Where do pharmacists work and how much do they earn in Russia and Moscow? What is remarkable about the profession today and how much do pharmacists earn in the regions?

Where do pharmacists work? A specialist in this profile can work either in a pharmacy or in a large medical center or government health care institution (multidisciplinary hospitals, hospitals).

Not everyone clearly understands the scope of activity of these specialists. Many people believe that pharmacists work only in a pharmacy (it does not matter whether it is a private pharmacy chain or a hospital pharmacy). But this is far from true. Workers with a pharmacist certificate can be found in research institutes, chemical laboratories, industrial production of medicines, and large pharmaceutical warehouses.

The opportunities this specialization provides are quite large.

As for the pharmacy chain, pharmacists work here to give the visitor the medicine prescribed by the doctor and explain how and in what doses it should be taken. To work well and fruitfully as a pharmacist, knowledge of chemistry alone is not enough; you also need to have at least minimal knowledge of medicine. Therefore, it is not in vain that they say that either a very gifted person or someone who has remarkable perseverance and efficiency can become a pharmacist.

In chemical laboratories, pharmacists work to analyze various drugs and chemical components. Such a certificate makes it possible to work in authorities that control the production and sale of medicines, or, if desired, you can go to work in the industrial production of medicines.

How much do pharmacists earn?

Now about the most interesting thing: how much do pharmacists earn in Russia? Be that as it may, unfortunately, only a few can afford to work for an idea. The vast majority, especially men, have to think about supporting their family. Therefore, when choosing any future profession, it is worth understanding what salary awaits you in the future, so as not to receive an unpleasant surprise when applying for a job in the future.

Salary depends on the position held and place of work. If a pharmacist works in a drug production factory, then his salary can range from 12,000 to 15,000 rubles. Again, it all depends on the manufacturer, work experience and position.

In a pharmacy, the average salary varies from 15,000 to 30,000 rubles. A specialist who has just completed his studies and has no work experience can only count on the minimum wage. The position of head of the pharmacy department is paid in the amount of up to 40,000 rubles, the position of deputy head of the pharmacy is paid in the amount of up to 50,000 rubles. The director of a pharmacy receives the maximum payment, it ranges from 50,000 rubles to.... (it all depends on the pharmacy network and its annual turnover).

An employee of a research institute has, perhaps, the lowest level of remuneration. But here the situation is saved by various government allowances and grants. In total, the income received rarely exceeds 30,000 rubles.

From all of the above, it is clear how much pharmacists receive on average. And this must be understood, because many do not stay in the profession precisely because the wages turn out to be lower than they expected. Of course, you can always apply to become a medical representative, where the salary is an order of magnitude, or even two, higher than the statistical average. But wouldn’t it be a pity to spend time, effort and health within the walls of the institute? After all, no matter what they say, the work of a medical representative is aimed at selling medicines; these are, first of all, sellers. They don’t care about the cost of the medicine, possible side effects, the main thing is to sell as much as possible, then their status in the company will increase.

Pharmacist salary in Moscow

The salary of a pharmacist in Moscow is slightly higher than the regional average. It amounts to about 38,000 rubles for an ordinary employee.

Working as a pharmacist is, of course, very interesting and promising. And it doesn’t matter where the specialist will work in a research institute, the chemical industry or in production. A good and intelligent employee will be welcome everywhere. And wages, of course, will grow, but not as rapidly as in other industrial sectors. In any work, the main thing is interest and desire to work, then there will be results and satisfaction from the tasks completed. And if the specialty is chosen at random, then the work will be hard, the pay will be low, and the activity will be uninteresting.

Many will agree that a pharmacist is a very complex and sought-after specialty in our country. And indeed it is. People need qualified pharmacists, as the population begins to age prematurely; most people by the age of 30–40 have significant health problems, the treatment of which involves taking medications.

A pharmacist is not only a sales assistant in a pharmacy. These specialists work closely with doctors, study and test new pharmacological products. Also, many pharmacists prepare medicines, but such people in pharmacies are usually called pharmacists.

A pharmacist is a specialist who is well versed in medications.

Today this profession is very popular, many strive to become pharmacists due to their high salaries. But is this so, and how much do pharmacists get paid in our country and abroad? This article will help you find out.

Read about doctors' salaries in Russia.

What does it depend on

The salary of a pharmacist in Russia depends on many factors. First of all, the salary level is influenced by the total work experience and length of service in a particular pharmacy. Typically, a pharmacist's salary increase in a pharmacy occurs after he has worked for at least 2 years in the field of pharmacology.

