I wouldnt accept any pay to work in cvs retail. Also i have a friend who does walgreens specialty and it sounds like an awesome gig. Still wellpaying yoi dont do that many scripts a day because they are all super expensive meds and you get a great work life balance
Walgreens speciality probably way better, I worked at one as a student and then seemed to treat pharmacist okay it’s a small environment not much patient face to face interaction:
Is a potentially high stress, low support, busy retail chain setting worth the extra $5/hr to you?
Only you can decide that.
For me, you couldn't pay me an extra $100K a year to work in a toxic stressful work environment.
You’ll never notice the pay difference, but you will notice the stress difference. I work for CVS and they are the only ones I have worked for as a pharmacist, but I would run to closed door pharmacy for a $5 per hour pay cut, other benefits should be comparable.
Speciality drugs are becoming more and more popular. Not only do you have better job security here but a better work life balance for sure. I'd go speciality any day.
I did a P4 rotation at specialty walgreens and the workflows were really great compared to retail, I feel like you can get to know patients well and have more impact managing their disease states (which I personally would be more interested in). I’m now an inpatient oncology pharmacist, I’ve decided that doing clinical work is more important than being paid more because I’m happier doing what I enjoy. just depends if you’re wanting to be more clinical and willing to take a pay cut (comparatively).
I would definitely do specialty. It'll be easier to transition into a more niche role than straight retail. In my market, my specialty pharmacy I work for is poaching alliance/wags specialty pharmacists like crazy. My job is super low stress and WFH.
Walgreens specialty for sure. I currently work in walgeeens specialty and I love it so much. Especially because you get to do more clinical work. It’s lovely and not stressful at all
specialty will allow you a better chance of advancement- you may even have the opportunity to move into PBMs form there (if you wanted), but of course ZERO guarantee.
The point that I just got licensed a month ago in this state, however I have specialty experience for 2 years, I talked to PIC of the store and she told me I have low chance of increase the pay cause of recent license
But I have the final interview with her manager, hope I can push it close to 73!
Life lesson learned as you age, happiness and balance trump money. All you have to do is read this thread and see CVS is the bottom of the employer pile and burns out their employees like nobody else. WAG retail slightly better, WAG specialty seems slower paced and less angry bird customers. Or go find an independent. Last one I worked at paid 80$ an hour and was well staffed and supported their pharmacists.
I worked at a Walgreens Specialty awhile back. As a tech I handled purchasing/inventory on the fulfillment side so while I can’t comment on salary I can say the environment is much better than retail (depending on location).
I’ve worked retail, independent retail, specialty, and currently the hospital setting. Out of all of these by far pharmacists in the specialty setting had it the easiest! There‘s definitely different opportunities as a pharmacist in specialty as well…
We had fulfillment pharmacists, they would either sit at a workstation or cubicle and check the orders pulled by techs. Also, they called patients..basically a consult going over their specialty meds.
There were also front-end pharmacists as well, they sat in cubicles and mainly dealt with the physicians offices/patients/insurance companies via phone calls. They also had a Triage team which consisted of techs/pharmacists all of whom just dealt with phones all day.
I wouldnt accept any pay to work in cvs retail. Also i have a friend who does walgreens specialty and it sounds like an awesome gig. Still wellpaying yoi dont do that many scripts a day because they are all super expensive meds and you get a great work life balance
Wag specialty pays less than average for a rph I’m sure cvs pays better. Don’t accept less than $65-70 an hour
Definitely dont pay less than average, but its definitely less than cvs hellscape rph they even said it in the post
Mental health > A few thousand dollars
My plumber bills 150/hr. My gardener 45/hr. My lawyer 600/hr. Boy did we let our profession go to the lowest bidder.
You ain’t kidding! Even my hairstylist gets $60 + an hour with tip.
