This week, we're rerunning some popular posts while we put the finishing touches on DCI’s 2026-27 Economic Report on Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Specialty Distributors . Click here to see the original post from June 2026. By Adam J. Fein, Ph.D. and Greis Kapexhiu It’s time for Drug Channels ’ annual look at pharmacist salaries and employment. The latest data might be a tough pill to swallow. As we predicted, the situation was grim for retail pharmacists. Employment in retail outpatient pharmacies fell by 8,200 positions in 2025, following a drop of 11,700 positions over 2023 and 2024 combined. Meanwhile, pharmacist employment at hospitals grew by 3,000 positions, after hospitals added more than 11,000 pharmacist jobs in 2023 and 2024. Nearly half of all pharmacists now work outside a traditional retail setting. Overall pharmacist salaries averaged $140,920, but varied widely across practice settings. Salary growth in many settings, however, did not keep pace with overall inflation. Our 2026 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers documents how and why retail pharmacy economics are under sustained pressure. Since 2018, the two remaining national drugstore chains have collectively closed nearly 3,000 locations, reflecting margin compression and weaker front-end economics. As always, full salary and employment data appear below for your enjoyment or sorrow. Click here to share your thoughts on the pharmacist job market with the Drug Channels LinkedIn community. Jump to: Pharmacist Employment Trends Pharmacist Salary Trends Methodology Read more » © 2006-2026 HMP Omnimedia, LLC d/b/a Drug Channels Institute , an HMP Global Company. All rights reserved. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only.

Informa’s PBM Contracting Summit December 8-9, 2026 | Chicago, IL Drug Channels readers save 10% with code 26DRCH10* The PBM Contracting Summit returns to Chicago this December! Join the industry as expert speakers navigate the complex PBM landscape, gaining unparalleled strategies to enhance patient care and effectively manage costs. Key topics covered: Employer and Broker Priorities : Understand what drives PBM selection, where traditional models fall short, and how to demonstrate measurable value. Federal Regulatory Reform : Explore how evolving policy and enforcement affect your contracts through interactive roundtables. GLP-1 Cost Management : Balance growing demand with access, affordability, and long-term sustainability. Alternative PBM Models : Examine how emerging models address employer demands for transparency and control. Manufacturer Direct-to-Consumer Strategies : Assess how direct channels and patient support programs are reshaping the PBM’s role. And more! The PBM Contracting Summit remains essential to tackle rising drug costs head-on, spotlighting bold innovations in contracting, GLP-1 strategy, AI-powered solutions, and federal and state-driven regulatory change. View the agenda for PBM Contracting 2026 to see the complete picture—the program, speakers, and more. Visit www.informaconnect.com/pbm-contracting for further details and to register. Drug Channels readers will save 10% off when they use code 26DRCH10 and register prior to November 6, 2026 .* *Cannot be combined with other offers or used towards a current registration. Cannot be combined with special category rates or other offers. Other restrictions may apply. The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of HMP Omnimedia, LLC, Drug Channels Institute, its parent company, or any of its employees. To find out how you can publish an event post on Drug Channels, please contact Marie Caldwell (mcaldwell@hmpglobal.com) © 2006-2026 HMP Omnimedia, LLC d/b/a Drug Channels Institute , an HMP Global Company. All rights reserved. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only.

Today's guest post comes from Kristen Magee, Vice President of Methodology & Enablement at AssistRx. Kristen explains why patient support programs (PSPs) need to evolve as products move from launch through growth, maturity, and loss of exclusivity. She outlines how manufacturers can recalibrate the balance of technology, automation, and human support at each stage to improve efficiency while maintaining strong patient and healthcare provider experiences. To learn more about AssistRx's approach to patient support across the product lifecycle, download the AssistRx lifecycle playbook suite . Read on for Kristen's insights. Read more » © 2006-2026 HMP Omnimedia, LLC d/b/a Drug Channels Institute , an HMP Global Company. All rights reserved. This Feed is for personal non-commercial use only.