The average salary of a pharmacist in the Russian Federation is also influenced by education.

Let us remind you that to obtain a diploma as a pharmacist or pharmacologist, you must have a higher or secondary medical pharmaceutical education, that is, graduate from a university or medical college.

Specialists with a higher education diploma will earn approximately half more than pharmacists who studied at technical schools and colleges. A higher education diploma indicates higher qualifications and practical training, so many employers believe that such specialists are more experienced and have the right to receive higher salaries.

Also, a pharmacist’s salary depends on the region where he works. In large and developed cities of the Russian Federation, such as St. Petersburg, the salary will be significantly higher than that of pharmacists in provincial towns.

In addition, the amount of wages depends on the number of hours worked.

Salaries by city

The average salary of a pharmacist in Russia in 2019 is 38,000 RUB. In recent years, the salary of pharmacy workers has increased significantly. Let us remind you that in 2015, pharmacists earned an average of 25,000 RUB. The increase was influenced by the creation of a government program that regulated salary increases for all medical workers.

In Penza, pharmacists earn up to 45,000 RUB, and the average salary in Tula is 35,000 RUB. Pharmacology specialists receive at least 37,500 RUB per month. In Chelyabinsk, the average salary is considered to be 33,500 RUB, and pharmacists can expect a salary of up to 29,600 RUB.

Current vacancies on the labor market. With a specialized pharmaceutical education, you can always find a worthy place.

The salary of a pharmacy director varies from 90,000 to 130,000 RUB, and the manager of a pharmacy kiosk usually receives between 60,000 and 80,000 RUB.

Pharmacist salary in Ukraine

The head of a pharmacy receives on average up to 12,000 UAH in large cities and up to 8,000 UAH in small towns. In the provinces, the salary of pharmacists and pharmacists varies from 3,000 to 5,000 UAH, and the manager receives an average of 6,000 UAH.

Pharmacists and pharmacists deal with the sale, storage and manufacture of medicines.

They work in pharmacies and offer clients medications for preventive purposes and treatment of various diseases.

The pharmacist has a higher education and can carry out organizational and managerial activities.

And also advise pharmacists and clients on the use of medicines.

Income of pharmacists in Russia

The largest number of vacancies in the pharmacist specialty are located by region:

• Moscow - 46.8%;
• Leningradskaya - 6.8%;
• Krasnodar Territory - 5%.

• Moscow region – 45,000 ($759);
• Leningrad region. – 43,000 ($725);
• Kaluga region – 42500 ($717);
• Altai Republic – 41667 ($703);
• Khabarovsk Territory – 37,083 ($625);
• Ulyanovsk region – 35833 ($604).

Depending on their specialization, pharmacists earn (in rubles):

• pharmacist – 45,000 ($759);
• in the pharmacy – 35917 ($606);
• analyst – 29667 ($500);
• doctor – 27833 ($469);
• technologist – 19167 ($323).

• Altai Republic – 65,000 ($1,097);
• Republic of Tyva – 60,000 ($1,012);
• Penza region – 55417 ($935);
• Orenburg region – 52917 ($893);
• Kurgan region – 47917 ($809);
• Moscow region – 46500 ($784);
• Tula region – 45417 ($766).

The developing network of pharmacies of the State Budgetary Institution of the Moscow Region "Mosoblmedservice" offers work:

pharmacists and pharmacists closer to home and with a full benefits package.

Salary up to RUB 65,000.

A novice pharmacist in Moscow receives up to 28 thousand rubles, in St. Petersburg - up to 25 thousand rubles, and in the regions - up to 20 thousand.

There are 363 vacancies for pharmacy workers open in the northern capital.

The average salary, depending on the position held, is (in rubles):

• pharmacist - 43,667 ($736);
• analyst – 40833 ($689);
• in a pharmacy – 36,000 ($607);
• technologist – 33333 ($562).

A night pharmacist earns up to 22,000 ($371) for 10 shifts per month.

Certified associates at large pharmacy chains are paid up to $76,000 ($1,282).

The average salary of a pharmacist in Krasnodar is 27,500 rubles. ($462) .

Education and prospects

You can become a pharmacist after the 9th grade of high school, studying in college for about 4 years, or after the 11th grade for 1 year and 10 months.

Tuition fees vary depending on the institution and are from 49 to 125 thousand rubles. in year.

