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Pharmacist Salary in the United States

How much does a Pharmacist make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Pharmacist in the United States is $151,325 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $73.

However, a Pharmacist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $170,026
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $145,426 to $161,114
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $140,055
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Pharmacist Salaries

A Pharmacist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Pharmacist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Pharmacist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Pharmacist (0-0 years): $151,325
  • Pharmacy Supervisor (3-5 years): $123,486
  • Pharmacy Manager (5+ years): $180,054
  • Pharmacy Senior Manager (5+ years): $203,302
  • Pharmacy Director (5+ years): $249,165
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Pharmacist0-0 years$151,325
Pharmacy Supervisor3-5 years$123,486
Pharmacy Manager5+ years$180,054
Pharmacy Senior Manager5+ years$203,302
Pharmacy Director5+ years$249,165
View as Graph

How Do Pharmacists Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Pharmacists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $167,547.
  • California: $166,911.
  • Massachusetts: $164,687.

Top Paying Cities for Pharmacist

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $190,866
  • San Francisco: $188,776
  • Oakland: $184,798

What Skills Can Increase a Pharmacist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Results Oriented (Mentioned in 8.54% Job Postings): An individual or organization that focuses on outcome rather than process used to produce a product or deliver a service.
  • Business To Business (Mentioned in 1.72% Job Postings): A type of electronic commerce (e-commerce), is the exchange of products, services or information between businesses, rather than between businesses and consumers (B2C).
  • Managed Care (Mentioned in 1.29% Job Postings): Managed Care is a health care delivery system organized to manage cost, utilization, and quality. Also known as managed healthcare.
Skills Demand Percentage
Results Oriented 8.54%
Business To Business 1.72%
Managed Care 1.29%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Pharmacist's salary.

  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Pharmaceutical Industry: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
  • Data Science: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaboration $155,865
3%
Pharmaceutical Industry $155,865
3%
Data Science $155,865
3%
Get Latest Data

Pharmacist Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Pharmacist salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $168,751. While startup companies pay approximate $142,961.

Pharmacist Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $142,961
Growth Stage 51~500 $151,149
Established 501~5000 $163,005
Enterprise 5000+ $168,751

Pharmacist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Pharmacist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 122% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Pharmacist positions in Retail & Wholesale or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Pharmacist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Pharmacist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$211,855$102.040%
Financial Services$196,722$95.030%
Energy & Utilities$184,616$89.022%
Biotechnology$169,484$81.012%
Healthcare$158,891$76.05%

How Education impacts an Pharmacist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Pharmacist enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Pharmacist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $143,874 and $148,748.

Pharmacist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Pharmacist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 3.4%
Associates 2.2%
Bachelors 34.5%
Masters 13.7%
Doctorate 45.2%
View as Graph

Pharmacist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Pharmacist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$145,426
Average $151,325/year
$161,114
$12,119
Average $12,610/month
$13,426
$2,797
Average $2,910/week
$3,098
$70
Average $73/hour
$77
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $161,114 $13,426 $3,098 $77
Average $151,325 $12,610 $2,910 $73
25th Percentile $145,426 $12,119 $2,797 $70

Pharmacist Salary Growth & Career Path

Pharmacist

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Pharmacist, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Pharmacy Supervisor $123,486 -18%
Online Pharmacist $152,134 1%

Most common benefits for Pharmacist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Pharmacist

Here are companies hiring for Pharmacist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Pharmacist

1. Where can a Pharmacist earn the most?

A Pharmacist's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Pharmacist earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Pharmacist is $190,866.

2. What is the highest pay for Pharmacist?

The highest pay for Pharmacist is $170,026.

3. What is the lowest pay for Pharmacist?

The lowest pay for Pharmacist is $140,055.

4. What are the responsibilities of Pharmacist?

Compounds and dispenses prescribed drugs per physician's instructions in a hospital or healthcare facility setting. Consults with medical staff about potential drug interactions, patient medical history, and the use of particular medications. Responds to questions from patients about medications and dosage instructions. Ensures that all required pharmacy data is recorded and maintained and complies with all regulatory, security and hospital procedures. May supervise pharmacy technicians. May require a doctorate degree in pharmacy. Requires Registered Pharmacist (RPh). Typically reports to a manager. Years of experience may be unspecified. Certification and/or licensing in the position's specialty is the main requirement.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Pharmacist?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Pharmacist roles, with salaries approximately 40% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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