How much does a pharmacist make?
The median pharmacist in the United States earns $140,910 per year, about $67.75 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all pharmacists earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. SOC code 29-1051.
Pharmacist salary range
Pay for pharmacists spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $99,290 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $174,230. The average (mean) wage of $140,920 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $99,290 | $47.73 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $129,380 | $62.20 | |
| Median (50th) | $140,910 | $67.75 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $161,840 | $77.81 | |
| 90th percentile | $174,230 | $83.77 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for pharmacists (SOC 29-1051), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025.
Pharmacist salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Pharmacists earn the most in Alaska at $167,310 a year, and the least in Rhode Island at $128,180. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $167,310 | 560 |
| Oregon | $165,960 | 3,250 |
| California | $164,610 | 34,030 |
| Hawaii | $163,220 | 1,190 |
| Washington | $160,610 | 7,350 |
| Minnesota | $159,740 | 6,310 |
| Colorado | $156,030 | 4,560 |
| District of Columbia | $153,400 | 850 |
| Delaware | $152,880 | 790 |
| Wisconsin | $148,740 | 5,730 |
| New Mexico | $147,000 | 1,730 |
| Arizona | $146,930 | 6,900 |
| South Dakota | $146,790 | 1,280 |
| Idaho | $144,900 | 1,790 |
| Indiana | $144,290 | 6,430 |
| Utah | $144,240 | 2,830 |
| Virginia | $144,060 | 7,980 |
| New Hampshire | $143,020 | 1,130 |
| New York | $142,090 | 19,760 |
| Montana | $142,080 | 1,190 |
| North Dakota | $142,040 | 1,070 |
| Connecticut | $141,290 | 3,490 |
| Maine | $140,930 | 1,380 |
| Nevada | $140,030 | 2,500 |
| Wyoming | $139,550 | 510 |
| Nebraska | $139,330 | 2,450 |
| Illinois | $139,080 | 12,070 |
| Maryland | $138,990 | 5,400 |
| Iowa | $138,860 | 3,230 |
| North Carolina | $138,860 | 11,430 |
| Texas | $138,260 | 24,700 |
| Massachusetts | $138,170 | 7,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $138,160 | 14,090 |
| Michigan | $137,860 | 8,780 |
| Kansas | $137,800 | 3,500 |
| New Jersey | $137,620 | 9,420 |
| Missouri | $137,610 | 6,740 |
| Georgia | $137,120 | 10,530 |
| Ohio | $137,020 | 12,790 |
| Kentucky | $136,530 | 5,030 |
| Vermont | $136,270 | 530 |
| Arkansas | $136,060 | 2,900 |
| Florida | $135,970 | 21,540 |
| South Carolina | $135,700 | 5,320 |
| Oklahoma | $135,140 | 3,610 |
| Alabama | $134,630 | 5,400 |
| West Virginia | $133,430 | 2,260 |
| Tennessee | $133,390 | 8,250 |
| Mississippi | $133,230 | 3,050 |
| Louisiana | $132,410 | 5,610 |
| Rhode Island | $128,180 | 1,510 |
State median wages for pharmacists (SOC 29-1051), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2025. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for pharmacists
The BLS projects employment of pharmacists to grow 5.2% from 2025 to 2035. That is faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 325,200 jobs in 2025 moving toward 342,300 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 12,500 openings a year for pharmacists. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a pharmacist
The typical entry-level education for pharmacists is a doctoral or professional degree, according to the BLS.
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a pharmacist earns
Specialty, work setting, shift differentials, certifications, and region drive the numbers. Hospitals, surgical settings, and high cost metros pay above clinics and rural facilities.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Alaska, $167,310) and the lowest (Rhode Island, $128,180) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 321,970 people work as pharmacists in the United States. At $140,910 a year, the job pays above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs.
Pharmacist salary FAQ
How much does a pharmacist make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a pharmacist is $67.75. The middle half of pharmacists earn between $62.20 and $77.81 per hour.
What is the highest pharmacist salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of pharmacists earn more than $174,230 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a pharmacist make a year?
The median annual salary for a pharmacist is $140,910. The average (mean) wage of $140,920 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a pharmacist a well paid job?
At $140,910 a year, a pharmacist earns above the $50,980 median for all U.S. jobs. About 321,970 people work as pharmacists in the United States.
Which state pays pharmacists the most?
Alaska has the highest median salary for pharmacists at $167,310 a year. Oregon ($165,960) and California ($164,610) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2025.
Is being a pharmacist a good career?
Employment of pharmacists is projected to grow 5.2% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 12,500 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a pharmacist?
The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for pharmacists as a doctoral or professional degree, so a college degree is usually expected.
Related salaries
See more in Healthcare salaries or browse the highest paying jobs in the U.S.