Graduates are hired to work in pharmacies even without experience, but to continue working they must take advanced training courses every 5 years.

The cost of the courses is from 20 to 30 thousand rubles. in 500 hours.

In order to become a pharmacist, you need to obtain a higher education in the specialty “Pharmacology”.

Tuition fees range from 125,000 ($2,109) to 400,000 ($6,750).

Then they get practical experience - 1 year of residency.

After this, you still need to undergo postgraduate training in special courses (140 hours), upon completion of which you will be issued a standard certificate.

The cost of such courses in Moscow is 35,000 rubles. in 3 months.

Subsequent courses are mainly paid for by the employer.

The career of a pharmacist can only be a transition from the work of a pharmacist technician to a “first table” pharmacist, when they are allowed to sell medicines.

The pharmacist has broader prospects - he can become:

• pharmacy director;
• owner of his own business;
• sales representative for a large pharmaceutical company.

Job responsibilities

Knowledge and skills required for a pharmacist to work in a pharmacy:

1. Ability to use a computer.
2. Knowledge of drug manufacturing technologies.
3. Ability to systematize medications.
4. Knowledge of the rules for dispensing and storing medications.
5. Monitoring the expiration dates of drugs.
6. Carrying out inventories.

Where can he work?

In pharmacies, drug production and drug testing laboratories.

The pharmacist manages the pharmacy team. His responsibilities include:

1. Organization of the work process.
2. Responsibility for compliance with the rules for storing medicines.
3. Manufacturing of complex drugs.
4. Scientific research in the field of pharmacology.
5. Maintaining necessary documentation.
6. Quality control of medicines.
7. Advice and consultations for pharmacists and pharmacy clients.

Profit from working in a pharmacy in the CIS

The average salary of a pharmacist in Ukraine is 5,500 UAH ($207).

In Kyiv – 6,000 UAH ($226), and in the regions – 4 – 5 thousand UAH.

In Minsk they are paid from 700 rubles. ($351) up to 1100 bel. rub. ($552), and in the country - from 250 ($125) to 400 BYN. rub. ($201) .

IN THE USA

In America, the average salary for a pharmacist per year is $112,000.

The minimum salary is 82,000, and the maximum is 138 thousand.

To become a professional, you need to reach the level of Doctor of Pharmacological Sciences.

To do this you need:

• study in college for 2–3 years;
• then take a 4-year course at the university;
• then another 1-2 years of postgraduate training or graduate school.

To open your own pharmacy, take special MBA courses in business administration.

Then you need to get a license, for which you pass several more exams and tests.

In Poland

Immigrants from the CIS can work as pharmacists in Poland only after completing the diploma confirmation procedure.

The minimum salary after this is 1000 euros per month.

Knowledge of languages ​​is welcome.

Obtaining the right to practice as a pharmacist in Poland makes it possible to get a job in any European country.

30.10.18 48 810 35

In St. Petersburg

Our readers regularly talk about their professions and how much income they bring them.

Katya Prokudina

asked leading questions

In the new issue, a pharmacist from St. Petersburg told us whether it is easy for people without experience to find a job, whether it is possible to sell medicines without a doctor’s prescription, and why working in a pharmacy is not for the faint of heart.

Choice of profession

At school I really loved chemistry and biology. But I never wanted to be a doctor and decided to enter the Chemical-Pharmaceutical Academy (now it has become a university).

Most of my classmates were from other cities and already from the third year they worked at night in pharmacies. I preferred healthy sleep to this, since I lived with my parents and there was no need for a part-time job. And she did the right thing: it was not easy to study, almost everyone who worked immediately got bogged down in debt and failed exams. It was a little easier for them in pharmacology: I taught them the names of the drugs, and they already knew them thanks to their work. But there were problems with other subjects due to the fact that they did not get enough sleep or skipped lectures to sleep off after night shifts.

After graduation, I simply posted my resume on “Superjob,” which said that I have a diploma of higher education, a certificate of specialist accreditation (you need to go through it separately, it’s simple: learn the tickets and answer the checklist, knowing that They won’t ask you anything extra) and zero experience. Surprisingly, they kept calling me non-stop.

Most pharmacies have a two-by-two schedule. But working 2 days in a row for 12 hours is hard, after which you sleep the whole day or just lie down, because after the shift your legs hurt a lot, and you only have one day left to do your business. That's why I was looking for a five-day plan. As a result, I got a job at one of the chain pharmacies near my home. The first month was a probationary period - they only paid a salary of 29,900 minus tax. I worked there for a year.

