Looking for a way to boost your income and impact as a pharmacist? You’re not alone; a recent Sermo poll revealed 45% of pharmacists already have a side hustle.
While pharmacists’ primary roles as healthcare providers are crucial, many are now seeking innovative ways to utilize their pharmacy expertise, explore new interests, and earn extra money without sacrificing their dedication to patients.
The drive to monetize skills beyond traditional roles is rising, especially as the average pharmacist’s salary faces threats of stagnation and economic inflation, and workloads continue to rise across the industry. Whether juggling pharmacy school loans, aiming to boost income, dreaming of a consulting business, or looking for creative work after passing NAPLEX or earning a PharmD, a pharmacy side hustle opens doors to a world of opportunity.
A recent poll revealed that 32% of pharmacists on Sermo are very confident about leveraging their skillset and expertise for a side hustle, whereas 37% will need guidance to refine their ideas. 31% of pharmacists felt neutral or desired significant help in where to begin.
This guide explores the best side hustles for pharmacists, pharmacy school grads, and seasoned professionals alike.
Benefits of side hustles for pharmacists
A side hustle offers pharmacists more than just another job. Side gigs offer a chance to leverage professional knowledge, grow your network, and diversify your daily routines. The flexibility provided is especially attractive for pharmacists still in graduate school or considering a career transition.
Increase your financial security and income
The most immediate benefit of pharmacist side hustles is additional income. Whether you want to pay off student loans from pharmacy school, save for a house, build an emergency fund, or simply explore pharmacy entrepreneurship, a side gig offers meaningful financial support.
According to a new poll on Sermo, 48% of respondents cited increasing income as their primary reason for considering a side hustle.
In a world where the average pharmacist’s salary might not reflect the rising cost of living or educational debt for PharmD graduates, opportunities to earn extra are practical and empowering.
Create flexibility
The same poll shows 10% of participants seek side hustles primarily to gain more schedule flexibility. Flexibility is key for many, whether they are still in pharmacy school, are parents, or want to travel.
Pharmacy side jobs can be tailored to your unique schedule if you work nights at a hospital or have family commitments. Freelance work such as peer reviews, remote pharmacist surveys for money, or medical writing allow you to complete projects on your terms. 47% of pharmacists on Sermo spend less than 5 hours on their side hustle per week, while 35% spend between 5-10 hours weekly.
Explore new areas of interest & passion
Pharmacist side hustles are a doorway to explore new passions and specialize beyond daily dispensing. These side gigs open up possibilities such as consulting businesses, coaching, tutoring for the NAPLEX, or joining medical writers’ circles.
Our Sermo poll shows 23% of pharmacists began side hustles specifically to explore new fields. Whether it’s oncology pharmacist consulting, medication therapy management, or developing content for pharmacy school entrance exams, side hustles can turn a curiosity into a viable source of income.
Build your portfolio
Side hustles can be a real asset on your CV, especially if you hope to transition into management, education, or entrepreneurship. Adding consulting work, content creation, or freelance medical writing helps to position you as an expert within your pharmaceutical niche. If you’re considering a leap into tech, regulatory, or your own business, these gigs are essential for building a diverse and attractive portfolio.
Reduce burnout
As pharmacists know, pharmacy work, though rewarding, can be repetitive and comes with long hours. Having another passion project, such as a coaching gig, medical transcription, or an e-commerce store, can offer a better work-life balance and outlet to help reduce burnout.
Create a backup plan for career changes
10% of pharmacists pursue side hustles as a career contingency plan, according to Sermo’s poll. The skills built in pharma side hustles build a bridge for a future career transition. As healthcare evolves, a pharmacy side hustle becomes a vital backup if clinical jobs become scarce or personal circumstances change.
Use your free time to better yourself
Instead of logging more overtime, a side hustle allows you to develop new skills, whether that’s launching a tutoring business for pharmacy students, pursuing medical transcriptionist gigs, or exploring new platforms for medication education, such as Sermo.
Grow your network
Side gigs often introduce you to a broader healthcare and business community. Building connections outside your local pharmacy can spark collaborations, lead to consulting business opportunities, and help you find partners for new ventures or projects in medication therapy management and beyond.
Earning money through paid surveys on Sermo
If you’re looking for a pharmacist side hustle that’s straightforward and lucrative, paid surveys on Sermo may be a good fit for you. Sermo provides a secure pharmacist community, where pharmacists from every kind of setting can collaborate and earn money by sharing insights from their experience.
These surveys cover a range of pharmacy topics, including medication management, regulatory changes, and more, allowing participants to apply their knowledge to generate extra income.
