With the economic situation in Nigeria still at the developing phase, people have drifted towards the lines of professional fields. Although even these fields don’t guarantee a stable and automatic job placement after school, they still have upper hand than some other professions.

It is no news, professionals in some certain fields of most developing economies are usually among the top earner. These fields not only open them to various possibilities, they also tend to be indispensable, making the Government or private sectors they work for cough more cash for them; one of which is the Pharmacy profession.

Generally, Pharmacy is one of those profession you go into with a considerably high tendency you will get a job after school. Apart from the fact that the place of pharmacists in the community cannot be overemphasized, these professionals tend to on incomes considerably higher than many other professions.

For lovers of drugs and researchers, Pharmacy is just a bonus, with much focus of the field dedicated to discovering and prescribing medical remedies to sicknesses and diseases. When it comes to respect of professions, Pharmacists are among the most respected professions in the world and it is easy to see why lots and lots more people develop interest in the profession in recent times.

The big question then is; how much do pharmacists earn? While there have been a lot of debates surrounding salaries of Pharmacists in Nigeria these days, this post sheds more light on how much a pharmacist should expect to earn in Nigeria.

Pharmacists’ Salary: How Much Do Pharmacists Earn in Nigeria?

Pharmacy is one of the most respected professions in Nigeria. While their place in the medical world remains untouchable and absolutely vital, their salaries in some parts of the world, including Nigeria, is regarded as a peanut compared to other professions. Although they work with Medical Doctors and other medical professionals (they as well work alone), there is a considerable difference in salaries of medical doctors and Pharmacists.

Salaries of Pharmacists vary according to level. For instance, an entry level pharmacist is expected to earn less than a chief pharmacist. We will classify the average salaries of pharmacists in Nigeria according to the level of experience. This means that entry level pharmacist should have between 0- 2 years relevant experience, Mid-level between 2- 5/6years experience and experienced pharmacist with over 6years experience.

It should be noted that there is a huge difference between how much Government pay pharmacists and how much private institutions pay. Generally, the salary structure for Pharmacists is based on two main standards: Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) which is for hospitals and Consolidated University Academic structure (CONAUSS) for Pharmacists in the academic sector.

On the average, an entry level Pharmacist earn between N100, 000 – N170, 000 in Nigeria. However, the starting salary for Government staff is between N165, 000 – N300, 000 per month which is renewed after three to four years. There are also other basic bonuses and allowances.  Here is a breakdown of how much Pharmacists earn per level of experience.

Salaries of Pharmacists in Government Hospitals/Teaching Hospitals

• Entry level (0 – 2 years’ experience): N165, 000 – N200, 000 (One or two teaching hospitals pay N300, 000 for entry level).
• Mid-Level (2 – 5 years): N250, 000 – N450, 000
• Experienced (5 years and above): N450, 000 – N800, 000

Salaries of Pharmacists in Private Hospitals

• Entry level (0 – 2 years’ experience): N75, 000 – N150, 000
• Mid-Level (2 – 5 years): N150, 000 – N250, 000
• Experienced (5 years and above): N200, 000 – N400, 000

How to Become a Pharmacist in Nigeria

Are you interested in pursuing a profession in Pharmacy? Congratulations, you are on the right page. Here we will take a quick look at processes involved in pursuing a career in Pharmacy. Here is a step by step guide on how to become a Pharmacist in Nigeria.

• Get Required Certifications: To become a professional in Nigeria, you need to have the necessary certifications. First of all is the Primary and secondary certification. You can then proceed to a University to study Pharmacy. Usually, Universities will demand at least a credit pass in basic science courses including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics and English Language. You are also required to pass the compulsory UTME with a reasonably good score. UTME cut-off marks vary per institution.
• Internship: While in the university, you are expected to go for a compulsory one-year internship program where you will practise as a Pharmacist in a hospital or teaching hospital. Here, you will learn a lot more about the profession and have an opportunity to relate with other professionals.
• NYSC: The national Youth Service Corp is another compulsory phase in your journey to be a Pharmacist. It is a one-year service year where you are expected to serve your motherland. Ideally, you will be posted to a hospital or a pharmacy in the area you are posted to.