If you're a pharmacist, you may be looking for a side hustle to make a little extra cash. And this may surprise some people.
After all, it takes between 6 to 8 years of post-high school education and a possible 1-2 years of residency to become a pharmacist. Therefore, pharmacists must be in a great spot financially to not need a side hustle, right?
Well, unfortunately, this isn't the case. As many people in the field are witnessing, the market has become oversaturated, leading to falling wages nationwide. When you couple that with unprecedented student loans at over $173,000 on average, many pharmacists need some extra income for a few years if they want to get ahead.
But not all is lost. Pharmacists have gained extraordinary skills through their education and work experience, which can translate to some serious lucrative side hustles.
In this post, I'll explore the best side hustles for pharmacists, how much you can make, and much more. Let's get started!
Why Pharmacists Need a Side Hustle
If you're a pharmacist, chances are you've thought about starting a side hustle at some point.
With a side hustle, you can make money outside your full-time job – which can be extremely powerful for your finances.
This can be anything from starting your own online business to becoming a consultant.
Not only does a side hustle provide extra income, but it can also help you develop new skills and build new networks. And best of all, it can give you the flexibility to work on your own terms.
If you're ready to get started on your own side hustle, there are a few things you should keep in mind.
First, think about what you're good at and what you're passionate about. This will help you narrow down your options and find something that you'll enjoy working on.
Next, consider how much time and effort you're willing to put into your side hustle. Make sure you’re able to juggle it with your job.
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Best Pharmacy Side Hustles to Make Extra Cash
Here are some of the best side hustles if you're a pharmacist looking to make a little extra money. Some might be better for you than others, and you can always try a few and see what works best for you.
Work PRN Shifts
The easiest way to boost your next paycheck is by picking up extra shifts.
Some companies pay overtime up to time and a half (which can be unheard of in the industry). Others may increase your hourly pay for overtime hours worked.
Let your scheduler know that you're happy to pick up a few shifts when they become available.
If your current pharmacy position doesn't offer overtime or the pay isn't great, you can also get hired for a PRN position with a different company.
Pharmacies are always looking for coverage help, especially on the weekends when fewer people are willing to work.
Some of my peers have moonlighted or picked up overnight shifts. Although it's hard to work these shifts, it's a great way to make extra cash.
Immunization Clinics
With the pandemic still going and boosters constantly being released, pharmacies are getting inundated with a massive increase in workload.
While many immunization clinics were hugely popular during the peak of the pandemic, some places still offer them a few times a month to spare their pharmacists during the typical workday.
This is a great and easy way to make extra income if you don't have the energy to pick up another busy day in a pharmacy or hospital.
Give a Talk or Presentation
Now that we're getting back to hosting pharmacy and medical conferences, if you're a clinical expert in a particular field, use that to your advantage and see what types of presentations you can give.
Not only can you get paid for these events, but they're a great place to network with like-minded experts in your niche (have your digital business card ready).
Provide Consultations
With doctor visits being shortened and pharmacists too overwhelmed with day-to-day business, patients are looking for someone to sit down with them and help them with their medications.
This is where patient consultations come in. As a pharmacist, you're uniquely positioned to provide medication therapy management (MTM) where you can optimize your patient's medication regimen.
Another option is in the new field of pharmacogenomics.
By looking at a patient's genetics and DNA, this service can choose medications that will likely yield the highest response, leading to more individualized management. Best of all, you can create your own schedule, giving you complete control.
Blogging
In recent years, blogging has become an increasingly popular way to share thoughts, experiences, and expertise. And for pharmacists, blogging can be a powerful global platform to discuss supplements and overall health.
Starting a blog has very little upfront costs.
All you need is a laptop and a reliable internet connection (if you want to save some money, there are now fixed wireless internet providers available).
Although you won't find immediate compensation, it's an excellent investment to make money online through passive income with affiliate marketing, sponsorships, or ads.
The learning curve is not very large (especially compared to what it takes to become a pharmacist!), and you can learn the basics of how to make a blog in just a few days.
So how much can you make blogging?
The sky is the limit for many bloggers. It's all about how much time and effort you put in.
Some bloggers can make over 6-figures from their blog each year – which isn't bad at all consider it's a passive side hustle.
You can check out Your Financial Pharmacist or The Happy PharmD for inspiration.
Sell An Online Course
As a pharmacist, you have a unique skill set that can be extremely valuable to people looking to learn more about pharmacology. And remember, it's not just pharmacists that need to know the fundamentals of medications. Nurses, physicians, medical assistants, and many more professionals require this knowledge.
And you're not just limited to pharmacology, but consider test-taking courses or information about natural medicines.
No matter what type of information you decide to offer, you can be confident that there will be people who are interested in learning from you.
Selling online courses can be extremely lucrative.
While it takes some time to put together a quality course, once it's created, you can continue to sell it over and over again.
Some course creators have made over 7-figures with this digital side hustle.
Medical Writing
Pharmacists are among the most trusted and highly-educated professionals in the healthcare field. And while most pharmacists choose to work in traditional settings like hospitals or clinics, an increasing number are choosing to freelance as medical writers.
