Pharmacists’ Job Satisfaction: Variation by Practice Setting

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the level of job satisfaction of pharmacists working in different settings and to measure the extent to which place of employment influenced levels of job satisfaction. Methods: A Web-based survey questionnaire was administered to a nationwide sample of currently practicing pharmacists in the U.S. Results: Most respondents were satisfied with their positions, with 68% “more” satisfied and 32% “less” satisfied. Pharmacists in independent and inpatient hospital pharmacies reported the highest rates of satisfaction (80% and 78%, respectively). Pharmacists in chain pharmacies reported much lower rates of satisfaction (53%) than those in all other settings (P < .05) and were 66% less likely to be satisfied than those in independent pharmacies. Conclusion: Overall, pharmacists were satisfied with their jobs, although those working in chain pharmacies reported significantly lower job satisfaction than their professional peers in other settings. Differences in job satisfaction were not explained by pharmacist demographics or other measured factors. Further research is needed to understand which aspects of jobs in different settings are more or less satisfying.