Is a pharmacist still a good carrer based on the current economic situation?

[BrianHunter]

Current starting salary for pharmacist out of school in chicago is over $100k. There are alot more pharmacy schools than there used to be so it is more competitive when it comes time to find a job but all fields are now. Good career choice but the schooling is tough.

My wife is a pharmacist and another positive is the hours are flexible. We have small kids so my wife only works two days a week for 16 hours, which would be hard in alot of professions. There are also pharmacists that work full time and than look to fill in for people on vacation, sick etc and make a ton of OT.

I dont see computers taking over pharmacy but there could be pharmacists in India ticking off scripts mailed to people but outsourcing to low cost locations is hitting every profession.

[Jandur]

Originally Posted by sammieger

Thank you guys for replying to my thread. Another reason why I asked this question is also because many of my friends told me that computers will be replacing pharmacists. However, I still believe that there are still certain tasks that could not be achieved by computers. This is one of my concerns. Anyways, thank you guys for replying my thread once again!

As crazy as saying "might be replaced by computers" might sound it's a legitimate long-term concern. That being said a lot of what a pharmacist can do isn't work you would really automate. Even if they do automate some of it, they will still need pharmacists overseeing those programs and even help in the design and development of them.

On a side note, all the pharmacists I know make bank and have no issues finding jobs.

[quigboto]

Can you name any white collar job that can't potentially be replaced by a computer someday?
I was a commercial credit analyst for 20+ years, but I don't kid myself that a computer could have done my job (though not as effectively, I would hope)

[Jandur]

Originally Posted by quigboto

Can you name any white collar job that can't potentially be replaced by a computer someday?
I was a commercial credit analyst for 20+ years, but I don't kid myself that a computer could have done my job (though not as effectively, I would hope)

Well for one thing any type of sales job. Beyond that computers are great at doing automated and consistent tasks, but they aren't to the point where they can think or make any real decisions.

It will get to that point, but its a ways off yet.

[chirack]

Originally Posted by quigboto

Can you name any white collar job that can't potentially be replaced by a computer someday?
I was a commercial credit analyst for 20+ years, but I don't kid myself that a computer could have done my job (though not as effectively, I would hope)

In the case of Pharmacy both laws(i.e. need one to dispense medication to the general public) and the nature of drugs prevent this.

A computer can make check for interactions and make recommendations but legally it is still the pharmacist whose head is on the block if the wrong drug gets filled or if a drug is given to the wrong person. For instance Acutane causes birth defects. A women taking Acutane may need to be checked for pregancy and should be taking birth control.

[Jesse69]

If I wasn't a mechanical engineer I'd choose Pharmacy as a career too. Then I could work anywhere in America vs working in cities that support engineering jobs. But I wasn't good in organic chemistry.