RUB 29,900

paid during the probationary period (before taxes)

The essence of the work

Typically, pharmacists (secondary education) and pharmacists (higher education) work in pharmacies. Pharmacists are trained specifically for this job, while pharmacists have deeper training and 2 years longer. But if you want to become a manager in the future, then with a secondary education you need to stand at the cash register for 5 years, and with a higher education - 3 years. And, of course, with a higher education there are always more opportunities to find a job somewhere other than a pharmacy.

Working in a pharmacy suits patient people who want to help everyone. Clients consider us ordinary salespeople and cashiers (this is not true), but at the same time they do not go to doctors and quite often ask us to pick up some kind of medicine - usually for a cold or painkiller. In addition, people are always full of questions - from the banal “how many times a day should I take the medicine?” (can’t you really read it in the instructions?) to something more sophisticated. For example, one day a girl chose effervescent cough tablets so that they would not contain any flavoring additives. Although I immediately said that they would be everywhere, she forced me to bring all the varieties and look at every box.

5 years

you need to work behind the cash register to become a pharmacy manager

The craziest request was this. The woman said her feet were itchy. I offer her an anti-itch cream, at the same time asking what could have caused it and how she was treated. Here she joyfully exclaims: “I’ll show you now.” He lifts up his skirt - his legs are all swollen, swollen veins and a terrible red rash. When I asked why she didn’t go to the doctor, the woman replied that she washed it with urine and waited for it to go away, and when it got worse, she started applying long-expired ointment for veins. I didn’t sell her anything and asked her to see a specialist as soon as possible.

When they ask “something for blood pressure” or “some kind of diuretic,” my answer is always the same: “Only see a doctor.”

I almost never took antibiotics without a prescription either. Over-the-counter products usually offer several options. I know how they differ and what the advantages of each are - I study a lot of specialized information, read clinical studies and articles. Colleagues with extensive experience write a lot of interesting things on the VKontakte public page for pharmacy workers. Something can be clarified with medical representatives of different companies. Once a customer asked a question to which neither the doctor nor I knew the answer. The medical representative was also unable to answer immediately, but she found it out for us.

The pharmacy has mandatory online training, there are regular seminars and conferences, and tests are required for new or promotional drugs. Pharmaceutical companies often conduct courses - I attended them too.

The advantage of this job is that I always know what is best. Doctors often prescribe several drugs to choose from from different price categories. As a result, the patient chooses based on price. And I know which one is original, and I choose it, because generics will never be better.

The main disadvantage is that working with people is generally a nervous matter.

And when people are sick, they don’t have enough money for medicine, or they simply don’t understand why they pay such sums, it becomes really difficult.

If they are unhappy with the queue, the prices, or an error in the doctor’s prescription, for them it’s my fault. If I can’t give change from 5000 when buying ascorbic acid for 12 rubles, because there is no change, it’s my fault. Almost every day someone raises their voice at you. Often at the end of the working day I simply cried from the insults I had experienced. Of course, it’s also about the fact that I’m a very sensitive person. Some people are not affected by this at all - everyone reacts differently.

We were taught to mitigate conflicts. The training sheets contained dialogues: for example, the client swears at how expensive everything is, then the pharmacist explains to him that this is a very good medicine, after which everyone in the picture is smiling and happy. But in practice, if a person is aggressive, no arguments are important to him. Of course, you can’t be rude in response. The most effective thing for me is to silently listen to all the complaints and look at one point and ignore them. But it didn't always work out.

Of course, there were pleasant moments too. There were regular customers who purposefully stood in my line. There were those who said how I helped them and came to thank me. They carried chocolates and fruits. One girl even gave me a miniature perfume - she and I spent a long time selecting creams for her.

Place of work

The pharmacy chain where I got a job attracts a large number of customers with low prices. Because of this, there are always queues there. And there are big problems with staff - every pharmacy has a notice that an employee is needed. But no one wants to get settled. There is a high turnover among those aged 20-30. Among those who are older, there are people with 20 years of experience who came immediately after graduation and still work in the pharmacy.

It seems to me that such work is paid little (although, of course, more than ordinary cashiers in stores), and the work is very nervous. I thought that in the pharmacy, where the prices are higher, it was calmer. But my friends who work in these places say that scandals often happen there too.

And in one of the St. Petersburg pharmacies, on New Year's Eve, the administrator was killed - the visitor was very drunk.

