How it works
In pharmacy school, or thinking about it? Press the button for a kind of pharmacist, from the community pharmacy counter to nuclear pharmacy and the drug industry, each with what the job involves.
Read the full guide
Four kinds the labor bureau names
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics gives four types as examples: community pharmacists in retail stores, clinical pharmacists who give direct patient care in hospitals and clinics, consultant pharmacists who advise care facilities and insurers, and pharmaceutical industry pharmacists in research, marketing or sales.
Fifteen board specialties
The Board of Pharmacy Specialties certifies pharmacists in fifteen areas, among them oncology, pediatric, psychiatric, critical care and nuclear pharmacy. The bureau notes that a pharmacist who wants a clinical post may add a residency after the degree, typically one to two years long.
- Every US state licenses pharmacists and the requirements vary, so read your state board’s rules before you plan a move.
Questions and answers
What are the different types of pharmacists?
Some are named for where they work: a community pharmacy, a hospital, a clinic or a drug company. Others are named for a board specialty, such as cardiology or infectious diseases pharmacy. A few work in poison centers, informatics, the armed forces or with animals.
How do I know what type of pharmacist I should be?
Ask how much patient contact you want. Community pharmacists answer patients’ questions at the counter, while nuclear pharmacists typically do not deal with patients directly. Then use your school rotations to try a hospital, a clinic and a retail pharmacy.
Where do most pharmacists work?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics names pharmacies and drug retailers as the largest employer, with 37 percent of pharmacist jobs in 2025, followed by hospitals with 32 percent.
What degree does a pharmacist need?
In the United States pharmacists typically need a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from an accredited program, the Bureau of Labor Statistics says.