The standard career path for a pharmacist is straightforward: graduate, find a full-time role in a hospital or community pharmacy and stay there until retirement. But between the cost of living, significant student loan burdens and a professional desire to diversify skills, many pharmacists are looking beyond their primary 9-to-5.
The reality is that base salaries, while respectable, may not always meet pharmacists’ needs. Moonlighting bridges that gap. For many pharmacists, it’s also a strategic career move. It offers a pathway to test out different clinical environments and keep skills sharp in areas that a primary job might not utilize.
Who is eligible for moonlighting as a pharmacist?
Moonlighting eligibility isn’t universal; it hinges on a combination of licensure status, residency training and specific state scope-of-practice laws.
Generally, fully licensed PharmDs are the primary candidates for these roles. If you hold an active license in good standing, you are theoretically eligible to pick up shifts in hospital, ambulatory care, community or specialty pharmacy settings, provided you meet the specific credentialing requirements of the facility. For example, a hospital seeking per diem coverage for its ICU will likely require board certification (BCPS or BCCCP) or significant prior experience in critical care, whereas a community pharmacy may prioritize high-volume dispensing experience and immunization certification.
For pharmacy residents (PGY1 and PGY2), the situation is more nuanced. While residents are licensed pharmacists, their primary obligation is to their training program. Accreditation standards for residency programs place strict limits on duty hours to ensure patient safety and resident well-being. Consequently, residents may only moonlight with explicit approval from their Residency Program Director (RPD). This approval is often contingent on the resident making satisfactory progress in their program and that the moonlighting hours do not push them over the duty-hour limits (typically 80 hours per week, averaged over four weeks).
Why do pharmacists seek moonlighting opportunities?
Often, moonlighting pharmacists seek additional work for three primary reasons: financial supplementation, the desire to monetize specific clinical expertise and schedule flexibility.
Financial supplementation
The most obvious driver is extra money. Pharmacists make an average hourly wage of $64.81 in the U.S., according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some feel their base compensation doesn’t fully reflect their effort or financial needs, and moonlighting can present a predictable, higher hourly income source. Per diem pharmacist pay often commands a premium over base hourly rates because the roles typically don’t include benefits.
Monetizing clinical expertise
For those with advanced training, moonlighting is a way to leverage specific skills they may not use in their primary role. A pharmacist who completed a PGY2 in infectious disease but works in general medicine might moonlight in antimicrobial stewardship consulting. Similarly, skills in order verification, protocol management, anticoagulation and IV admixture are highly valued assets. By taking on per diem work in specialty settings, clinicians can ensure their full repertoire of skills remains active.
Schedule flexibility and role diversification
Burnout is a significant issue in the profession. One 2019 review of studies found that burnout affects more than half of pharmacists. “Burnout could be due to the longer days,” writes one pharmacist on Sermo. “When I worked at the hospital it was so difficult to get a good sleep schedule having to be up at 5 am when it was still light out until 9 pm.” Another pharmacist said that while they don’t personally experience burnout, “ there are definitely periods of time that are more stressful.”
While moonlighting may seem like an unlikely solution, taking on more work can sometimes alleviate this, provided it is the right kind of work. Working in the same environment day in and day out can be draining, and moonlighting offers a change of scenery. For example, one pharmacist on Sermo who finds it “hard to manage the business aspect of the pharmacy” might find respite moonlighting in a purely clinical role.
Where to find moonlighting opportunities as a pharmacist
While standard job boards like Indeed or LinkedIn are useful, many lucrative clinical pharmacy shifts are filled through more niche channels.
Internal staffing pools
If you already work for a large health system, you can start there. Many hospitals have internal “float pools” or per diem lists for current employees willing to pick up extra shifts in different departments. This is often the easiest route as you are already credentialed and familiar with the computer systems.
Health systems and weekend coverage
Hospitals are 24/7 operations, and staffing weekends or evenings is a perpetual challenge. Reach out to directors of pharmacy at local hospitals to inquire about their need for PRN (pro re nata) or on-call coverage.
Telepharmacy platforms
As rural hospitals struggle to staff overnight shifts, telepharmacy companies act as the bridge. Telehealth platforms may hire remote pharmacists to verify orders and provide clinical support from home.
Long-term care networks
Consultant pharmacy is a booming field. Reaching out to local nursing homes or long-term care pharmacy networks can uncover opportunities for monthly chart reviews (drug regimen reviews).