Medical writing is a great side hustle for pharmacists because it allows them to use their knowledge and expertise to help create educational materials for patients, doctors, and other healthcare providers.
Even better, medical writing is a remote side hustle that can be done from anywhere, which means that pharmacists can easily fit it into their busy schedules.
Since medical writing typically pays quite well, it can be a great way to boost your income.
If you're looking for a flexible and rewarding side hustle, consider medical writing. You may be surprised at how much you enjoy it.
Tutoring
Did you pass your NAPLEX and pharmacy law exam with flying colors?
Then maybe you could consider tutoring!
As a practicing pharmacist, you likely understand the testing material and could charge an hourly rate for your services.
To increase your earning potential, hold “group” study sessions with a few students.
For instance, if you charge $20 an hour for a minimum group of 5 students, this will give you a nice $100 per hour, and the students get personalized teaching at a reasonable price.
You can offer your services online or at your local pharmacy school or community college.
So if you enjoy teaching, this can be a much more fun way to increase your income while giving back to the profession.
Become a Part-Time Adjunct Faculty
Speaking of teaching, if it's something that you enjoy doing, why not do it part-time at a pharmacy school?
Adjunct faculty positions are a great way to share your knowledge and experience with pharmacy students, and they can be a great source of supplemental income.
Adjunct faculty members typically teach one or two courses per semester part-time.
In addition, adjunct faculty members often have the opportunity to design their own courses, which can be highly rewarding.
Write an E-Book
If you love writing, but don't particularly care for the formal jargon that's required for medical journals, then an E-book may be a better fit.
You can use your skillset to write about health and wellness or something completed unrelated.
Although there is a lot of front work involved, including writing the book, editing, cover graphics, and marketing, the passive income makes your labor highly worth it in the end.
Start Investing in Real Estate
With a pharmacist's steady income and access to financial resources, they are well-positioned to invest in real estate.
There are many ways to get started in real estate investing to make passive income.
One of the best ways to get started is with Fundrise. I love this platform for several reasons:
- Low minimum investment of just $10
- Easily diversify your real estate portfolio
- Strong track record of returns
- You'll get $10 free when you open a new account
If you're looking for a hands off way to make extra money with real estate – Fundrise is a tremendous option.
Pharmacists can also start small by investing in rental properties like a single-family homes or condominiums.
As the passive income generates, you can use those profits to move forward with a larger property like a duplex or triplex.
Another great option is to look into short-term rentals. They have different tax advantages than long-term rentals but also require a lot more legwork.
What about digital real estate? It's a new horizon, and there are many ways to start getting involved.
With the right strategy and portfolio of investments, pharmacists can generate significant income and build long-term wealth.
Invest in the Stock Market
You're likely already investing through an employer 401(k). If you've already maxed out your annual contribution, then there are a myriad of other ways to invest.
You can invest in individual stocks, index funds, ETFs, mutual funds, and much more.
Investing in the stock market is a great way to make passive income on the side to reach your financial goals.
To get started, I recommend using a platform like Acorns. You can easily invest in a variety of stock market assets with very little money.
Plus, you'll get $10 completely free when you open a new account.
Consider Looking Into Crypto and NFTs
Cryptocurrency and NFTs have been popular buzzwords for the last few years and for some pharmacists – a great way to make extra money.
Some investors have made a tremendous income from their cryptocurrency investments, but it's not guaranteed.
Cryptocurrency can be purchased on exchanges and can also be used to purchase digital artwork, better known as NFTs. However, cryptocurrency and NFTs are a very volatile market, so do so at your own risk.
You can use a platform like Coinbase or Gemini to buy and sell cryptocurrency.
Rent Things Out
There are tons of things you likely own that you can rent out these days. Check out these popular three items you may already own and can make some serious money with.
- Cars: Do you have a second car that sits in the garage? Or do you work from home and never drive? Turo is a popular car-sharing service that allows people to rent out their vehicles to others, and there are tons of Turo alternatives to choose from as well.
- Homes and Condos: I'm sure you've heard of apps like Airbnb or VRBO where you can rent out your home or condo. If you have a second home that you only use sparingly, this is a great way to at least help pay for the expenses. Rent it out enough weekends, and you'll likely churn a nice profit.
- Pool: If you have a backyard with a nice pool, then you already know how expensive the maintenance can be. You can help offset that and make some extra cash simply by renting out your backyard for a few hours on a platform like Swimply.
- Space: Have some extra closet space you don't need? Consider renting it out on a platform like Neighbor.com. This is an excellent way to make a few hundred dollars of passive income each month.
Turn a Hobby Into a Passion
Many pharmacists enjoy hobbies that they can do in their spare time.
For some, these hobbies can be a great way to make extra money. For instance, photography is a booming business where you can make some great money for special events like weddings and parties.
Ann, the founder of Mamma's Liquid Love, is a great example of this.
She is a pharmacist who made jewelry as a passion but discovered her side hustle was in high demand and now has a wonderful business.
