Pharmacists in the US earn $128,570 on average — making it one of the highest-paying healthcare professions that doesn’t require medical school or residency.
Average Pharmacist Salary in 2026
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Average salary | $128,570 |
| Median salary | $128,570 |
| Entry level | $110,000-$120,000 |
| Mid-career | $125,000-$140,000 |
| Top 10% | $162,000+ |
| Hourly rate | $61.81 |
Pharmacist Salary by State
| State | Average Salary | Hourly Rate | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $155,000 | $74.52 | +21% |
| Alaska | $145,580 | $70.00 | +13% |
| Oregon | $138,630 | $66.65 | +8% |
| Washington | $137,570 | $66.14 | +7% |
| Maine | $136,580 | $65.66 | +6% |
| Wisconsin | $135,700 | $65.24 | +6% |
| Vermont | $134,950 | $64.88 | +5% |
| New Hampshire | $133,200 | $64.04 | +4% |
| Minnesota | $132,850 | $63.87 | +3% |
| Texas | $127,300 | $61.20 | -1% |
| Florida | $122,800 | $59.04 | -4% |
| New York | $121,510 | $58.42 | -5% |
| Louisiana | $118,680 | $57.06 | -8% |
Pharmacist Salary by Setting
| Work Setting | Average Salary | Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital (inpatient) | $135,000 | Shifts |
| Nuclear pharmacy | $145,000 | M-F |
| Oncology pharmacy | $140,000 | M-F |
| Retail (CVS, Walgreens) | $125,000 | Varied |
| Mail order | $130,000 | M-F |
| Long-term care | $128,000 | M-F |
| Pharmaceutical industry | $145,000+ | M-F |
| Government/VA | $128,000 | M-F |
| Independent pharmacy | $115,000 | Varied |
Pharmacist Salary by Specialty
| Specialty | Average Salary | Additional Training |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Pharmacist | $145,000 | Certification |
| Oncology Pharmacist | $140,000 | 1-2 year residency |
| Clinical Pharmacist | $135,000 | 1-2 year residency |
| Critical Care | $138,000 | 2 year residency |
| Ambulatory Care | $130,000 | 1-2 year residency |
| Informatics | $135,000 | Certification |
| Pharmacy Manager | $145,000 | Experience |
| Staff Pharmacist | $125,000 | PharmD only |
Pharmacist vs. Other Healthcare Careers
| Career | Average Salary | Education Required |
|---|---|---|
| Physician | $229,000+ | MD + Residency (11+ years) |
| Pharmacist | $128,570 | PharmD (6-8 years) |
| Nurse Practitioner | $121,000 | MSN (6+ years) |
| Physician Assistant | $121,000 | Master’s (6+ years) |
| Physical Therapist | $95,000 | DPT (6-7 years) |
| Registered Nurse | $77,600 | BSN (4 years) |
Pharmacist Salary by Experience
| Experience Level | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| New Grad (0-1 year) | $110,000-$120,000 |
| Early Career (1-4 years) | $120,000-$130,000 |
| Mid-Career (5-9 years) | $128,000-$140,000 |
| Experienced (10-19 years) | $135,000-$150,000 |
| Late Career (20+ years) | $140,000-$160,000 |
Pharmacy Manager Salary
| Setting | Manager Salary | vs. Staff |
|---|---|---|
| Retail chain | $145,000-$165,000 | +15-25% |
| Hospital | $150,000-$180,000 | +15-30% |
| Independent | $130,000-$150,000 | +10-20% |
Cost of Becoming a Pharmacist
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Pre-pharmacy (2-4 years) | $20,000-$100,000 |
| PharmD program (4 years) | $150,000-$250,000 |
| Total education cost | $170,000-$350,000 |
| Typical student debt | $165,000 |
| Time to complete | 6-8 years |
Pharmacist Salary After Taxes
| Gross Salary | Federal Tax | FICA | State Tax (avg) | Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $115,000 | $16,500 | $8,798 | $4,600 | $85,102 |
| $128,570 | $20,200 | $9,836 | $5,145 | $93,389 |
| $145,000 | $25,000 | $11,093 | $5,800 | $103,107 |
| $162,000 | $30,700 | $11,773 | $6,480 | $113,047 |
Job Outlook for Pharmacists
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Job growth (2022-2032) | 3% (slower than average) |
| Annual openings | ~13,400 |
| Current employment | 323,000 |
| Competition | Moderate to high |
The pharmacy job market is more competitive than it was a decade ago due to pharmacy school expansion.
Is Pharmacy a Good Career?
Pros:
- High salary ($128,000+ average)
- Job stability
- Multiple career paths
- Respected profession
- No residency required (for retail)
Cons:
- High student debt ($165,000 average)
- Standing for long hours (retail)
- Weekend/holiday work (retail)
- Declining autonomy in retail
- Job market saturation
Bottom Line
Pharmacists earn $128,570 on average, with experienced professionals in California or specialty roles earning $145,000-$165,000. The profession offers excellent pay but requires a PharmD degree and often comes with significant student debt. Hospital and specialty pharmacy generally offer better work-life balance than retail.
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