of Sermo’s global pharmacist community, you can participate in paid medical surveys, sharing your clinical expertise while boosting your earnings. You can use the extra income to help fund your transition plan, allowing you to invest in yourself, enhance your credentials and explore new opportunities for your future career without derailing your current financial stability. Beyond earning, Sermo also connects you with a network of peers who have navigated similar transitions, giving you access to real-world advice, insights, and support.
Join the Sermo community for pharmacists here to start earning for your insights and connecting with peers.
Take control of your career path
The current pharmacy landscape is ripe with opportunity. The skills and knowledge you’ve gained as a pharmacist are transferable to a wide range of roles beyond the traditional dispensary. From the high-stakes world of drug development to the flexible, creative domain of medical writing, a path that aligns with your personal and professional goals exists.
If you are contemplating a career pivot, you don’t have to do it alone. Join the Sermo community to connect with peers who understand your journey. Sermo has a dedicated space for pharmacists — separate from other types of practitioners — where you can earn extra income, connect to find support and find additional resources unique to your healthcare profession.
