Oftentimes, when students want to pick courses for university education, their parent want them to go into the health sector because of the money, respect, glory and all the glitters that come with it.
Pharmacists are one of the best paid in Nigeria, although they are not paid like their counterparts in other countries.
In more advanced countries, professionals in the health industry are still seen as big fishes. There are a lot of professionals in the health sector, we have doctors, nurses, pharmacist and many more.
You will see a lot of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other medical professional leaving Nigeria for advanced countries where they are well appreciated. According to Forbes, the average salary for a pharmacist is $116,700 paid monthly.
Many pharmacy graduates are saddled with crushing student loan debt, but this is still good money. There are a few professions that produce graduates who make $100,000 immediately after graduation.
Although in Nigeria, medical professionals are still well paid but it’s not what it used to be. And it is definitely not what they deserve to be paid. Although people go to school to study medical courses, most of them go with the plan of travelling out of the country after school.
Many that want to stay in the country don’t have the idea of what pharmacists salary is in Nigeria. In this post, we will be informing you adequately on the salary scheme of pharmacists in Nigeria. We would be looking at what their pay look like in the private sector, public sector, industries, and other places.
How Much Does A Pharmacist Earn in Nigeria?
Pharmacy is one of the courses you will study in school and you will have a high tendency of getting a job after school. This is because their service is always in high demand.
They are called pharmacists, chemist or druggist as the case may be. They are the people in charge of safe and effective medication use. Pharmacists function in communities, hospitals, the pharmaceutical industry, long-term care facilities, and various government parastatal.
Although they pay them fairly in Nigeria yet their pay in Nigeria is considered peanut compared to what they earn in advanced countries.
Salaries of Pharmacists in Nigeria
Salary of Pharmacists in Nigeria varies according to level. A chief pharmacist will earn more compared to an entry-level pharmacist. Also, the sector which the pharmacist works with also determines their pay.
A pharmacist in the public sector is likely to earn more than a pharmacist in the private sector. In Nigeria, the salary scheme of the pharmacist is based on two major standards.
Which are:
1) Consolidated University Academic structure (CONAUSS) for pharmacist in the academics.
2) Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) which is for pharmacists in the hospitals.
Taking a good look at what pharmacists earn generally, the average pharmacist in Nigeria earn a basic salary of about ₦120,000 to ₦170,000. However, for a pharmacist working for the government, the starting salary is ₦170,000 -₦300,000 which is renewed after four years with other allowances.
Salaries of Pharmacists in Private Hospitals
- Entry level (0 – 2 years experience), they earn about ₦70 000 – ₦160, 000
- Mid-Level (2 – 5 years experience), they earn about ₦60, 000 – ₦280, 000
- Experienced (5 years experience and above), they earn about ₦250, 000 – ₦450, 000
Salaries of Pharmacists in Government Hospitals/Teaching Hospitals
- Entry level (0 – 2 years experience), they earn about ₦170, 000 – ₦220, 000 (some teaching hospitals pay ₦300, 000 for entry level).
- Mid-Level (2 – 5 years experience), they earn about ₦250, 000 – ₦450, 000
- Experienced (5 years and above), they earn about ₦450, 000 – ₦800, 000
Salaries of Pharmacists in Government Agencies
Pharmacists in government agencies such as NAFDAC, NDLEA, and other government agencies earn the following
- Entry level (0 – 2 years), they earn about ₦80, 000 – ₦100, 000 (some teaching hospitals pay ₦300, 000 for entry level).
- Mid-Level (2 – 5 years), they earn about ₦120, 000 – ₦160, 000
- Experienced (5 years experience and above), they earn about ₦230, 000 – ₦280, 000
Salaries of Pharmacists in Academics
Pharmacists working as lectures in state or federal universities earn about ₦220,000 and ₦700,000
Salaries of Pharmacists in Multinational Companies
Pharmacists in multinational companies earn salaries based on qualification, professional certificates, safety certificates, etc. Some multinational companies pay their staffs in dollars. Pharmacists in multinationals companies averagely earn between ₦300,000 and ₦800,000.
Self-employed Pharmacists
We also have the self-employed pharmacists who open pharmaceutical companies and shops. These pharmacists can earn up to ₦300,000 and ₦1,000,0o0 annually as some of them manufacture drug themselves.
We also have another set of pharmacists those who are employed by pharmaceutical shops and most times they are fresh graduates. They work for the senior pharmacist so as to garner the experience needed to get them a better job.
They are paid within the range of ₦60,000 and ₦70,000.
Becoming a Pharmacist in Nigeria
Before you can be called a pharmacist in Nigeria, there are some training and examination which you must have passed. Being a pharmacist is not a day job.
A step by step guide is provided below, explaining what you need to do before you can be called a pharmacist.
- Certificates: For every field, you want to go into in Nigeria especially a professional field, there are some certificates which you must have. First of all, is the Primary and secondary certificates. After which you must have your O’level result with good grades in Mathematics, English, physics, chemistry, and Biology. Then you go for UTME examination which you must pass with a reasonably good score. UTME cut-off marks vary across institutions.
- Internship: During your university education, a compulsory one-year internship program where you will practice as a Pharmacist in a hospital, teaching hospital, industry or agency is expected to be carried out. During your IT you will get to lay your hands on practical things and also0 work with professionals in the industry.
- NYSC: The National Youth Service Corp is another compulsory one-year service year where you are expected to serve your motherland. Ideally, you should be posted to a hospital, pharmacy, agency or industry.
After all, these have been done, you can either start practising or go for more examinations which will widen your knowledge base and add to your qualifications.
Job Opportunities Available For Pharmacist in Nigeria
They are several opportunities for pharmacists in Nigeria and they include :
- Community Pharmacist
- Pharmacologist
- University Lecturer or Academia.
- Consultant Pharmacy,
- Hospital Pharmacist,
- Government Agencies,
- Pharmaceutical Industries
- Science Writers
Conclusion
Pharmacy is a very great field where young Nigerians should aspire to go into. Not just because of the employability but also the respect and every other thing associated with the profession.
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