Pharmacists
SOC Code: 29-1051 Job Zone 5: Extensive Preparation Needed
Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use. May advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosage, interactions, and side effects of medications.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Pharmacists. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $138,050 | $162,635 | $187,242 | $211,827 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $141,606 | $162,739 | $183,893 | $205,026 |
| Napa, CA | $149,302 | $166,795 | $184,309 | $201,802 |
| Florence, SC | $115,794 | $143,749 | $171,683 | $199,638 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $134,514 | $154,294 | $174,096 | $193,877 |
| Vallejo, CA | $126,797 | $148,886 | $170,976 | $193,066 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $123,011 | $145,392 | $167,773 | $190,154 |
| Chico, CA | $129,688 | $148,637 | $167,606 | $186,555 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $135,616 | $152,277 | $168,958 | $185,619 |
| North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area | $135,179 | $151,798 | $168,397 | $185,016 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| CVS Rx Services Inc. | 267 | $131,381 |
| Safeway Inc. | 82 | $144,083 |
| Walgreen Co. | 71 | $131,564 |
| WAL-MART ASSOCIATES, INC. | 18 | $146,581 |
| Thrifty Payless, Inc. | 11 | $154,526 |
| Rite Aid | 10 | $150,711 |
| The Methodist Hospital | 10 | $126,140 |
| The Kroger Company | 7 | $131,389 |
| CVS RX Services, Inc. | 7 | $130,279 |
| Saint Luke's Health System | 7 | $113,695 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 90 | $125,188 |
| 2021 | 74 | $120,951 |
| 2022 | 71 | $124,491 |
| 2023 | 242 | $126,154 |
| 2024 | 317 | $135,582 |
| 2025 | 430 | $132,370 |
| 2026 | 37 | $138,712 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 | |
| Speaking | 4.0 | |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | |
| Writing | 3.9 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | |
| Monitoring | 3.9 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.8 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.6 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.6 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Medicine and Dentistry | 4.6 |
| Mathematics | 4.5 |
| English Language | 4.2 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.2 |
| Chemistry | 4.1 |
| Biology | 4.0 |
| Psychology | 3.7 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.4 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-first professional | 78.4% |
| Bachelor's degree | 11.5% |
| Other | 5.1% |
| First professional degree (MD, JD) | 3.4% |
| High school diploma | 1.8% |
Typical Tasks
- Review prescriptions to assure accuracy, to ascertain the needed ingredients, and to evaluate their suitability.
- Provide information and advice regarding drug interactions, side effects, dosage, and proper medication storage.
- Analyze prescribing trends to monitor patient compliance and to prevent excessive usage or harmful interactions.
- Order and purchase pharmaceutical supplies, medical supplies, or drugs, maintaining stock and storing and handling it properly.
- Maintain records, such as pharmacy files, patient profiles, charge system files, inventories, control records for radioactive nuclei, or registries of poisons, narcotics, or controlled drugs.
- Provide specialized services to help patients manage conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, smoking cessation, or high blood pressure.
- Advise customers on the selection of medication brands, medical equipment, or healthcare supplies.
- Collaborate with other health care professionals to plan, monitor, review, or evaluate the quality or effectiveness of drugs or drug regimens, providing advice on drug applications or characteristics.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Epic Systems MEDITECH software Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft SharePoint Microsoft Word eClinicalWorks EHR software Computer records systems Freedom MedTEACH Healthprolink MedAtlas Insurance claim processing software Label-making software Multitask software
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