If I’m alone on a shift and there’s a line at the pharmacy, some clients may start banging on the glass with their fists and shouting that they need a second cashier. One day, a thin little grandmother shook the door with all her might to break in - we have a closed display, that is, everything is behind glass.

If there were more employees, there might not be such queues. But there are different reasons. For example, when they come to buy a blood pressure monitor, they need to unpack it, show it, explain everything, measure the pressure, then pack it, fill out the warranty, and only then sell it. This all takes a lot of time. Or there are very large lists that take about 10 minutes to collect, especially if one of the new products is not in its place, but in an unmarked box. It takes a long time, people start to get angry. I understand them. When I find myself in such a situation, I just leave so as not to waste time - there are many pharmacies around. But in an effort to save money, people can wait in line for an hour.

You always have to pay for customer mistakes. Most often the names or dosages are confused. In general, almost all medications for the heart, blood pressure, diabetes, painkillers, etc. must be available with a prescription. But now doctors do not prescribe them so often, and grandmothers who constantly take the same thing will not go for a prescription every time. Therefore, such drugs are dispensed simply if the client knows his dosage. But there are always cases when they say, for example, 20 mg, and then come running: “Change it, I needed a dosage of 10, I confused it with something else.” By law, exchanges and returns cannot be made in pharmacies. But this cannot be explained to everyone - people start swearing.

I had a case when a man bought plasters - I showed them and named the price. He paid, and then decided that it was too expensive for him. I almost broke the glass, I was afraid that he would kill me for paying the extra 100 rubles. I gave it to him from my pocket - just so that he would leave.

We also pay for our mistakes. The most common problem is called “re-grading” - when they knock out the price of a small package, but give away a larger one, which costs several times more. If you accidentally give away a small one at the price of a large package, people immediately come running to find out, but if you mistakenly give away a large one when you paid for a small one, no one comes back. In such cases, the cost of a small package is deducted from the cost of a large one, and this amount is divided among all employees. Although somewhere they may offer discounts in order to pay less, or simply write off the goods. Nothing was written off from us.

There are no discounts on medications for employees. There is vacation, sick leave too, but it is not approved: the manager has to change the schedule, the rest have to work more. When my colleague went on sick leave for 2 weeks to care for her child, we worked seven days a week.

Common workday

The pharmacy is open from 7 to 23. Employees have three shifts: from 7 to 15–16 hours, from 12 to 20 and from 15 to 23. In larger pharmacies, where 10 cash registers are open, the schedules are different.

The schedule is made by the manager. Everyone writes to her their wishes: that the shift be at a certain time or that there be days off on certain days. As a rule, one day off falls on weekdays, and Saturday or Sunday is a working day. Moreover, you have to work longer (10 hours, not 8): there are more customers, and less staff.

It happened that the manager ordered me to work on both Saturday and Sunday. Although in other pharmacies of this network the right to one day off is almost always respected.

Many times it happened that after the evening shift there was a morning one. It turns out that you come home at night and get up early in the morning.

Working from 7 am to 3 pm is probably the easiest time: in the first hour there are few visitors, you have time to sort out the goods or stick on new price tags. It’s difficult because the next shift starts at 11–12, before that you’re alone (it’s clear where the queues come from). If everything is fine with the staff at the pharmacy and the next employee arrives at 8 am, then everything is much simpler. And at the same time, half the day remains free, although I really want to sleep.

The advantage of evening shifts is that you can get enough sleep and do morning things - for example, go to the doctor or any organizations that are open until 18:00. But at the same time, you are sometimes left alone from 8 pm, at the very rush hour - people from work come into the pharmacy, and there is one window. This is where all the trouble begins.

The middle shift is definitely the easiest in terms of work, but it turns out that you only have a couple of hours in the morning and in the evening after work - you don’t have time to do anything or rest.

The working day goes something like this. You come, change into your uniform, turn on the computer, and log into the program (1C for sales) under your name. The staff taught me how to use it - I simply wrote down the basic key combinations on a piece of paper: how to select a position and quantity, make a discount, pay by card or cash - all this is quickly remembered. Then you make a change of 2 thousand - this money is collected in small bills at the end of the previous day and put aside for the morning shift.

At this time they already saw you in the window and shouted: “Why aren’t you serving?”

You run around all day collecting orders. A lot lies under the ceiling, so you constantly climb on stepladders. In addition, each employee monitors the display cases and sorts out new goods, of which there is a lot - in every free second you put them in their places. In small pharmacies, in parallel, you have to play the role of manager and receive goods from suppliers.