Become an Influencer
Becoming an influencer is all about being authentic and relatable while also providing valuable information to your followers.
As a pharmacist, you can share your expert knowledge with the world and help people to live healthier lives. If you're looking for some inspiration, you can check out Mona Vand. She helps her followers with everything about natural wellness.
What's great is it doesn't take much to get started.
Create a social media account, create a content schedule, and build your audience on the side of your full-time job.
As you build up a following, you can begin working with brands on sponsored posts and collaborations. The sky's the limit when it comes to growing your influence as a pharmacist side hustle!
Make Digital Print Outs
The internet has revolutionized the products we can sell, and selling digital products is a great way for pharmacists to make some extra money.
Because you're not dealing with a physical product, you don't have to worry about product or shipping costs.
In addition, selling digital products is a great way to leverage your existing knowledge and expertise.
For instance, you can check out these pharmacy guides sold on Etsy, made by a pharmacist to help students pass their exams.
Start a Podcast
Podcasting can be an awesome way for some pharmacists to make extra money and have some fun doing it.
With this side hustle you can interview other pharmacists, discuss relevant topics in the industry, or create a show about something completely unrelated to your education.
Podcasting can be a great passive income stream, and all you need is a microphone and some basic audio editing software.
Start a YouTube Channel
YouTube is one of the best social media platforms to make money, and it's another great options for pharmacists looking to make some extra cash.
You can start a channel about anything, but it's always recommended picking a topic that you're passionate about.
This can be anything from beauty and fashion to cooking or reviews of over-the-counter medications.
While it can take some time to start making money from your channel, once you build up a following it can be a great way to make more money.
Take Online Surveys
While this isn't the highest paying side hustle, it can be a simple and easy way to make extra cash when you need it.
By taking a few online surveys you can make an easy $10 a day or more from your couch.
Some of the best survey sites include:
👉 Rakuten Insights - Cash out directly to PayPal!
👉 OpinionOutpost - Earn up to $25 per survey!
👉 Survey Junkie - Make $150 for select focus groups you complete!
👉 Swagbucks - Get a $5 bonus instantly!
👉 InboxDollars - Get a $5 bonus when you register today!
👉 Pinecone Research - Earn fast money taking surveys
👉 Survey Voices - Make money taking online surveys
Deliver Food with Doordash
Trying a delivery side hustle like Doordash can be a great way to make money with a truck or car in your free time.
My favorite thing about this side hustle is that you can choose exactly when you want to work. You can make your own schedule and work as your own boss.
If you can to make extra money, consider Doordash. Most drivers make between $20 and $25 per hour – which isn't bad!
Sign up below to get started!
Deliver Groceries with Instacart
Another app that pays you to drive is Instacart.
With this side hustle app, you'll get paid to deliver groceries to people in your area.
Like Doordash, you can work whenever you want and make your own schedule. Most drivers will make around $20 per hour.
To get started with Instacart, sign up below!
Work as a Virtual Assistant
If you're looking for a side job you can do in addition to your day job, working as a virtual assistant can be a tremendous option.
This is a fairly easy job that can be done from home, and it pays pretty well too.
Virtual assistants help can help with a variety of tasks like:
- Updating websites
- Posting on social media
- Sending and responding to emails
- And much more
The amount of money you can make will depend on your skills and expertise, but many virtual assistants make over $15 per hour.
Work as a Freelancer
If you have skills outside of your day job that you can offer as a service, working as a freelancer can be a great way to make extra money.
This could be anything like:
- Social media management
- Video editing
- Graphic design
- And much more
Freelancers can make a lot of money, depending on their skills and experience and it's extremely easy to get started thanks to freelance sites like Upwork or Fiverr.
Just create your profile and start bidding on jobs to start making money.
Try Pet Sitting
Pet sitting is another easy side hustle that you can do in addition to your current job.
This is a simple way to make $50 a day or more, and all you need is a love for animals.
If you're looking for an easy way to make money, pet sitting is a great option. You can use a platform like Rover to get connected instantly to animal owners in your area. Sign up below to get started!
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Ways to Make Extra Money as a Pharmacist
If you want to make more money as a pharmacist but don't want to pick up a side hustle just yet, give these options a try.
Find a New Job
Finding a new job is one of the easiest ways for medical professionals to boost their income in just a couple of weeks.
Many healthcare professionals can get an instant cash bonus in addition to a lucrative salary when they sign a new job contract.
Ask for a Raise
Asking for a raise is another great way to make extra money as a pharmacist.
If you feel like you're underpaid or deserve a raise, don't be afraid to ask for it. The worst that can happen is your boss says no.
Get a Part-Time Job
Finding a part time side job is a fast way for pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to earn extra money.
While a part time job is not a fun option, sometimes it can be necessary.
Final Thoughts on Pharmacy Side Hustles
Side hustles are a great way to make some extra money, and there are plenty of opportunities out there for you to get started.
So what are you waiting for? Pick one that interests you and give it a try. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy it – and how much money you can make!
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