Pharmacists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $99,290 | $47.73 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $140,910 | $67.75 |
| Mean (average) | $140,920 | $67.75 |
| 90th percentile | $174,230 | $83.77 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Pharmacists pay by state and metro area
AK$167KME$141KVT$136KNH$143KWA$161KID$145KMT$142KND$142KMN$160KIL$139KWI$149KMI$138KNY$142KRI$128KMA$138KOR$166KNV$140KWY$140KSD$147KIA$139KIN$144KOH$137KPA$138KNJ$138KCT$141KCA$165KUT$144KCO$156KNE$139KMO$138KKY$137KWV$133KVA$144KMD$139KDE$153KAZ$147KNM$147KKS$138KAR$136KTN$133KNC$139KSC$136KDC$153KOK$135KLA$132KMS$133KAL$135KGA$137KHI$163KTX$138KFL$136K
$111K$167K
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $134,630 | $90,010 | $161,940 | 5,400 | 1.23 |
| Alaska | $167,310 | $133,830 | $196,020 | 560 | 0.84 |
| Arizona | $146,930 | $103,490 | $171,660 | 6,900 | 1.03 |
| Arkansas | $136,060 | $105,560 | $164,940 | 2,900 | 1.07 |
| California | $164,610 | $90,560 | $213,820 | 34,030 | 0.9 |
| Colorado | $156,030 | $120,410 | $188,430 | 4,560 | 0.77 |
| Connecticut | $141,290 | $106,660 | $165,360 | 3,490 | 0.99 |
| Delaware | $152,880 | $103,170 | $178,760 | 790 | 0.79 |
| District of Columbia | $153,400 | $64,870 | $196,080 | 850 | 0.58 |
| Florida | $135,970 | $56,000 | $166,310 | 21,540 | 1.05 |
| Georgia | $137,120 | $100,950 | $170,110 | 10,530 | 1.04 |
| Guam | $129,090 | $95,980 | $162,170 | 70 | 0.47 |
| Hawaii | $163,220 | $127,410 | $177,290 | 1,190 | 0.91 |
| Idaho | $144,900 | $102,180 | $164,050 | 1,790 | 1.01 |
| Illinois | $139,080 | $98,970 | $169,430 | 12,070 | 0.96 |
| Indiana | $144,290 | $107,050 | $169,360 | 6,430 | 0.97 |
| Iowa | $138,860 | $117,450 | $164,520 | 3,230 | 1 |
| Kansas | $137,800 | $78,770 | $169,310 | 3,500 | 1.18 |
| Kentucky | $136,530 | $84,280 | $168,940 | 5,030 | 1.21 |
| Louisiana | $132,410 | $100,920 | $156,740 | 5,610 | 1.4 |
| Maine | $140,930 | $101,360 | $166,810 | 1,380 | 1.04 |
| Maryland | $138,990 | $115,860 | $169,890 | 5,400 | 0.94 |
| Massachusetts | $138,170 | $113,710 | $164,500 | 7,230 | 0.96 |
| Michigan | $137,860 | $101,740 | $168,540 | 8,780 | 0.96 |
| Minnesota | $159,740 | $98,150 | $174,660 | 6,310 | 1.03 |
| Mississippi | $133,230 | $97,260 | $158,230 | 3,050 | 1.27 |
| Missouri | $137,610 | $107,530 | $166,840 | 6,740 | 1.11 |
| Montana | $142,080 | $98,660 | $165,260 | 1,190 | 1.12 |
| Nebraska | $139,330 | $84,990 | $170,090 | 2,450 | 1.16 |
| Nevada | $140,030 | $104,000 | $168,600 | 2,500 | 0.78 |
| New Hampshire | $143,020 | $98,870 | $170,030 | 1,130 | 0.8 |
| New Jersey | $137,620 | $112,560 | $172,110 | 9,420 | 1.06 |
| New Mexico | $147,000 | $103,500 | $174,200 | 1,730 | 0.96 |
| New York | $142,090 | $92,910 | $174,550 | 19,760 | 0.98 |
| North Carolina | $138,860 | $101,670 | $169,820 | 11,430 | 1.12 |
| North Dakota | $142,040 | $105,490 | $167,940 | 1,070 | 1.2 |
| Ohio | $137,020 | $65,470 | $165,900 | 12,790 | 1.11 |
| Oklahoma | $135,140 | $100,320 | $162,070 | 3,610 | 1.02 |
| Oregon | $165,960 | $126,040 | $193,860 | 3,250 | 0.8 |
| Pennsylvania | $138,160 | $112,750 | $163,570 | 14,090 | 1.12 |
| Puerto Rico | $111,270 | $61,730 | $127,290 | 2,220 | 1.14 |
| Rhode Island | $128,180 | $86,650 | $161,090 | 1,510 | 1.45 |
| South Carolina | $135,700 | $82,430 | $170,270 | 5,320 | 1.12 |
| South Dakota | $146,790 | $112,200 | $166,340 | 1,280 | 1.36 |
| Tennessee | $133,390 | $88,700 | $164,430 | 8,250 | 1.22 |
| Texas | $138,260 | $95,950 | $170,170 | 24,700 | 0.85 |
| Utah | $144,240 | $70,260 | $172,440 | 2,830 | 0.79 |
| Vermont | $136,270 | $117,860 | $164,370 | 530 | 0.85 |
| Virgin Islands | $134,970 | $92,700 | $136,280 | 50 | 0.83 |
| Virginia | $144,060 | $106,800 | $173,550 | 7,980 | 0.94 |
| Washington | $160,610 | $126,230 | $205,210 | 7,350 | 1 |
| West Virginia | $133,430 | $80,900 | $166,020 | 2,260 | 1.56 |
| Wisconsin | $148,740 | $112,020 | $178,090 | 5,730 | 0.94 |
| Wyoming | $139,550 | $115,820 | $168,450 | 510 | 0.89 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, State. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Metropolitan areas. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Job outlook for pharmacists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 12,500. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.3%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Education and training for pharmacists
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Education and training tables 5.1 to 5.4. Attainment 2023-24 (ACS); wages 2025; projections 2025-35. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Pharmacy CIP 51.2001
- Clinical, Hospital, and Managed Care Pharmacy CIP 51.2008
- Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program, General CIP 60.0801
- Combined Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0802
- Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0803
- Cardiology Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0804
