The role of pharmacists has undergone a profound transformation over the years, evolving from traditional medication dispensers to experts in drug information and medication management who play a pivotal role in patient care and safety.
October is American Pharmacists Month, providing an opportunity to look at how this occupation has changed in recent years.
Most notably, the number of pharmacists rose every year from 2018 (286,400) to 2023 (337,400), a 17.8% increase, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS).
According to the most recent ACS data, between 60% and 62% of the pharmacist workforce were women from 2018 to 2023. Despite this, the earnings disparity between male and female pharmacists continued.
In comparison, the total number of U.S. workers ages 25 to 64 during the same period grew only 3.1% from 128 million to about 132 million.
The proportion of pharmacists in the total workforce also increased, starting at 0.22% in 2018 to 0.24% in 2019 and 0.26% in 2023.
Women in the Profession
Women have made up about 47% of the overall workforce in the United States since 2018 but they have a much higher representation in the pharmacy profession.
According to the most recent ACS data, between 60% and 62% of the pharmacist workforce were women from 2018 to 2023 (Figure 2).
Despite this, the earnings disparity between male and female pharmacists continued (Figure 3).
Gender Pay Gap
Male pharmacists’ annual salaries decreased from $153,800 in 2018 to $136,200 in 2023 (Figure 3).
All earnings cited in this article are in 2023 inflation-adjusted dollars.
Despite this decline, male pharmacists still earned more than their female counterparts and earned more than the overall pharmacist workforce median earnings.
Earnings of all U.S. male workers peaked at $69,390 in 2021 before dipping to $67,720 in 2022 and stabilizing at $68,070 in 2023 (Figure 4).
Female pharmacists’ annual salaries also declined from $147,800 in 2018 to $130,500 in 2023 (Figure 3).
Female workers’ median earnings also consistently lagged those of male workers. While there was a slight increase from $54,940 in 2018 to $56,380 in 2021, their earnings dipped to $55,430 in 2022 before rebounding slightly to $55,730 in 2023 (Figure 4).
The earnings disparity between male and female workers, including pharmacists, reflects the continued gender inequality in the workplace.
Race and Ethnicity
The pharmacist profession is less diverse than the U.S. workforce as a whole.
White workers made up the majority (58%) of adults ages 25 to 64 in the workforce in 2023, down from 62% in 2018. Although the share of White pharmacists also declined, from 65% in 2018 to 61% in 2023, they remained a significant majority.
Asian workers made up a small but growing proportion of the total workforce, increasing from 6% in 2018 to 7% in 2023. They were also overrepresented in the pharmacy field, with their share increasing from 22% in 2018 to 23% in 2023.
The percentage of Black workers in the total workforce remained relatively stable, fluctuating between 11% and 12% from 2018 to 2023. However, Black pharmacists were underrepresented in the overall workforce, ranging from a 6% to 9% share of the workforce during the period.
The proportion of Hispanic workers grew from 17% to 19% but they remained underrepresented among pharmacists, with only 4% to 6% identifying as Hispanic from 2018 to 2023.
The share of workers identifying as Some Other Race increased from 3% in 2018 to 5% in 2023. This group consistently accounted for a small percentage (from 2% to 4%) of pharmacists.
Although the pharmacist profession experienced growth in both employment and the representation of women, challenges such as gender pay disparities and racial and ethnic underrepresentation persisted.