For lunch - only 15 minutes a day. You set the food to heat up, during which time you can serve one more person. Eat quickly and head back. If there are few customers and someone else is working, you can agree to close the cash register for 5-10 minutes and go have some tea. And if there is a crowd, then they won’t even close for lunch. In small, unpopular pharmacies, if there are no customers, you can eat longer. Where I did my internship, they worked 12 hours a day and had half an hour for food - 2 times 15 minutes each.

15 minutes

lunch break lasts

Lunches, like entry or exit, are strictly based on your fingerprint. At the end of the shift, you close your window again amidst screams.

“Where are you going, don’t you see there’s a line?!”

Of course, you can work longer, but you won’t be paid for it. Then you take down reports, fill out logs - write down what amount was in the cash register at the beginning of the day, what at the end, how much was paid by card, how much in cash. It’s simple, it takes 10–15 minutes, but you have to be careful - then an accountant checks everything. And finally home.

Happening

I have a queue of 10 people, and the customer’s payment does not go through, although the money (4 thousand rubles) was debited from the card. This sometimes happens, which means that the bank will return them to her. That is, if she takes the purchase, I will then have to pay for it myself. She tries to snatch the bag of medicine from my hands, but I don’t give it back.

After some time, her mother comes running - medicines for her and the card is also hers, she shows a notification on her phone that the money has been written off, and starts shouting that her patient was lifted out of bed, that I am a thief, that she will report to the prosecutor's office. She swears, the whole line swears, I cry. By the way, there is another pharmacy across the road, but more expensive. But there is still a queue for peroxide and citramone - although they could have bought it opposite for 3 rubles more.

As a result, the conflict was resolved. I called the bank and asked the operator to explain the situation, the goods remained with us.

After this incident, I wrote a statement and quit.

But then, of course, I wanted to declare a technical break and close the pharmacy. But you can’t do that - you can be fined. I had to calm down and pretty quickly continued working.

Part-time jobs

There are plenty of part-time jobs in our network - you can simply take extra hours in your own pharmacy or in others where there is a shortage of staff. Also, work from 22 to 23 is paid additionally - plus 50 rubles. But, on the contrary, I lowered the rate to 0.75 and went to paid advanced training courses.

Income

Working full time (that's 4 days a week for 8 hours and a 10-hour shift on the weekend), I received 51 thousand before taxes. This is a little more than in other pharmacies. Of course, you can always get more if you work harder.

Expenses

I don’t need to rent a place, so my main expenses are food and rent. True, my man pays for them. For a one-room apartment in the summer we pay 2 thousand, in the winter 4–5.

I spend my income on myself - cosmetics, clothes, travel. If I live simply, then I need at least 30 thousand a month. But this, of course, is bleak. I think 60 thousand a month for myself personally would be quite good.

While I was working, I saved everything I didn’t spend. I didn’t count exactly how much, it depended on expenses. One month you go buy clothes and give away your entire salary, another month you don’t need anything, and a decent amount remains. It's always good to have a financial cushion.

I saved enough to not have to work for several months.

After quitting, she went to travel around Europe, where she spent quite a lot, but she had a rest and updated her wardrobe. I also improved my health - a significant part of my savings was also spent on visits to doctors.

I have a loved one who supported my decision to quit, including financially. Of course, if I were single and had a rented home, I would most likely continue to work at the pharmacy until I brought myself to a nervous breakdown.

Saving

I keep an eye on discounts on products - I receive SMS from hypermarkets and I buy a lot for future use. As an example: your favorite pasta costs 200 rubles for a 0.5 kg pack, and in the summer there was a promotion at Perekrestok and they were sold for 72 rubles, we took 10 packs at once. Or, let's say, I only eat certain butter, with a very good composition. When Lenta has a 30% discount on all butter, I take a couple of pieces. It’s the same with cosmetics - I keep an eye, for example, on the selection of Rive Gauche or discounts at Podruzhka.

I use the Tinkoff Black card with cashback - sometimes there are good categories at an increased percentage, for example beauty, pharmacies or transport, sometimes they are useless. My boyfriend still has All Airlines - he accumulates miles.

There were also big expenses. For example, I once spent 1000 euros in 6 days in a very cool hotel. Or I bought a photoepilator for 20 thousand - for now I consider it a reckless purchase, because I don’t see much effect. But I think it’s better to buy and regret it than not to buy and think about it all your life.

