31120 – Pharmacists
This occupation is on IRCC's Express Entry high-wage list (median wage at least 1.5 times the average median wage). From November 3, 2026, 12 months of qualifying Canadian work experience in it can add 40 CRS points, or a qualifying job offer in it can earn 70 points. Only the higher of the two counts, not both.
Lead statement
Community pharmacists and hospital pharmacists compound and dispense prescribed pharmaceuticals and provide consultative services to both clients and health care providers.
Main duties
- Check prescriptions for proper dosage
- Compound prescribed pharmaceutical products by calculating, measuring and mixing the quantities of drugs and other ingredients required and filling appropriate containers with correct quantity
- Dispense prescribed pharmaceuticals to customers or to other health care professionals and advise them on indications, contra-indications, adverse effects, drug interactions and dosage
- Maintain medication profiles of customers including registry of poisons and narcotic and controlled drugs
- Ensure proper preparation, packaging, distribution and storage of vaccines, serums, biologicals and other drugs and pharmaceuticals
- Order and maintain stock of pharmaceutical supplies
- Advise customers on selection and use of non-prescription medication
- Renew existing prescriptions in limited circumstances
- May adapt the formulation, regimen, duration or route of administration of medication
- May supervise and coordinate the activities of other pharmacists, pharmacy assistants, pharmacy technicians and other staff.
- Participate in research for the development of new drugs
- Formulate new drug products developed by medical researchers
- Test new drug products for stability and to determine absorption and elimination patterns
- Coordinate clinical investigations of new drugs
- Control the quality of drug products during production to ensure that they meet standards of potency, purity, uniformity, stability and safety
- Develop information materials concerning the uses, properties and risks of particular drugs
- Evaluate labelling, packaging and advertising of drug products
- Promote pharmaceutical products to health professionals.
Employment requirements
- A university degree in pharmacy and a period of supervised practical training are required.
- Licensure is required in all provinces and territories for community and hospital pharmacists.
Example job titles
community pharmacist · pharmacist · druggist · hospital druggist · hospital pharmacist · registered pharmacist · retail pharmacist · industrial pharmacist
Wages (per hour)
| Province / territory | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | $40.00 | $55.49 | $67.00 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $33.00 | $51.00 | $59.00 |
| Nova Scotia | $41.25 | $51.00 | $58.97 |
| New Brunswick | $46.15 | $52.00 | $65.00 |
| Quebec | $41.03 | $63.00 | $75.00 |
| Ontario | $37.00 | $53.85 | $65.00 |
| Manitoba | $50.00 | $56.00 | $69.23 |
| Saskatchewan | $35.18 | $55.33 | $62.00 |
| Alberta | $41.24 | $55.00 | $62.00 |
| British Columbia | $40.87 | $52.00 | $64.00 |
Source: Job Bank wages, 2025 release (ESDC). Low and high are the 10th and 90th percentiles.
Occupation details: ESDC OaSIS 2025, based on NOC 2021.