Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$99,290
- 25th Percentile — Junior$129,380
- 50th Percentile — Median$140,910
- 75th Percentile — Senior$161,840
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$174,230
The top 10% of Pharmacists earn $174,230 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $99,290, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $162,340 | +15.2% |
| Alaska | $161,220 | +14.4% |
| Oregon | $159,230 | +13.0% |
| Washington | $159,100 | +12.9% |
| Hawaii | $153,220 | +8.7% |
| Colorado | $150,510 | +6.8% |
| Delaware | $147,290 | +4.5% |
| Minnesota | $147,060 | +4.4% |
| Wisconsin | $146,010 | +3.6% |
| District of Columbia | $144,970 | +2.9% |
| New Mexico | $143,050 | +1.5% |
| Arizona | $142,330 | +1.0% |
| South Dakota | $142,330 | +1.0% |
| Virginia | $141,990 | +0.8% |
| New Jersey | $141,350 | +0.3% |
| Vermont | $140,780 | -0.1% |
| Maryland | $140,730 | -0.1% |
| New Hampshire | $140,720 | -0.1% |
| New York | $140,260 | -0.5% |
| Indiana | $140,030 | -0.6% |
| Wyoming | $139,830 | -0.8% |
| Nevada | $139,530 | -1.0% |
| Idaho | $139,410 | -1.1% |
| Connecticut | $139,150 | -1.3% |
| Pennsylvania | $138,740 | -1.5% |
| Massachusetts | $138,660 | -1.6% |
| Maine | $138,430 | -1.8% |
| Iowa | $138,340 | -1.8% |
| Utah | $138,140 | -2.0% |
| Illinois | $138,070 | -2.0% |
| North Carolina | $137,990 | -2.1% |
| Texas | $137,510 | -2.4% |
| Montana | $137,160 | -2.7% |
| North Dakota | $137,110 | -2.7% |
| Missouri | $137,030 | -2.8% |
| South Carolina | $136,730 | -3.0% |
| Georgia | $136,660 | -3.0% |
| Kentucky | $136,480 | -3.2% |
| Nebraska | $136,260 | -3.3% |
| Kansas | $136,170 | -3.4% |
| Arkansas | $135,780 | -3.6% |
| Michigan | $135,380 | -3.9% |
| Oklahoma | $133,630 | -5.2% |
| Alabama | $132,750 | -5.8% |
| Ohio | $132,420 | -6.0% |
| West Virginia | $131,300 | -6.8% |
| Tennessee | $131,270 | -6.8% |
| Louisiana | $130,490 | -7.4% |
| Mississippi | $130,320 | -7.5% |
| Florida | $130,190 | -7.6% |
| Rhode Island | $123,300 | -12.5% |
What Factors Affect Pharmacists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Pharmacists is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: California pays an average of $162,340, while Rhode Island pays $123,300 — a gap of $39,040 per year.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Pharmacists typically earn $99,290–$129,380 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $161,840–$174,230 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Pharmacists role currently has high demand in the job market with a 4.2% growth rate, making it one of the most growing careers in the Healthcare sector.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
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- Physical Therapists $105,280/yr United States 25.3% vs this role
- Speech-Language Pathologists $98,170/yr United States 30.3% vs this role
- Occupational Therapists $101,280/yr United States 28.1% vs this role
- Licensed Practical Nurses $67,050/yr United States 52.4% vs this role
- Software Developers $148,100/yr United States +5.1% vs this role
- Information Security Analysts $132,510/yr United States 6.0% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Pharmacists?
The average salary for Pharmacists in the United States is $140,920 per year, with a median of $140,910.
What is the starting salary for Pharmacists?
Entry-level Pharmacists typically earn between $99,290 and $129,380 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Pharmacists the most?
California pays Pharmacists the most at $162,340 per year on average, followed by Alaska ($161,220) and Oregon ($159,230).
How much do Pharmacists make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $140,920, Pharmacists earn approximately $67.75 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Pharmacists a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 321,970 Pharmacists jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $140,920 and a median of $140,910 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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