Healthcare

Pharmacist Salary

Pharmacists dispense prescription medications, advise patients on drug interactions and side effects, and collaborate with healthcare providers to optimize medication therapy.

Median Salary
$132,750
Mean Salary
$131,680
Total Employed
322,200
Job Growth
+2%

Pharmacist Salary by Experience Level

Entry-level pharmacists earn around $100,000 per year, while mid-career professionals earn $130,000. Senior-level pharmacists can earn $158,000 or more.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$100,000
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$130,000
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$158,000

Salary Percentile Breakdown

The salary range for pharmacists varies significantly. The bottom 10% earn $96,200, while the top 10% earn $165,800.

Percentile Annual Salary
10th Percentile $96,200
25th Percentile $117,000
50th Percentile (Median) $132,750
75th Percentile $152,200
90th Percentile $165,800

Pharmacist Salary by State

Pharmacist salaries vary significantly by state due to cost of living, demand, and industry concentration. The highest paying state is Hawaii at $236,295, while Mississippi offers the lowest at $107,527.

State Median
#1 Hawaii $236,295 Details →
#2 California $193,815 Details →
#3 Massachusetts $189,833 Details →
#4 Alaska $171,248 Details →
#5 New York $168,593 Details →
#6 New Jersey $159,300 Details →
#7 Washington $157,973 Details →
#8 Connecticut $153,990 Details →
#9 Maryland $151,335 Details →
#10 Oregon $148,680 Details →
#11 New Hampshire $143,370 Details →
#12 Rhode Island $143,370 Details →
#13 Colorado $142,043 Details →
#14 Virginia $140,715 Details →
#15 Delaware $136,733 Details →
#16 Vermont $136,733 Details →
#17 Minnesota $134,078 Details →
#18 Florida $132,750 Details →
#19 Maine $132,750 Details →
#20 Nevada $131,423 Details →
#21 Pennsylvania $131,423 Details →
#22 Arizona $128,768 Details →
#23 Illinois $128,768 Details →
#24 Utah $128,768 Details →
#25 Texas $124,785 Details →
#26 Wisconsin $124,785 Details →
#27 Georgia $123,458 Details →
#28 Montana $123,457 Details →
#29 Idaho $122,130 Details →
#30 North Carolina $122,130 Details →
#31 Ohio $122,130 Details →
#32 Louisiana $120,803 Details →
#33 New Mexico $120,803 Details →
#34 Tennessee $120,803 Details →
#35 Indiana $119,475 Details →
#36 Michigan $119,475 Details →
#37 Nebraska $119,475 Details →
#38 North Dakota $119,475 Details →
#39 Wyoming $119,475 Details →
#40 Iowa $118,148 Details →
#41 South Carolina $118,148 Details →
#42 Missouri $116,820 Details →
#43 South Dakota $116,820 Details →
#44 Alabama $115,493 Details →
#45 Kansas $115,493 Details →
#46 Kentucky $115,493 Details →
#47 Oklahoma $111,510 Details →
#48 Arkansas $108,855 Details →
#49 West Virginia $108,855 Details →
#50 Mississippi $107,527 Details →

Key Responsibilities

  • Dispense prescription medications accurately and safely
  • Counsel patients on medication use, dosage, and side effects
  • Review prescriptions for drug interactions and contraindications
  • Collaborate with physicians on patient medication therapy
  • Supervise pharmacy technicians and manage inventory

Top Skills

Pharmacology Patient Counseling Drug Interactions Compounding Clinical Review Pharmacy Software

Education Required

Doctoral degree

Job Outlook

Slower than average — projected 2% growth over the next decade