Best paying cities for pharmacists, after cost of living
After cost of living, pharmacist pay goes furthest in San Jose (worth $180,290) and least far in Miami (worth $118,398).
| # | Metro area | Median pay | Prices (US = 100) | Worth | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $199,040 | 110.4 | $180,290 | +28% |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $172,680 | 106.7 | $161,837 | +15% |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $168,830 | 105.4 | $160,180 | +14% |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | $150,500 | 94.7 | $158,923 | +13% |
| 5 | Charlotte, NC | $150,580 | 97.3 | $154,758 | +10% |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $151,290 | 98.1 | $154,220 | +9% |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $160,990 | 104.8 | $153,616 | +9% |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $177,410 | 115.6 | $153,469 | +9% |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $157,890 | 105.8 | $149,234 | +6% |
| 10 | San Diego, CA | $165,130 | 111.9 | $147,569 | +5% |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $162,870 | 111.1 | $146,598 | +4% |
| 12 | St. Louis, MO | $138,530 | 95.1 | $145,668 | +3% |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $148,740 | 102.6 | $144,971 | +3% |
| 14 | Nashville, TN | $137,590 | 96.3 | $142,876 | +1% |
| 15 | Houston, TX | $140,470 | 98.6 | $142,465 | +1% |
| 16 | Pittsburgh, PA | $134,180 | 94.7 | $141,690 | +1% |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $144,490 | 103.3 | $139,874 | −1% |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $139,870 | 100.1 | $139,730 | −1% |
| 19 | Los Angeles, CA | $157,440 | 113.6 | $138,592 | −2% |
| 20 | Washington, DC | $150,540 | 108.9 | $138,237 | −2% |
| 21 | Detroit, MI | $137,770 | 100.3 | $137,358 | −3% |
| 22 | Tampa, FL | $137,990 | 100.9 | $136,759 | −3% |
| 23 | Chicago, IL | $140,880 | 103.6 | $135,985 | −3% |
| 24 | Las Vegas, NV | $136,250 | 100.2 | $135,978 | −4% |
| 25 | Dallas, TX | $138,170 | 103.1 | $134,016 | −5% |
| 26 | Orlando, FL | $135,010 | 101.4 | $133,146 | −6% |
| 27 | Baltimore, MD | $138,110 | 104.5 | $132,163 | −6% |
| 28 | Boston, MA | $139,660 | 108.3 | $128,957 | −8% |
| 29 | New York, NY | $141,320 | 112.6 | $125,506 | −11% |
| 30 | Miami, FL | $135,210 | 114.2 | $118,398 | −16% |
U.S. median for pharmacists: $140,910. "Worth" is the median adjusted for local prices: what that pay buys at average U.S. prices, using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 (Pharmacists, SOC 29-1051); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024. Median pay for wage and salary workers, excluding bonuses, benefits and overtime. Metro areas, not city limits.