Pharmacists
SOC Code: 29-1051
Pharmacists carries a 53% AI exposure score (High automation risk), with a median annual wage of $137,480 and +4.6% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 335,100 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
AI Exposure vs Industry Growth
Total occupations tracked
832
Covering all SOC major groups
Data currency
2024
BLS Employment Projections
AI exposure avg
40%
Fleet-wide median across all roles
Composite score weighing O*NET task data completeness, BLS projection methodology, and cross-validation with employer risk grades.
Employment Projections
Occupation Insight
Pharmacists (SOC 29-1051) carries an AI exposure score of 53%, placing it in the High automation-risk tier. This score is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each task an occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score in the 40–70% range indicates meaningful automation pressure on specific task categories, but the role as a whole still requires human judgment for coordination, exception handling, or client interaction.
The economic context matters alongside the risk score. BLS counted approximately 335,100 workers in this occupation in 2024, and projects a +4.6% change through 2034 — modest growth that keeps the occupation viable even as tasks evolve. Median annual compensation stands at $137,480, reflecting both skill scarcity and the value employers place on the tasks that remain difficult to automate. Entry typically requires Doctoral or professional degree, plus None of related experience.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Pharmacists. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure. Pair the AI exposure score with the BLS employment projection and wage percentiles above for a complete career assessment.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Review prescriptions to assure accuracy, to ascertain the needed ingredients, and to evaluate their suitability.
- 2. Assess the identity, strength, or purity of medications.
- 3. Provide information and advice regarding drug interactions, side effects, dosage, and proper medication storage.
- 4. Analyze prescribing trends to monitor patient compliance and to prevent excessive usage or harmful interactions.
- 5. 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.
- 6. 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.
- 7. Plan, implement, or maintain procedures for mixing, packaging, or labeling pharmaceuticals, according to policy and legal requirements, to ensure quality, security, and proper disposal.
- 8. Order and purchase pharmaceutical supplies, medical supplies, or drugs, maintaining stock and storing and handling it properly.
- 9. Compound and dispense medications as prescribed by doctors and dentists, by calculating, weighing, measuring, and mixing ingredients, or oversee these activities.
- 10. Contact insurance companies to resolve billing issues.
Key Skills Required
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Active Learning
- Social Perceptiveness
- Service Orientation
Knowledge Areas
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Mathematics
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Psychology
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
- Administrative
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Pharmacists?
Pharmacists has an AI exposure score of 53%, indicating a high level of automation risk. Some tasks in this role can be augmented or partially automated by AI, but core responsibilities require human judgment.
What is the job outlook for Pharmacists?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Pharmacists is projected to grow by 4.6% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 335,100 workers.
What skills are needed for Pharmacists?
Key skills for Pharmacists include Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, and others. Typical entry-level education is Doctoral or professional degree.
How much do Pharmacists earn?
The median annual wage for Pharmacists is $137,480, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Pharmacists?
The typical entry-level education for Pharmacists is Doctoral or professional degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Pharmacists?
Pharmacists roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
High automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. A moderate share of tasks may be augmented by AI tools.
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Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).