Pharmacist job turnover from 1983 to 1997 was studied. Data were collected from a randomized 1997 mail survey of 1600 licensed pharmacists in four states (Ohio, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Alabama). The survey instrument included questions on pharmacist demographics, work schedules, salary, and work history. A total of 541 pharmacists responded, yielding an adjusted response rate of 34.5%. Information was provided on a total of 1697 jobs with start dates from 1931 to 1997. Pharmacist job turnover was fairly steady across the 1983-1997 period, averaging 11% annually. The average median tenure of pharmacists who left jobs was 32 months. The percentage of pharmacists leaving jobs and ranking stress as the reason for leaving increased, and the percentage of leavers ranking salary as the reason decreased. Women had a significantly higher annual turnover rate (15%) than men (9.7%), and they stayed in jobs for significantly less time (25.2 months) than men (56.5 months). There were no differences in turnover rates across practice settings. A larger percentage of pharmacists leaving jobs in large chain and institutional settings ranked stress as a reason for leaving than pharmacists leaving independent or small chain pharmacies. A larger percentage of pharmacists leaving independent or small chain pharmacies ranked salary as a reason than pharmacists in the other two settings. Pharmacist job turnover averaged 11% per year between 1983 and 1997. Pharmacists who left jobs typically stayed less than three years. The percentage citing stress as a reason for leaving increased, and the percentage citing salary decreased.