Pharmacist salary in the United States
National median pay
$140,910/year
about $67.75 an hour full-time
Middle half earns $129,380 – $161,840
National pay range
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (entry level) | $99,290 | $47.74 |
| 25th | $129,380 | $62.20 |
| Median (50th) | $140,910 | $67.75 |
| 75th | $161,840 | $77.81 |
| 90th (top earners) | $174,230 | $83.76 |
*Yearly pay divided by 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the full-time basis BLS uses.
Pay by city
Highest median pay: San Jose ($199,040). Lowest of the cities we track: Pittsburgh ($134,180).
| Metro area | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $199,040 | $158,280 – $224,830 |
| San Francisco, CA | $177,410 | $164,560 – $220,120 |
| Sacramento, CA | $172,680 | $156,420 – $202,560 |
| Portland, OR | $168,830 | $145,740 – $189,540 |
| San Diego, CA | $165,130 | $154,000 – $201,750 |
| Seattle, WA | $162,870 | $139,400 – $192,860 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $160,990 | $136,870 – $169,830 |
| Denver, CO | $157,890 | $137,550 – $169,230 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $157,440 | $133,030 – $183,690 |
| Austin, TX | $151,290 | $131,640 – $164,140 |
| Charlotte, NC | $150,580 | $131,800 – $167,110 |
| Washington, DC | $150,540 | $135,310 – $164,720 |
| San Antonio, TX | $150,500 | $132,950 – $158,870 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $148,740 | $133,390 – $158,840 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $144,490 | $133,720 – $161,190 |
| New York, NY | $141,320 | $130,320 – $165,410 |
| Chicago, IL | $140,880 | $126,050 – $163,710 |
| Houston, TX | $140,470 | $127,070 – $163,510 |
| Atlanta, GA | $139,870 | $126,610 – $162,660 |
| Boston, MA | $139,660 | $134,840 – $158,770 |
| St. Louis, MO | $138,530 | $129,760 – $159,630 |
| Dallas, TX | $138,170 | $129,270 – $159,400 |
| Baltimore, MD | $138,110 | $130,320 – $154,640 |
| Tampa, FL | $137,990 | $128,440 – $157,460 |
| Detroit, MI | $137,770 | $124,210 – $155,900 |
| Nashville, TN | $137,590 | $129,610 – $158,580 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $136,250 | $126,620 – $157,410 |
| Miami, FL | $135,210 | $126,560 – $153,610 |
| Orlando, FL | $135,010 | $129,320 – $154,520 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $134,180 | $128,430 – $146,770 |
Pay depends a lot on location, so compare an on-site job with its local figures. For fully remote jobs, national pay is usually the fairest comparison.
🏆 Best paying cities for pharmacists, after cost of living →
Is your offer fair?
$
- Below market under $129,380 ($62.20/hr). Fine for a first job in the field, otherwise worth negotiating.
- Typical $129,380 to $161,840 ($62.20 to $77.81/hr). The middle half of what people in this job earn.
- Strong offer over $161,840 ($77.81/hr). Higher than three quarters of workers here.
Before you accept
- Retail and hospital pharmacist roles differ a lot in hours and workload. Ask about staffing and scripts per day.
- Ask whether you'd float between locations and whether travel time is paid.
- Some roles pay more for evening, overnight or weekend shifts.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025. Occupation: Pharmacists (SOC 29-1051). Figures cover wage and salary workers and don't include bonuses, benefits or overtime.