Kentucky Median
$136,530
per year
Hourly Rate
$65.64
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-3% vs US median
US median $140,910
State Rank
#40 of 51
5,030 employed here
How much does a Pharmacist make in Kentucky?
Pharmacists in Kentucky take home a median of $136,530 annually — roughly $65.64 an hour — which runs 3% below the national median of $140,910.
Within Kentucky, entry-level pay starts around $84,280 while the top 10% make $168,940 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $128,970 and $158,280 a year.
Pharmacist salary range in Kentucky
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,280 | $40.52 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $128,970 | $62.00 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $136,530 | $65.64 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $158,280 | $76.10 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,940 | $81.22 |
|
How Kentucky compares
Kentucky ranks 40th out of 51 states and territories for Pharmacist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Pharmacist salary in other states
Alaska $167,310Oregon $165,960California $164,610Hawaii $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 $137,020Vermont $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 Kentucky
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 Kentucky pay ($136,530) 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 Kentucky?
The median Pharmacist salary in Kentucky is $136,530 per year, or about $65.64 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $84,280 at the entry level to $168,940 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Kentucky pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky pays Pharmacists about 3% less than the national median of $140,910. Kentucky ranks 40th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Kentucky a good state for Pharmacists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $136,530 a year. About 5,030 Pharmacists are employed in Kentucky. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Kentucky?
The highest-paying occupations in Kentucky include Cardiologist ($558,180), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($350,950), Anesthesiologist ($347,960), 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.