Pharmacist salary: $68.00/hr$2,720/wk$141,440/yr median.
Pay range $66.50$2,660$138,320–$72.50/hr$2,900/wk$150,800/yr across the middle 50% of active Pharmacists Pharmacy Professional postings nationwide.
1,332 unique employers · 3,002 cities · 103 states. Pay moved +0.0% over the last 30 days.
How Pharmacist pay is distributed.
10% of postings pay under $62.00/hr$2,480/wk$128,960/yr. The top 10% pay above $79.50/hr$3,180/wk$165,360/yr.
How Pharmacist pay has moved month over month.
Median pay moved from $68.00 in Nov 2025 to $68.00 in Apr 2026 (+0.0%). Bars show monthly posting volume; the line tracks the posting-weighted median.
| Month | Median /hr/wk/yr | P25–P75 | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2025 | $68.00$2,720$141,440 | $66.50$2,660$138,320–$74.00$2,960$153,920 | 1,387 |
| Dec 2025 | $68.00$2,720$141,440 | $65.00$2,600$135,200–$72.00$2,880$149,760 | 2,535 |
| Jan 2026 | $68.00$2,720$141,440 | $65.00$2,600$135,200–$72.50$2,900$150,800 | 1,828 |
| Feb 2026 | $68.00$2,720$141,440 | $67.50$2,700$140,400–$73.00$2,920$151,840 | 1,576 |
| Mar 2026 | $68.00$2,720$141,440 | $66.50$2,660$138,320–$72.50$2,900$150,800 | 4,355 |
| Apr 2026 | $68.00$2,720$141,440 | $66.50$2,660$138,320–$72.00$2,880$149,760 | 3,188 |
Pharmacist pay across every state with live data.
Showing all 51 states with live data. Bars scale to the highest-paying state.
The metros writing the biggest Pharmacist paychecks.
| City | State | Median /hr/wk/yr | P25–P75 | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| san francisco | CA · CALIFORNIA | $100.00$4,000$208,000 | $73.00$2,920$151,840–$100.00$4,000$208,000 | 26 |
| castro valley | CA · CALIFORNIA | $100.00$4,000$208,000 | $77.00$3,080$160,160–$100.00$4,000$208,000 | 14 |
| oakland | CA · CALIFORNIA | $99.50$3,980$206,960 | $73.00$2,920$151,840–$100.00$4,000$208,000 | 11 |
| gold beach | OR · OREGON | $98.00$3,920$203,840 | $95.70$3,828$199,056–$105.20$4,208$218,816 | 29 |
| greenbrae | CA · CALIFORNIA | $97.06$3,882$201,885 | $81.20$3,248$168,896–$101.00$4,040$210,080 | 12 |
Where the top of the market is paying for Pharmacist.
| Employer | Median /hr/wk/yr | Range | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Muir Health | $103.00$4,120$214,240 | $103.00$4,120$214,240–$112.50$4,500$234,000 | 7 |
| kaiser permanente | $93.27$3,731$194,002 | $80.57$3,223$167,586–$93.27$3,731$194,002 | 5 |
| Kaweah Health | $90.50$3,620$188,240 | $88.00$3,520$183,040–$95.00$3,800$197,600 | 10 |
| Loma Linda University Health | $95.00$3,800$197,600 | $82.50$3,300$171,600–$95.00$3,800$197,600 | 15 |
| Providence Swedish | $92.25$3,690$191,880 | $25.00$1,000$52,000–$104.50$4,180$217,360 | 16 |
| reliable nurse staffing | $91.00$3,640$189,280 | $73.50$2,940$152,880–$154.00$6,160$320,320 | 12 |
| Sutter Health | $100.00$4,000$208,000 | $93.50$3,740$194,480–$110.50$4,420$229,840 | 80 |
| UC Davis Health | $94.00$3,760$195,520 | $89.00$3,560$185,120–$94.50$3,780$196,560 | 6 |
| UC Irvine Health | $92.50$3,700$192,400 | $92.00$3,680$191,360–$95.50$3,820$198,640 | 8 |
| UC San Diego Health | $97.00$3,880$201,760 | $97.00$3,880$201,760–$99.00$3,960$205,920 | 12 |
Showing all 10 employers with live pay data.
How Pharmacist pay shifts by schedule and contract type.
Permanent pays the most at $83.80/hr$3,352/wk$174,304/yr median — 341% above Internship at $19.00/hr$760/wk$39,520/yr. Fulltime drives the volume with 6,055 active postings.
How to become a Pharmacist.
