California Median
$164,610
per year
Hourly Rate
$79.14
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+17% vs US median
US median $140,910
State Rank
#3 of 51
34,030 employed here
How much does a Pharmacist make in California?
A Pharmacist working in California earns a median salary of $164,610 per year, or about $79.14 per hour. That is 17% above the national median of $140,910 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $90,560 while the top 10% make $213,820 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $138,360 and $197,860 a year.
Pharmacist salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $90,560 | $43.54 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $138,360 | $66.52 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $164,610 | $79.14 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $197,860 | $95.13 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,820 | $102.80 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories for Pharmacist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Pharmacist salary in other states
Alaska $167,310Oregon $165,960Hawaii $163,220Washington $160,610Minnesota $159,740Colorado $156,030District of Columbia $153,400Delaware $152,880Wisconsin $148,740New Mexico $147,000Arizona $146,930South Dakota $146,790Idaho $144,900Indiana $144,290Utah $144,240Virginia $144,060New Hampshire $143,020New York $142,090Montana $142,080North Dakota $142,040Connecticut $141,290Maine $140,930Nevada $140,030Wyoming $139,550Nebraska $139,330Illinois $139,080Maryland $138,990Iowa $138,860North Carolina $138,860Texas $138,260Massachusetts $138,170Pennsylvania $138,160Michigan $137,860Kansas $137,800New Jersey $137,620Missouri $137,610Georgia $137,120Ohio $137,020Kentucky $136,530Vermont $136,270Arkansas $136,060Florida $135,970South Carolina $135,700Oklahoma $135,140Alabama $134,630West Virginia $133,430Tennessee $133,390Mississippi $133,230Louisiana $132,410Rhode Island $128,180
Working as a Pharmacist in California
Nationally, about 322,000 people work as Pharmacists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($164,610) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Pharmacist make in California?
The median Pharmacist salary in California is $164,610 per year, or about $79.14 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $90,560 at the entry level to $213,820 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Pharmacists about 17% more than the national median of $140,910. California ranks 3rd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Pharmacists?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $164,610 a year. About 34,030 Pharmacists are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Pharmacist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.