When I chat over a cup of tea with my friend Gloria, who lives in my neighborhood, I often learn a lot about the profession of pharmacy in the U.S.

Gloria works as a retail pharmacist at H-E-B, the top market in Texas, and from what I hear about the income of market pharmacists, it's quite substantial. According to Texas standards, the salary for H-E-B pharmacists is around $130,000 to $150,000. Managers who receive overtime can even exceed $160,000.

In Korean currency, that's over 200 million won before taxes. It translates to about $60 to $70 an hour.

This level of salary for a supermarket pharmacist is a characteristic of the U.S. However, listening to Gloria's story, it's clear she has faced many challenges.

She didn't just land in this position right away. She started as a "floater."

This means she wasn't a fixed pharmacist at one location but rather filled in at various stores as needed.

At first glance, this may seem unstable, but in reality, it's a common path for new pharmacists.

The reason is that even though there are many H-E-B locations, each pharmacy already has a manager and staff pharmacist in place, and these positions are not easily vacated. Since the salary is good and the job is stable, everyone tends to stay for a long time.

As a result, there are no openings for new pharmacists. Thus, they naturally start as floaters to fill in the gaps.

From the company's perspective, someone is always on vacation, sick, or suddenly unavailable. They can't just close the store during those times.

So, they operate a separate pool of pharmacists who can be deployed anywhere, and that's the floater role.

According to Gloria, this period can be quite tough. One day she's at a location in San Antonio, and the next day she's at a different one, and each store has slightly different systems that she has to adapt to.

However, this process isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it's a time when skills can develop rapidly.

Gloria mentioned that during this time, she gained significant experience in speed, patient interaction, and problem-solving skills.

Moreover, this process serves as a kind of test. If managers think, "This person is good," they will reach out first when a good position opens up. So, in the end, being a floater acts as a verification process.

So, how long does one stay in this floater role? Realistically, it's between 6 months to 2 years. Other market pharmacies like Walgreens have a similar system.

Gloria floated for about a year before securing a fixed position.

While she had some luck, she also worked hard and didn't shy away from busy stores.

On the other hand, if someone only looks for comfortable places or dislikes moving, they might remain a floater for over 2 years.

Especially in Texas, where there are many H-E-B stores, positions tend to open up relatively quickly compared to other states.

In San Antonio, it's quite common to secure a position within a year.

Many people think that pharmacists just sit and check prescriptions, but the reality is quite different.

As Gloria puts it, "It's a professional job, but it's also a service job." They stand all day and constantly interact with people.

Gloria noted that working while standing has both advantages and disadvantages.

Thorough prescription reviews are essential. They check for correct dosages, potential drug interactions, and whether the medication is appropriate for the patient's condition.

A mistake here can lead to significant issues, so they must stay alert, and burnout is common due to the long hours.

While technicians handle the dispensing of medications, the final verification is the pharmacist's responsibility. After that comes patient counseling, which takes up a lot of time.

American patients tend to ask a lot of questions. They inquire about whether they can drink alcohol with their medication, why their prescription has changed, and what side effects to expect.

On top of that, there are insurance issues to navigate. One of the biggest stressors for U.S. pharmacists is dealing with complex insurance processes like 'Prior Authorization.' They spend a lot of time mediating between patients and insurance companies, handling approval denials, copay issues, and prescription errors, constantly coordinating between patients, insurers, and hospitals.

At this point, it feels more like a customer service role than just a pharmacist. Additionally, pharmacists also administer vaccinations like flu shots.

The workload and mental strain are no joke. On busy days, they handle hundreds of prescriptions while patients are lined up, phones are ringing, and problems keep arising. They have to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously. Mistakes are not an option, and there are many patient complaints, along with significant time pressure.

Gloria mentioned that when she first started working, she was almost overwhelmed. She found it tough after graduating from pharmacy school. After about a year, she said she finally established a routine.

Still, the reason people choose this profession is that the salary is high and stable. Earning around $140,000 is quite a decent level. Being in the healthcare field also brings recognition to the career. However, the money reflects not just comfort but also the stress, responsibility, and fatigue from dealing with people.

Ultimately, what I gather from observing Gloria is that being a pharmacist in the U.S. is indeed a well-paying job. But the demands are equally high.

It's not just a job for those who study well; it requires resilience, adaptability, and the ability to interact with people to last in the field.

If you're a pharmacist at H-E-B in Texas, it's true that it's a stable, high-income job.

However, understanding the realistic challenges pharmacists face and the difficulties they go through to get there helps to appreciate the value of the money they earn a bit more.