SOC 29-1051 · May 2025
Pharmacist Salary
Pharmacists in the US earn a median of $140,910 a year ($67.75 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Pharmacist pay climbed from $125,510 in 2019 to $140,920 in 2025, a +12.3% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$140,910
Half of all Pharmacists in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+12.3% since 2019 · +2.7% YoY
Hourly
$67.75
Job growth 2025-35
+5.2%
US workers
321,970
BLS series
Annual median wage for Pharmacists in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Pharmacists is $99,290 – $174,230.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$99,290
25th
$129,380
Median
$140,910
75th
$161,840
90th
$174,230
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Pharmacists. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $99,290 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $129,380 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $140,910 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $161,840 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $174,230 |
Geography
Pharmacist pay by state
Pharmacists earn the most in Alaska ($167,310, +19% against the national median) and the least in Rhode Island ($128,180). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$140,910
Highest-paying states for pharmacists
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $167,310 | +19% | 560 |
| Oregon | $165,960 | +18% | 3,250 |
| California | $164,610 | +17% | 34,030 |
| Hawaii | $163,220 | +16% | 1,190 |
| Washington | $160,610 | +14% | 7,350 |
| Minnesota | $159,740 | +13% | 6,310 |
| Colorado | $156,030 | +11% | 4,560 |
| D.C. | $153,400 | +9% | 850 |
| Delaware | $152,880 | +8% | 790 |
| Wisconsin | $148,740 | +6% | 5,730 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | 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 |
| D.C. | $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 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Pharmacists
Pharmacists dispense prescription medications, advise patients on safe use, and increasingly provide clinical services such as immunizations and health screenings. The role requires a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree plus state licensure.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $99,290 – $174,230. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Alaska, Oregon and California. Pay in Alaska runs 1.3 times the level in Rhode Island, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as doctoral or professional degree, and projects about 12,500 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 5.2% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Pharmacist salary in the US?
How much does a Pharmacist make an hour?
How much do Pharmacists make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Pharmacists the most?
Is the average Pharmacist salary higher than the median?
Is Pharmacist a growing career?
Open positions
Open Pharmacist roles hiring now
Browse current Pharmacist listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 29-1051. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.