- Clinical Pharmacogenomics Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0805
- Community/Community-Based Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0806
- Corporate Pharmacy Leadership Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0807
- Critical Care Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0808
- Drug Information Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0809
- Emergency Medicine Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0810
- Family Medicine Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0811
- Geriatric Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0812
- Health System Medication Management Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0813
- Health System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0814
- Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0815
- Internal Medicine Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0816
- Investigational Drugs and Research Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0817
- Managed Care Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0818
- Medication Systems and Operations Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0819
- Medication-Use Safety Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0820
- Neonatal Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0821
- Nephrology Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0822
- Neurology Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0823
- Nuclear Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0824
- Nutrition Support Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0825
- Oncology Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0826
- Palliative Care/Pain Management Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0827
- Pediatric Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program CIP 60.0828
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Review prescriptions to assure accuracy, to ascertain the needed ingredients, and to evaluate their suitability.
- Collaborate with other health care professionals to plan, monitor, review, or evaluate the quality or effectiveness of drugs or drug regimens, providing advice on drug applications or characteristics.
- Work in hospitals or clinics or for Health Management Organizations (HMOs), dispensing prescriptions, serving as a medical team consultant, or specializing in specific drug therapy areas, such as oncology or nuclear pharmacotherapy.
- Provide information and advice regarding drug interactions, side effects, dosage, and proper medication storage.
- Provide specialized services to help patients manage conditions, such as diabetes, asthma, smoking cessation, or high blood pressure.
- Analyze prescribing trends to monitor patient compliance and to prevent excessive usage or harmful interactions.
- Maintain records, such as pharmacy files, patient profiles, charge system files, inventories, control records for radioactive nuclei, or registries of poisons, narcotics, or controlled drugs.
- Prepare sterile solutions or infusions for use in surgical procedures, emergency rooms, or patients' homes.
Technology skills
- Epic Systems (hot technology)
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- eClinicalWorks EHR software (hot technology)
- Computer records systems
- Freedom MedTEACH
- Healthprolink MedAtlas
- Insurance claim processing software
- Label-making software
- Multitask software
- Pyxis MedStation software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Coordination.
Common job titles: Clinical Pharmacist, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS), Community Pharmacist, Hospital Pharmacist, Inpatient Pharmacist, Pharm D (Pharmacy Doctor), Pharmacy Informaticist, Pharmacy Services Clinical Coordinator, Registered Pharmacist, Retail Pharmacist.
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. ConnectPrep has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Source: National Center for O*NET Development for USDOL/ETA, O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026 release). Database release 31.0, August 2026; element dates vary by occupation. Published August 25, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do pharmacists make?
The national median annual wage for pharmacists was $140,910 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $99,290 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $174,230. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do pharmacists need?
BLS lists doctoral or professional degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is pharmacists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of pharmacists to change +5.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 12,500 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay pharmacists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Alaska ($167,310), Oregon ($165,960), California ($164,610). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.