Professional networks
Online communities can help you expand your professional network. Sermo is one such medical social media platform where pharmacists can not only share tough clinical cases but also network with peers to find job opportunities or discuss the benefits and challenges of moonlighting.
8 moonlighting opportunities for pharmacists
If you are ready to diversify your income, here are eight specific avenues to explore.
Per diem hospital pharmacist
This is a classic moonlighting role. Hospitals need flexibility to cover sick calls, vacations and surges in patient census. Per diem hospital pharmacists typically focus on central pharmacy operations: order verification, checking IVs and answering drug information questions.
On-call clinical pharmacist coverage
Smaller hospitals, particularly critical access hospitals, may not have a pharmacist on-site 24/7 but are required to have one available for clinical questions. In this role, you carry a pager or phone during off-hours to answer complex dosing questions or approve restricted antibiotics.
Critical care/specialty coverage
For those with board certification (BCPS, BCCCP), specialty moonlighting is highly lucrative. You might cover weekends in an ICU, ED or oncology infusion center.
Telepharmacy
Telepharmacy is growing in popularity, and it can allow you to remotely verify medication orders for hospitals that lack 24-hour pharmacy presence.
“Pharmacists’ work has traditionally been very tied to being physically present… However, with technological advancements and the rise of digital solutions… smart working could become a reality,” notes a pharmacist and Sermo member. In response, another pharmacist noted that while technology is giving pharmacists new capabilities, “for some duties like dispensing, counselling patients, advising them and providing empathy driven approach to their therapy issues – being present in the pharmacy remains the corner stone of our profession.”
Ambulatory care clinic shifts
Ambulatory care moonlighting often involves chronic disease management. “Dialysis centers, ambulatory centers, and nursing homes all utilize consultant pharmacists to perform a variety of functions,” writes a clinical pharmacist on Sermo. These shifts are typically during business hours but can sometimes take place on weekends or evenings.
Consultant pharmacist (long-term care)
This role involves visiting nursing homes or assisted living facilities to perform Drug Regimen Reviews (DRR). You review patient charts to ensure medications are appropriate, necessary and free of interactions. It is a regulatory requirement that provides steady, flexible work.
Community/retail pharmacist
Even if your day job is in a hospital, picking up shifts at a local independent or chain pharmacy can be lucrative. These roles focus on dispensing, patient counseling and workflow management.
Vaccination/screening clinics
Public health initiatives and flu seasons create demand for immunizers. Pharmacists are increasingly recognized as accessible providers for these services, according to a U.S.-based pharmacist on Sermo: “I’m most excited on advancing pharmacists on the role of provider status. With our knowledge in the pharmaceuticals, vaccines and MTM, we are much more accessible in retail setting to our patients than prescribers.”
Another U.S. pharmacist elaborated on the progress in their state: “My independent pharmacy is a member of CPESN… I am a credentialed medical provider for Blue Cross / Blue Shield and Medicaid in my state. We also have statewide protocols for pharmacist-prescribed birth control, naloxone, immunizations… I am able to bill BC/BS medical insurance for my time and services.”
Non-clinical side jobs for pharmacists
Not every income boost needs to involve clinical decision-making. If the idea of more clinical responsibility feels overwhelming, you can explore non-clinical side gigs for pharmacists. These might include medical writing, tutoring pharmacy students or legal consulting. For a deeper dive into these options, check out our guide to pharmacist side hustles.
Sermo paid medical surveys as a means to reach your goals
Paid medical surveys represent an accessible non-clinical side job. Sermo offers pharmacists the ability to earn supplemental income in smaller, manageable chunks of time.
By participating in market research, you are monetizing your opinion and expertise rather than your physical presence. The additional income can help you achieve personal or professional goals. Whether you’re saving for a secondary board certification, paying down the last of your student loans or building wealth for retirement, these surveys provide a flexible income stream.
Moonlighting as a pathway to professional freedom
Moonlighting and other clinical side gigs can help you pay your bills and achieve career longevity. By diversifying your practice settings, you insulate yourself from sector-specific instability. By increasing your income, you buy yourself financial freedom.
Whether you are looking for advice on how to land your first per diem role, want to discuss the nuances of telepharmacy contracts, or simply want to earn extra money sharing your insights, Sermo is for you. Join to connect with peers who are navigating the same path, share resources, and take control of your career.
