Median Salary
$140,910
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$67.75
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$174,230
entry level starts ~$99,290
Pay Grade
A+
elite pay · 322,000 employed
How much does a Pharmacist make?
A Pharmacist earns a median annual salary of $140,910 in the United States, which works out to roughly $67.75 per hour for full-time work. Most Pharmacists earn between $99,290 at the entry level and $174,230 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $129,380 and $161,840 a year.
That is $79,520 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Pharmacist salary range by percentile
Half of all Pharmacists earn between $129,380 and $161,840 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,290 | $47.74 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $129,380 | $62.20 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $140,910 | $67.75 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $161,840 | $77.81 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $174,230 | $83.76 |
|
Highest-paying states for Pharmacist
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Alaska leads the country for Pharmacist pay at $167,310 a year, followed by Oregon ($165,960) and California ($164,610). At the other end, Rhode Island posts the lowest median at $128,180 — a gap of $39,130 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Pharmacist salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
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 $137,020Kentucky $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
Workforce and education
About 322,000 people work as Pharmacists in the United States. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Pharmacist make in the United States?
The median Pharmacist salary in the United States is $140,910 per year, or about $67.75 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $99,290, while the top 10% of earners make $174,230 or more.
How does Pharmacist pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A+ (elite pay), the Pharmacist median of $140,910 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Pharmacists the most?
Alaska is the highest-paying state for Pharmacists, with a median salary of $167,310 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Pharmacist?
Becoming a Pharmacist typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Pharmacists work in the United States?
About 322,000 people were employed as Pharmacists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.