UAMS College of Pharmacy
The survey was sent to all 87 graduating students and was open from April 2 to May 16, 2025. The response rate was 99%.
49 of 65 (75%) non-residency-bound graduates received an employment offer by the close of the survey (average offers received = 2). 21 respondents accepted a residency or fellowship position.
38 of 65 (58%) of non-residency-bound graduates accepted a position by the close of the survey.
- Overall, 34 graduates who accepted positions will practice in Arkansas, with the majority settling in central Arkansas. Excluding residency and fellowship positions, 5 will practice pharmacy outside of Arkansas, see Table 3.
- 29 graduates (excluding residency and fellowship) who accepted a position did so in a community setting (chains, independent, mass-market, specialty pharmacies, consultant, etc.), see Table 2.
- The average full-time salary for graduates (excluding residency and fellowship and with full-time defined as ≳32 hours per week) is $121,841 per year (n=29).
- The average hourly wage for graduates (excluding residency and fellowship) with full-time employment in any area of pharmacy practice is $59 (n=29), see Table 2.
Most frequently offered benefits include retirement plans, paid vacation, health insurance, paid holidays.
91% of respondents have student loans with an average of $148,000 and totals ranging from $10,000 to $260,000.
Approximately 16% of respondents plan to own a pharmacy in the future.
- Plan to own, 14 of 86
- Do not plan to own, 48 of 86
- Undecided, 24 of 86
Table 1. Position Information
Non-Residency Bound Graduates
| Accepted a position prior to graduation (excluding residency) | Number | Percent (out of 65) |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 38 | 58% |
| No | 11 | 17% |
| No offer received | 16 | 25% |
| Require moving to a different city or state for a position | Number | Percent (out of 38) |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 8 | 21% |
| No | 30 | 79% |
| Worked with employer prior to accepting a position* | Number | Percent (out of 38) |
|---|---|---|
| Yes – I worked for them prior to pharmacy school | 12 | 31% |
| Yes – I worked for them as an intern | 25 | 64% |
| Yes – I worked with them during one of my rotations | 10 | 26% |
| No – I have no previous working experience with my employer | 8 | 21% |
Table 2. Salary Information by Position Type
Non-Residency Bound Graduates*
| Position environment | Full-time accepted offers | Avg full-time hourly rate (min, max) | Avg hrs/week (min, max) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chain Community Pharmacy (e.g. CVS, Express Rx, Kroger, Walgreens, Walmart) | 16 | $61 ($57, $63) | 39 (32, 50) |
| Independent Community Pharmacy (e.g. Bryant Family, Kavanaugh, Park West) | 13 | $59 ($52, $65) | 38 (32, 40) |
| Hospital Pharmacy (e.g. Baptist, CHI St. Vincent, UAMS) | 3 | $58 ($51, $64) | 40 (40, 40) |
| Nuclear Pharmacy (e.g. Cardinal, PharmaLogic, Jubilant, RLS) | 2 | $65 ($65, $65) | 40 (40, 40) |
| Industry (e.g. Medical Science Liaison, Clinical Lead) | 0 | NA | NA |
| Other† (Consultant, Specialty Pharmacies) | 4 | $56 ($38, $70) | 40 (40, 40) |
†Long-term care pharmacy (3), federally qualified health center (1)
Table 3. Position Location Information
Non-Residency Bound Graduates
| Location | # Respondents (n=38) |
|---|---|
| Central Arkansas (Little Rock area) | 18 |
| North Central Arkansas (Mountain Home area) | 0 |
| South Central Arkansas (El Dorado area) | 0 |
| West Central Arkansas (Russellville area) | 3 |
| East/East Central Arkansas (Helena/Forrest City area) | 0 |
| Northeast Arkansas (Jonesboro area) | 3 |
| Southeast Arkansas (Monticello area) | 0 |
| West Arkansas (Fort Smith area) | 1 |
| Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville area) | 6 |
| Southwest Arkansas (Texarkana/Hope area) | 3 |
| Out of state | 4 |
| Out of country | 0 |