Why choose Sermo surveys?
Paid pharmacist surveys for money are a fantastic addition to your side hustle toolkit, offering passive income for pharmacists with none of the traditional barriers.
- Relevance to pharmacists: surveys can cover topics like medication safety, trends in pharmacy, and practice guidelines so you can stay up-to-date with real-world topics shaping your profession.
- Attractive earnings: earning potential varies based on survey length and complexity, but pharmacists can earn substantial extra income by completing online surveys – making it one of the most effortless ways to monetize your expertise.
- Flexibility: whether you’re on your lunch break at a local pharmacy, home after a shift, or between classes in pharmacy school, you can participate anytime without the hassle of a set schedule. The survey format ranges from quick opinion poll questions to more comprehensive research studies, with commensurate compensation.
Law-makers and pharmaceutical executives use your survey insights to guide policy, treatments, and products. Your expertise helps to drive future developments in healthcare, while putting a little extra in your pocket. As one pharmacist on Sermo shares, “I just enjoy doing surveys…Gives me a chance to feel like I’m making a difference in a different kind of way outside of Pharmacy!”
10 lucrative side hustles for pharmacists
For many professionals, the average pharmacist salary provides stability but may not fully match long-term financial or personal goals. Specializing as an oncology pharmacist or offering targeted coaching to pharmacy students and peers can open doors to new revenue streams.
These services not only expand pharmacist’s impact but also allow pharmacists to earn extra income without stepping away from their core pharmaceutical expertise. Leveraging niche knowledge in pharmacology can make your guidance more valuable and sought after.
Pharmacists are uniquely poised for a range of pharmacy side jobs that turn existing pharmacy skills into high-yield, productive ventures.
Taking paid surveys on Sermo
Fast, convenient, and open to both established pharmacists and those early in their career, these surveys check all the boxes for a side gig, including extra income, networking, and minimal time commitment. Here’s how to maximize your Sermo survey earnings:
- Update your Sermo profile: location and specialty are used to determine who gets a survey based on client needs. Make sure this information is completed and up-to-date.
- Act fast: surveys have limited seats, so act quickly as soon as they become available.
- Check-in regularly: survey frequency can vary. Logging in to the community regularly can help you to ensure you don’t miss the next opportunity.
- Stay active: the more you engage in the Sermo community, the more likely you are to receive Sermo survey opportunities.
Consulting services
Consulting stands out as the most attractive side hustle for pharmacists, with a Sermo survey revealing 38% of pharmacists selected it as their preferred option. Pharmacists’ knowledge of medication, pharmacy operations, and patient drug treatment safety is in high demand, especially for independent or local pharmacy owners, clinics, and sports pharmacists.
Your expertise, spanning topics such as oncology pharmacy, medication therapy management, or comprehensive pharmacy business consulting, can translate into a highly sought-after, lucrative revenue stream.
A pharmacist in the U.S. explains, “I do consulting for pharmacy stores in my country. A lot of pharmacists don’t know economics, so we help them with that.”
Another pharmacist wrote on Sermo, “One less known area for consulting is sports pharmacy. A sports pharmacist can work with a college or professional team, providing information regarding appropriate medication use, OTC and supplement selection, drug interactions, and providing information about anti-doping regulations.”
Medical writing or creating CE materials
Demand for medical writers is surging. 12% of surveyed pharmacists on Sermo, chose this as the most appealing side hustle for them. If you have a knack for clear communication, you can write CE articles, NAPLEX study guides, or evidence summaries.
This can blossom into a highly flexible pharmacist freelance job, perfect if you’re balancing family, school, or full-time pharmacy work.
Develop educational content
13% of surveyed pharmacists on Sermo, chose educational content creation as the most appealing side hustle. From online courses for pharmacy school students to medication safety modules for allied health professionals, the demand for high-quality pharmacy education is on the rise.
You can turn recorded lectures, explainer videos, or even tutoring sessions into monetized digital products for ongoing passive income.
Coaching, precepting, and mentoring
One-on-one coaching (test prep, pharmacy school interviews, and medication therapy management tips), precepting pharmacy interns, or offering peer mentoring not only helps the next generation, but it is also a fantastic way to earn extra money and keep your own skills sharp. 15% of surveyed pharmacists say this is the most appealing side hustle.
Starting a retail business or e-commerce
Have a unique product idea, pharmacy supply chain know-how, or an itch for entrepreneurship? A Sermo survey revealed that retail and e-commerce was the second most popular side gig among pharmacists, with 16% choosing it.
