What is a float pharmacist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted Expert
Brent Rollins RPh, PhD
introduction image

Float pharmacists assist clients concerning their health care needs by filling a prescription and providing exceptional and excellent customer service. Your role as a float pharmacist is to monitor pharmacokinetic parameters, vitals, and lab results concerning specialty medications. You are also responsible for facilitating the training of staff and counseling customers with regards to medications.

Another thing that is expected of you is to check prescriptions of outpatients. You are to carefully review and monitor the emergency department, patients' medication, and therapy to ensure safety and efficiency. In addition, evaluation of drug utilization and interaction is also a vital part of your responsibility.

There are several requirements to be a float pharmacist. Most float pharmacists study pharmacy, chemistry, or biology. They also hold a bachelor's degree in these fields. You must possess quality customer service. As a float pharmacist, you should earn an average of $119,924 in a year.

What general advice would you give to a Float Pharmacist?

B

Brent Rollins RPh, PhDBrent Rollins RPh, PhD LinkedIn Profile

Associate Professor of Pharmacy Administration, Website

Speaking strictly from a supply and demand perspective, yes. In the next four to five years, the amount of pharmacy graduates is going to drop significantly as enrollment has dropped nationwide. I've seen data and had conversations with hiring managers about what the traditional practice role market will look like in the near future and all point to quite the increase in demand.
ScoreFloat PharmacistUS Average
Salary
8.1

Avg. Salary $118,744

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
10.0

Growth Rate 2%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.18%

Asian 20.13%

Black or African American 7.65%

Hispanic or Latino 5.78%

Unknown 4.02%

White 62.24%

Gender

female 56.71%

male 43.29%

Age - 40
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40
Stress Level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
10.0

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
6.7

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Float Pharmacist career paths

Key steps to become a float pharmacist

  1. Explore float pharmacist education requirements

    Most common float pharmacist degrees

    Bachelor's

    48.4 %

    Doctorate

    44.4 %

    Master's

    3.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific float pharmacist skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Patients29.60%
    Customer Service22.20%
    Patient Care22.19%
    Immunization8.05%
    Inventory Management7.68%
  3. Complete relevant float pharmacist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New float pharmacists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a float pharmacist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real float pharmacist resumes.
  4. Research float pharmacist duties and responsibilities

    • Manage many aspects of daily operations of pharmacy department with emerging focus on oncology.
    • Dose and manage all Vancomycin and Aminoglycoside antibiotics throughout the entire hospital including overseeing, evaluating, and ordering antibiotic labs.
    • Facilitate the training of staff from Eckerd to CVS
    • Provide pharmacist coverage to CVS stores locate around Wisconsin.
  5. Prepare your float pharmacist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your float pharmacist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a float pharmacist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Float Pharmacist Resume templates

    Build a professional Float Pharmacist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Float Pharmacist resume.
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  6. Apply for float pharmacist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a float pharmacist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Float Pharmacist Job

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Average float pharmacist salary

The average Float Pharmacist salary in the United States is $118,744 per year or $57 per hour. Float pharmacist salaries range between $92,000 and $152,000 per year.

Average Float Pharmacist Salary
$118,744 Yearly
$57.09 hourly

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How do float pharmacists rate their job?

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Float Pharmacist reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Pros

Pay is fair for a starting pharmacist (CVS). The technicians are alright. 401K Helping people (and I really mean it).

Cons

Typical pharmacist complaints like tired legs, stress, etc. Terrible work-life balance. You make a good amount of money, sure, but there's a point where money doesn't bring happiness like it used to.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2019
Pros

it helps a lot. i really needed this.

Cons

i like everything. theres nothing i dont like.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019
Pros

The ability to make a difference in someones Health and Wellness

Cons

Inability to balance Life and Work and Family


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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