Pharmacists dispense prescription medications, provide drug information, ensure medication safety, and collaborate with healthcare providers to optimize patient outcomes.
Pharmacists complete 2-4 years of pre-pharmacy prerequisites, then 4-year PharmD program. Must pass NAPLEX and MPJE exams. Hospital and clinical positions increasingly require residency.
| Degree | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Doctor of PharmacyPharmD | 4 years post-bachelor's | Required professional degree for pharmacist licensure. Includes extensive clinical rotations. |
| PharmD (Direct Entry)PharmD 0-6 | 6 years post-high school | Some programs admit students directly from high school into 6-year PharmD programs. |
| PGY1 ResidencyPGY1 | 1 year post-PharmD | Post-graduate training for clinical pharmacy practice. Increasingly expected for hospital positions. |
| PGY2 ResidencyPGY2 | 1 year post-PGY1 | Specialized residency in areas like critical care, oncology, or ambulatory care. |
State license required in all 50 states. Must pass NAPLEX and state law exam (MPJE).
Federal registration required to dispense controlled substances.
CPR certification required for most pharmacist positions.
Required for pharmacists administering vaccines. Now standard for retail pharmacists.
| Credential | Issued by | Pay impact |
|---|---|---|
| BCPS Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist Primary board certification for clinical pharmacists. Validates advanced pharmacotherapy knowledge. | BPS | +5-10% |
| BCOP Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist Specialty certification for pharmacists in oncology practice. High demand specialty. | BPS | +10-15% |
| BCCCP Board Certified Critical Care Pharmacist Specialty certification for ICU and critical care pharmacy practice. | BPS | +10-15% |
| BCACP Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist Certification for pharmacists managing chronic diseases in outpatient settings. | BPS | +5-10% |
| MTM Certified Medication Therapy Management Certification Training for comprehensive medication review services billable through Medicare Part D. | Various | Service-based income |
- 0-3 yearsStaff Pharmacist
Entry-level pharmacist in retail or hospital setting. Building clinical and operational skills.
- PGY1+ or 3-5 yearsClinical Pharmacist / Specialist
Hospital pharmacist with clinical responsibilities. Residency training increasingly expected.
- 3-5 yearsPharmacy Manager (Retail)
Manages retail pharmacy operations, staff, and business metrics.
- 5-8 yearsClinical Coordinator / Specialist Lead
Oversees clinical pharmacy services in specialty area (ICU, oncology, etc.).
- 10+ yearsDirector of Pharmacy
Oversees all pharmacy operations for hospital or health system. Strategic leadership role.
- 15+ yearsVP of Pharmacy Services / Chief Pharmacy Officer
Executive leadership for pharmacy across health system. MBA/MHA often beneficial.
Schedule. Retail: includes evenings, weekends, holidays. Hospitals: shift work with 24/7 coverage. Clinical/ambulatory: often weekday schedules. Industry: standard business hours.
Physical demands. Moderate demands. Standing for extended periods in retail. Hospital may involve more walking. Generally less physical than direct patient care roles.
Pharmacist job market is competitive due to pharmacy school expansion. Clinical and specialty roles remain strong. Hospital positions increasingly require residency training.
What clinicians ask about Pharmacist pay.
What is the average Pharmacist salary in 2026?
The median Pharmacist salary is $68.00/hr (approximately $141,440/yr) based on 14,869 active job postings.
What is the pay range for Pharmacist?
Hourly pay ranges from $66.50 at the 25th percentile to $72.50 at the 75th percentile, with the top 10% earning above $79.50/hr.
Which state pays Pharmacist roles the most?
Alabama currently leads with a median of $68.00/hr across 196 postings.
How many employers are hiring Pharmacists?
Our dataset shows 1,332 unique employers posting Pharmacist roles across 103 states.
Where does TrueRounds get Pharmacist salary data?
All salary figures are computed from active US healthcare job postings with listed pay ranges, collected over a rolling 180-day window and weighted by posting volume.
Explore other Pharmacy Professional tracks.
Pharmacist sits inside the Pharmacists track. Here are sibling tracks across Pharmacy Professional — same category, different clinical focus and pay envelope.
Active US healthcare postings. Weighted by volume. Refreshed daily.
Pay benchmarks are computed from active job postings with listed pay ranges, collected on a rolling 180-day window. Each role's percentiles are weighted by posting volume so a metro with two postings doesn't outweigh a metro with two hundred. Outliers (postings priced more than 4× the role median) are dropped to avoid contract-line distortion.
Use the data, then push back.
Bring these numbers into your next contract conversation. Recruiters know what the market pays — now you do too.