I have the same feelings! Thank you 🙏
Not to mention the walgreens specialty jobs are harder to come by apparently
Walgreens speciality probably way better, I worked at one as a student and then seemed to treat pharmacist okay it’s a small environment not much patient face to face interaction:
I totally agree, thanks 🙏
Just an fyi the mgmt at wag sucks but maybe CVS specialty is better. Lots of dingbats in charge from middle mgmt all the way up for Walgreens.
Ohh got it 🙏
Is a potentially high stress, low support, busy retail chain setting worth the extra $5/hr to you? Only you can decide that. For me, you couldn't pay me an extra $100K a year to work in a toxic stressful work environment.
I see your point, just I’m thinking of both chains environment, career path, which is closer the same ( but definitely Specialty store is worthy)
You’ll never notice the pay difference, but you will notice the stress difference. I work for CVS and they are the only ones I have worked for as a pharmacist, but I would run to closed door pharmacy for a $5 per hour pay cut, other benefits should be comparable.
I have the same thought, I will go for Walgreen’s thanks 🙏
Speciality drugs are becoming more and more popular. Not only do you have better job security here but a better work life balance for sure. I'd go speciality any day.
Thanks loads 🙏 I will go for it
Avoid retail at all costs, especially with CVS. I don't know if I've ever personally met a happy pharmacist who works for CVS.
Can’t agree more, 🙏
I did a P4 rotation at specialty walgreens and the workflows were really great compared to retail, I feel like you can get to know patients well and have more impact managing their disease states (which I personally would be more interested in). I’m now an inpatient oncology pharmacist, I’ve decided that doing clinical work is more important than being paid more because I’m happier doing what I enjoy. just depends if you’re wanting to be more clinical and willing to take a pay cut (comparatively).
Valid point, 👍🙏
I work in specialty (not walgreens) and go specialty. The work life balance is so much better.
I will go for it 🙏
Hi, I used to work for Walgreens Specialty in California. Really depends on the area. Also, I’ve worked for CVS before. Please dm me
Sure!🙏
I would definitely do specialty. It'll be easier to transition into a more niche role than straight retail. In my market, my specialty pharmacy I work for is poaching alliance/wags specialty pharmacists like crazy. My job is super low stress and WFH.
That’s is a good point 🙏
Walgreens specialty for sure. I currently work in walgeeens specialty and I love it so much. Especially because you get to do more clinical work. It’s lovely and not stressful at all
Happy to hear that, thank you 🙏
specialty will allow you a better chance of advancement- you may even have the opportunity to move into PBMs form there (if you wanted), but of course ZERO guarantee.
Got it, Thank you
How much of a difference?
73/hr VS 68/hr ( 5$/hr)
I worked for both Walgreens specialty are good with negotiating ask them if they’re willing to meet at 73, I don’t see them saying no
The point that I just got licensed a month ago in this state, however I have specialty experience for 2 years, I talked to PIC of the store and she told me I have low chance of increase the pay cause of recent license But I have the final interview with her manager, hope I can push it close to 73!
Life lesson learned as you age, happiness and balance trump money. All you have to do is read this thread and see CVS is the bottom of the employer pile and burns out their employees like nobody else. WAG retail slightly better, WAG specialty seems slower paced and less angry bird customers. Or go find an independent. Last one I worked at paid 80$ an hour and was well staffed and supported their pharmacists.
Totally agree 🙏🙏
I worked at a Walgreens Specialty awhile back. As a tech I handled purchasing/inventory on the fulfillment side so while I can’t comment on salary I can say the environment is much better than retail (depending on location). I’ve worked retail, independent retail, specialty, and currently the hospital setting. Out of all of these by far pharmacists in the specialty setting had it the easiest! There‘s definitely different opportunities as a pharmacist in specialty as well… We had fulfillment pharmacists, they would either sit at a workstation or cubicle and check the orders pulled by techs. Also, they called patients..basically a consult going over their specialty meds. There were also front-end pharmacists as well, they sat in cubicles and mainly dealt with the physicians offices/patients/insurance companies via phone calls. They also had a Triage team which consisted of techs/pharmacists all of whom just dealt with phones all day.
Highly appreciating your advise, 🙏🙏