It would be great to save up for an apartment and rent it out. Or understand bonds to earn passive income. In the meantime, money is always put aside for travel. Usually I get to fly abroad a couple of times a year - I really love the sun and the sea, and of course this is lacking in St. Petersburg.

Future

After my dismissal, I just rested and recovered for 3 months. I spent a lot of time at the dacha, started going to fitness again and taking better care of myself, read a lot of books, improved my language skills, met with all my friends. I even completed several psychological trainings. This allowed me to relate more easily to the pharmacy story.

Most graduates of pharmaceutical universities or faculties start in pharmacy, but many then leave. You can go to medical representatives, to large warehouses, to laboratories, to factories, to clinical research. Career growth depends on desire and aspiration. Now I like to organize my family life, do housework, take care of myself and my man more than build a career.

The work of a pharmacist is responsible and important; a person’s health, and sometimes life, depends on it. The education of a pharmacist allows him to prepare ointments and mixtures, solutions and powders. A person who has devoted himself to this profession must have certain moral qualities to successfully work in the pharmaceutical field.

1. Firstly, confidence in your knowledge. It happens that a person who comes to the pharmacy is confused and does not have information on the required medication. Good knowledge of the pharmacist will help the client decide on the choice of drug. Not to be confused with medical advice. Ignorance of products and compositions can have a detrimental effect on the health and life of the client.
2. Secondly, Working with people does not always bring joy and pleasure. The pharmacist must be stress-resistant and not succumb to provocations.
3. Third, one of the most important points is the opportunity for professional growth. Professional development will not only have a positive impact on your salary, but will also help in working with clients.

The responsibilities of a pharmacist are specified in the employment contract.

Job responsibilities

The Labor Code of the Russian Federation regulates job responsibilities of a pharmacist. However, the place of work may supplement this list with additional assignments. Responsibilities depend on the specialization of the pharmacist position.

1. Pharmacist. The main place of work of such a specialist is a pharmacy store. Responsibilities in this case involve recording all medications received and sold in this pharmacy. This does not limit the responsibilities of a pharmacist. He must manufacture medications according to a doctor’s prescription and select analogues of medications at the buyer’s request. It is also important to monitor the storage conditions of everything sold in the pharmacy.
2. Laboratory assistant. The work takes place in a research laboratory. The main task of a laboratory pharmacist is to study diseases and ways to combat infection, create new vaccines and improve existing ones.
3. Sales Representative. The job involves finding markets for certain pharmaceutical companies, in which the pharmacist plays the role of an intermediary.
4. Technologist. Works in a pharmaceutical company and organizes the process of mass production of drugs.

What does a pharmacist's salary depend on?

Unfortunately, recently, the salaries of pharmacists have not undergone any changes, there has been no indexation. However, there are factors that influence the income of a representative of this industry.

1. Qualification. In other words, the level of education. This metric can make a significant difference between the salaries of two pharmacists. Pharmacists are specialists with higher education. Not only do they earn good money, but they are also more in demand when hiring, be it a pharmacy or a pharmaceutical company. A pharmacist must have at least secondary specialized education.
2. Work experience. Of course, the number of years worked is taken into account when calculating salaries for any profession, so a pharmacist is no exception. Workers with three years of work experience are more in demand than their colleagues who have just graduated from college.
3. Overtime output.
4. Regional salary. Everyone is accustomed to the fact that wages in Moscow are significantly higher than wages in any other region. All this depends on the level of economic development of the region. The most developed and wealthy regions can afford a good salary for a pharmacist. The size of settlements also plays an important role. The fact is that in a rural pharmacy a pharmacist will earn less than in a central pharmacy in the city of Krasnodar.
5. Place of work also affects the number of monetary units received by a specialist. Working in a branch of a foreign company is always more profitable than working in a Russian pharmaceutical company. The size of the company's sales market, product quality and pricing policy are also important.
6. Product type The person a pharmacist has to work with has a direct bearing on his salary. If we talk about new products in medicinal cosmetics, dietary supplements, and preventive agents for infectious diseases, then such products will bring both the company and its employees substantial profits.
7. Formation of the salary system taking into account bonuses and allowances affects the pharmacist’s salary.

Social package

A big advantage for a pharmacist, no matter where he works, is availability of a full social package, providing the employee with compensation for the costs of a mobile phone and travel on public transport or the provision of company transport.