Diversify your income beyond your primary employment by selling products such as informational materials, launching subscription boxes, or operating an online store. If you have a creative hobby or interest, you may even be able to sell products unrelated to your pharmacy experience. As one pharmacist and mom shares, “I am feeling really good about where I’m going in my business – I am waiting to hear back about my TEDx application!…I really enjoy being a full time entrepreneur, working from home, and having plenty of time to spend with my 17 month old!”
Freelance reviews
Peer reviewing articles, guides, and medication summaries for publishers or online outlets can become a steady source of extra income for pharmacists, especially those who enjoy research and continuous learning.
Participate in affiliate programs
Promoting medication safety tools, pharmacy school prep materials, or related healthcare products via affiliate programs is an easy way to expand your income and impact as an influencer, blogger, or educator.
Work for a telepharmacy service
43% of surveyed pharmacists on Sermo believe digital health and telepharmacy will drive the most growth in pharmacy in the next 10 years. The growth of telehealth means pharmacists can now serve patients remotely, review medication regimens, and manage medication therapy consultations online. This is not just convenient, but a high-impact way for pharmacists to expand their reach and build additional income streams.
Other promising pharmacist side hustle options
Other fields that offer side hustle opportunities and shouldn’t be overlooked include:
- Support a busy doctor or clinical team virtually in a medical locum tenens position.
- Use your clinical writing skills to earn by crafting compelling funding proposals as a grant writer.
- Help future pharmacists crush the NAPLEX or pharmacy school exams through online test prep or creating tutoring resources.
Passive income and investment opportunities for pharmacists
Pharmacists can also diversify their finances through creative income strategies that don’t require constant effort. This is where pharmacists can leverage passive income opportunities to generate money on autopilot.
Content creation (video)
Experienced pharmacists or pharmacy school instructors can monetize pharmacy tutorials, medication safety explainers, or NAPLEX prep guides on YouTube or educational platforms. While this requires an upfront investment, over time ad revenue, sponsorships, and course sales can add up.
Private equity real estate
Investing in healthcare real estate or rehab properties through private equity funds allows pharmacists to earn returns while maintaining their primary focus on patient care.
Dividend stocks
Maximize your earnings by investing pharmacy income in dividend-paying stocks. Over time, these can provide steady cash flow (especially valuable in balancing out variable pharmacy side jobs).
A diversified portfolio of stocks can create an income stream that requires minimal management. However, you should recognize that all investments carry risk, and financial decisions should not be made without educating yourself or consulting a registered fiduciary financial advisor.
Rental properties
Rental investments can supplement pharmacy or consulting income, providing stability and diversification regardless of your day job. For those less inclined to be directly involved, property management companies can assist with day-to-day running and tenant issues.
Peer-to-peer lending
Online lending platforms are an accessible investment for pharmacists aiming to grow passive income with relatively low effort. By lending money to your peers, you can earn passive interest. Ensure to research platforms and their reviews before committing as lending comes with risk.
Crowdfunded real estate
Pooling resources with other investors enables even pharmacy school graduates or early-career pharmacists to invest in real estate projects with modest capital and minimal hands-on effort.
Maximise your potential as a pharmacist
The best side hustles for pharmacists, whether in medical writing, consulting, e-commerce, coaching, or pharmacist surveys for money offer creative and reliable ways to supplement the average pharmacist’s salary, build financial security, and spark new passions.
Leveraging your pharmacy education, whether you’re a PharmD, in pharmacy school, or a seasoned medication expert lets you build a lucrative and rewarding future with multiple streams of income.
30% of pharmacists in this poll discovered their current side hustle through peer networking. From connecting pharmacy professionals with freelance jobs and surveys to sharing real-world tips for passive income or new business ideas, Sermo provides a secure space where you can find your next pharmacy side hustle. Join your peers to discuss ideas, challenges, and success stories.
Are you ready to earn, learn, and connect?
Explore Sermo today to grow your income, flexibility, and professional network, no matter where you are in your pharmacy career.
Key takeaways
- Side hustles help pharmacists gain financial security, flexibility, and personal fulfillment. Many pharmacists pursue side gigs to supplement income, follow their passions, and grow professionally.
- Pharmacists have many high-earning side hustle options, from consulting and medical writing to telepharmacy and grant writing; their expertise translates into multiple income streams.
- Passive income is an attainable goal for pharmacists—investment avenues like dividend stocks, real estate, and peer-to-peer lending offer long-term wealth-building opportunities.
- Sermo is a valuable platform for discovering and discussing side hustles. Pharmacists in the Sermo community share real-world experiences, offer peer insights, and collaborate to uncover viable extra income options.
