by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Pharmacy explores Pharmacy. A Program That Prepares Individuals For The Independent Or Employed Practice Of Preparing And Dispensing Drugs And Medications In Consultation With Prescribing Physicians And Other Health Care Professionals, And For Managing Pharmacy Practices And Counseling Patients. Includes Instruction In Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmacognosy, Pharmacy Practice, Pharmacy Administration, Applicable Regulations, And Professional Standards And Ethics. Examples: [Pharmacy (Bs, Bpharm - Canada)], [Pharmacy (Pharmd - Usa And Canada)]. Continue reading for the essential details every pharmacy major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering pharmacy programs.
Nationwide, pharmacy draws strong interest, with 12,167 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Pharmacy Schools ranking analyzes these 144 schools to determine the best overall colleges for pharmacy students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of pharmacy programs later in this article.
Programs in Pharmacy develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations pharmacy graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a pharmacy program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a pharmacy major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several pharmacy degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 8 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 250 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 75 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 11,834 |
People currently working in careers related to pharmacy tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 41.7% |
| Master’s degree | 20.0% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 17.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 11.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| First professional degree | 1.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.2% |
| Some college courses | 0.5% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in pharmacy careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in pharmacy can lead to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to pharmacy.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to pharmacy.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Pharmacists | 1,131,161 | 14.2% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 419,330 | 8.8% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of pharmacy graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $100,486 |
| 4 years | $129,383 |
| 5 years | $140,029 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for pharmacy graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers pharmacy grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Pharmacists | $93,686 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 144 different pharmacy programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased pharmacy school rankings to help you.
Students interested in pharmacy, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
