Two out-of-the-drugstore pharmacy specialties

Most pharmacists can be found in drug stores and pharmacies, working behind the counter dispensing drugs and guidance to patients. But, there is a substantial portion of pharmacists that work outside the retail setting.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 62 percent of pharmacists work in retail settings, including drug stores, grocery stores and general merchandise stores. Other pharmacists -- like clinical pharmacists and consulting pharmacists -- work in specialized fields that take them out of the traditional drug store.

The job outlook for both these specializations, and for pharmacists in general, is very strong. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of all pharmacists is set to increase by 25 percent through 2020. The bureau points to several factors that will drive this boost in employment, including scientific advances that will lead to new drug products, a growth in the number of people obtaining insurance coverage for medications, and an increasingly aging American population that will need the expertise and guidance of pharmacists.

Because of their roles in direct patient care, clinical and consultant pharmacists -- two pharmacists that work outside the retail setting -- will play large roles in the growing future need for specialized pharmacists.

Clinical pharmacists

What they do: Clinical pharmacists spend most of their time in direct patient care, working in hospitals and other health care settings. Their main role is to work with patients and health care providers to provide information about the effects of prescription drugs, the dosage amounts and potential side effects, and to help plan drug therapy programs. Their job might include going on rounds with doctors and recommending medications to give to patients, or counseling patients on how and when to take their medications. Many clinical pharmacists are also clinical pharmacist researchers. According to the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, these clinical pharmacists generate, disseminate and apply new knowledge in the field of clinical pharmacy.

How to be one: After obtaining their Doctor of Pharmacy degree, people hoping to become clinical pharmacists complete a one- to two-year residency, and become licensed to practice.

Salary: According to CBSalary.com, the average national salary for a clinical pharmacist is $136,594.

Consultant pharmacists

What they do: Consultant pharmacists advise health care facilities or insurance providers on how to make pharmacy services more efficient. They also sometimes work directly with patients, giving pharmacy-related advice, such as helping seniors manage their prescriptions. Consultant pharmacists may also help patients design health plans, fill out insurance paperwork or learn how to use medical devices. According to the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, these specialized pharmacists originally worked only in nursing homes, and helped improve the use of medications in these facilities. Today, they work in a wide variety of settings, including subacute care and assisted living facilities, psychiatric hospitals, hospice programs and in-home and community-based care.

How to be one: Like pharmacists in general, consultant pharmacists require a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and a license to practice.

Salary: According to CBSalary.com, the average national salary for a consultant pharmacist is $88,157.