The company can also provide and pay for Internet, meals, training for the purpose of advanced training, accident insurance, and various types of entertainment expenses. In addition to the above, the employer can provide the employee with gadgets (computer, tablet, mobile phone).

Pension provision

Pension payments for pharmacy workers are determined by salary, length of service and insurance premiums.

According to the legislation of the Russian Federation, pharmacists are not entitled to either preferential pensions or long-service pensions. The decent salary that pharmaceutical workers receive today allows you to count on a good pension. In addition, professionals in their field will always find an opportunity to increase their income due to being in demand in prestigious companies.

How much does a pharmacist earn?

A pharmacy worker with sufficient experience and education can climb the career ladder to a higher and, accordingly, well-paid position, such as a pharmacy director or manager.

A pharmacist can transfer to research work in a laboratory or even open his own business. Most often, a pharmacist's salary consists not only of salary, but also of bonuses and bonuses. The bonus part is determined by the fulfillment of product sales standards. It should be highlighted some pharmacist remuneration systems:

1. Salary and agreed percentage of sales.
2. Salary plus sales bonuses.
3. Salary, as well as year-end bonuses or a percentage of the company’s total turnover.

In Moscow

The Moscow salary of a pharmacist is not the same everywhere. It also depends on the specifics of the work. On average it is from 35,000 to 65,000 rubles.

If we take statistical data, the average salary of a pharmacist in Moscow and the Moscow region is approximately 50,000 rubles. This figure significantly exceeds the salaries of similar specialists in other regions of Russia.

In the regions of Russia

According to Rosstat, the average salary of Russians is about 35,000 rubles. The salaries of pharmacists increased slightly in 2012 after the Russian Government adopted a program to increase the incomes of people working in the medical field.

For 2019, the salary in the pharmaceutical industry is about 40,000 rubles. The highest wages for pharmacists are concentrated not in the capital, but in Magadan, it is just over 50,000 rubles.

Next comes the Kursk region and Mordovia, where salaries are approximately the same and amount to 49,000 and 47,000 rubles. Penza is in third place with a salary for a pharmacist of 45,000 rubles. Pharmacy workers in Tula and Chelyabinsk earn a little more than 30,000 rubles.

The lowest salaries in the country are in the capital of Bashkortostan, Ufa, as well as in Voronezh, Saratov and Omsk; they do not exceed 20,000 rubles.

Abroad

Remuneration of pharmacists in other countries depends on the development of the state and economic development. In developed countries of the world, pharmacists receive much more than residents of the Russian Federation.

Thus, pharmacists have the highest incomes in the USA - up to 280,000 rubles per month. The average monthly salary in England and Germany is up to 180,000 rubles.

French salaries are average and vary from 110,000 rubles to 128,000 rubles. Poland, Latvia and Ukraine do not even reach the indicator at 100,000 rubles.

The salary and working conditions of a pharmacist, pharmacist and pharmaceutical staff in Germany are presented below in the interview.

At the state pharmacy

According to Rosstat, the average salary of nurses and pharmacists in state pharmacies in Russia, when calculated over three months, was a little more than 27,000 rubles.

Salaries of medical staff in state-owned institutions are much lower than in commercial institutions. Pharmacists receive the lowest salaries in the Republic of Kalmykia, according to Rosstat. The highest wages were in the Chukotka and Nenets Autonomous Okrugs and amounted to about 73,000 rubles.

In Moscow and the region, the state pharmacist receives no more than 50,000 rubles per month.

In a private pharmacy

The need for qualified pharmacists always presents an opportunity for specialists to get a good, well-paid position in a private pharmacy. Salary significantly exceeds salaries in government agencies.

For 2019, the highest salaries are presented in private pharmacies in Moscow and the Moscow region. Thus, a good specialist working in a private pharmacy can receive a salary of up to 75,000 per month. The salary of an administrative unit (director) ranges from 90,000 to 130,000 rubles, and the salary of a pharmacy kiosk manager is from 80,000 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages of work

Since there are more benefits to working as a pharmacist, you should start with them:

1. High level of income.
2. Opportunity for career growth and increased qualifications in laboratory research conditions.
3. The profession presupposes gender equality.
4. Unlike any medical profile, this education can be obtained by correspondence.

This work also has disadvantages:

1. Service sector. Communication with people does not always bring positive emotions.
2. Pharmacists often work night shifts.
3. High, vital level of responsibility.

A real review of working in a pharmacy is presented below.