Pharmacists Pay Range in California
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$90,560
- 25th Percentile — Junior$138,360
- 50th Percentile — Median$164,610
- 75th Percentile — Senior$197,860
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$213,820
Half of Pharmacists in California earn more than $164,610. The top 10% make $213,820 or more, while entry-level workers start around $90,560.
Pharmacists in California: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- California ranks 1st of 51 states for Pharmacists pay, at $162,340 per year (15.2% above the U.S. average of $140,920).
- 34,030 people work as Pharmacists in California — 10.6% of all U.S. Pharmacists jobs.
- Location quotient 0.90: Pharmacists jobs are less concentrated in California than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $90,560; the top 10% earn over $213,820.
- Hourly equivalent: $78.05 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- Among healthcare jobs in California, Psychiatrists pays the most ($315,380).
Pharmacists Job Market in California
Key factors affecting compensation
California's key industries are Technology, Entertainment, Agriculture, and its job market is rated very strong. Pharmacists here earn $162,340 on average, placing the state 1st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.42 (U.S. = 1.00), a California salary of $162,340 is roughly equivalent to $114,324 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Alaska ($161,220), Oregon ($159,230), Washington ($159,100) are the closest alternatives for Pharmacists weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Healthcare Jobs in California
Related career salary benchmarks
- Psychiatrists $315,380/yr California +94.3% vs this role
- Radiologists $309,990/yr California +91.0% vs this role
- Nurse Anesthetists $283,780/yr California +74.8% vs this role
- General Internal Medicine Physicians $273,270/yr California +68.3% vs this role
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists $272,520/yr California +67.9% vs this role
- Surgeons All Other $255,620/yr California +57.5% vs this role
- Family Medicine Physicians $252,930/yr California +55.8% vs this role
- Physicians All Other $249,620/yr California +53.8% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Pharmacists salary in California?
The average Pharmacists salary in California is $162,340 per year (median $164,610), which is 15.2% above the national average of $140,920.
How does California rank for Pharmacists pay?
California ranks 1st out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($162,340/yr).
How much do entry-level Pharmacists make in California?
The lowest-paid 10% of Pharmacists in California earn about $90,560 per year and the 25th percentile is $138,360.
How much do Pharmacists make per hour in California?
About $78.05 per hour, based on the $162,340 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Pharmacists work in California?
BLS counts 34,030 Pharmacists jobs in California (OEWS May 2025).
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