2006 North Dakota Pharmacists' Wage and Workload Assessment

Abstract

Background:

While literature on workforce studies is growing, there are no studies that collect accurate information concerning wages and workload issues of North Dakota pharmacists.

Objective:

To evaluate the wages and workload issues of pharmacists in North Dakota.

Methods:

A survey was modified based on the Wage and Benefit Survey for pharmacists used in the Upper Midwest Pharmacists Workforce Study and the 2004 National Pharmacist Workforce Study. A survey was mailed to the 689 pharmacists practicing in North Dakota.

Results:

Overall, 424 of 689 completed surveys (61.5% response rate) were analyzed. Pharmacists (n = 377) reported that they worked in a primary employment setting an average of 39.3 hours per week at an average hourly rate of $41.03, and the gross 2005 salary (excluding benefits) was $80,525. Chains had the highest average hourly pay rate ($43.92/hour), followed by hospitals ($41.89) and independents ($38.71). Commonly reported benefits included paid vacation (88.6%), employee health insurance (84.1%), sick leave (62.9%), and tax-sheltered plans (70.6%).

Pharmacists spent the majority (50.8%) of their time in medication dispensing activities, followed by consultation (18.5%), business management (16.7%), and drug use management (12.5%). Ideally, pharmacists would like to spend less time in medication dispensing (36.1%) and business management (12.8%) and more time in consultation (28.7%) and drug use management (19.7%).

Conclusions:

The North Dakota study revealed that pharmacists want to spend more time in consultation and drug use management activities and less time in medication dispensing. These results are similar to those of the 2004 National study. While pharmacist average hourly pay rates and benefits are reflective of North Dakota practice settings, the respondents' rates are lower when compared with those in Minnesota.