How much do pharmacists make?

You’ve just graduated with your Doctor of Pharmacy degree, and you’re trying to find the best job with the best salary as a reward for all your hard work.
Or maybe you’re looking into pharmacy school and trying to determine your job prospects at the end of the four-year program.
No matter what stage of the pharmacist journey you’re in, this guide to the average pharmacist salary will help you make the best decisions for your career.
We’ll cover what the average pharmacist salary is, the factors impacting a pharmacist’s salary, and other important salary data you’ll want to know.
What is the average pharmacist salary?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average pharmacist salary is $128,710 per year or $61.88 per hour.
Reports from third-party websites like Salary.com show a broad range of hospital and clinical pharmacist salaries. Pharmacists in the U.S. can expect to make between $120,000–$160,000 per year, depending on their experience and location.
While even the low end of the pharmacist salary range is impressive, keep in mind that you’ll only earn that level of pay after earning a four-year Doctor of Pharmacy degree.
It’s also worth noting that the BLS projects a 2% decline in pharmacist jobs over the next ten years.
Still, working in pharmacy can be a helpful and lucrative profession in any state.
Factors impacting the pharmacist salary average
With such a wide range in what pharmacists make, it’s no surprise that many factors impact a pharmacist’s salary.
For instance, some states will have a higher average pharmacist salary due to the cost of living in that state.
In this section, we’ll cover the top three factors impacting pharmacist salaries: location, skill, and experience.
Understanding these factors will help you make the best decisions for your education and career. After working hard to get a PharmD, you want to make the most of that hard work.
1. Location
Location has one of the biggest impacts on a pharmacist’s salary. As you can see in the map below, the average pharmacist salary varies widely from state to state.
Salary varies by location so much due to the cost of living and supply and demand in different geographical areas.
Keep in mind that this data can change somewhat often, as supply and demand shift in different states due to other economic factors. A state that has a median pharmacist salary now might prove to be a top earner in the future.
2. Skills
As with most professions, a pharmacist’s salary can increase if they have specialized skills. In pharmacy, these skills might include pediatrics, patient counseling, or hospital pharmacy.
Management and administration roles can also increase a pharmacist’s salary. Typically, those skills and roles develop over time and with experience.
3. Experience
Although you’ll enter the workforce with a hard-earned professional degree, there’s nothing like a few years on the job to fine-tune your skills and make you even better at your job.
You’ll develop more nuance and perhaps develop specializations in new areas. All of these accomplishments can help you increase your pharmacist salary, either in your current role during your annual review or when looking for a new pharmacist job.
Working diligently and producing excellent results are also great ways to stand out to your employers and coworkers. In the future, that can help boost your salary options in the form of excellent professional references.
Average pharmacist salary by state
As mentioned above, the average pharmacist salary is different from state to state.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, California and Alaska offer the highest average pharmacist salaries, at over $140,000 per year. North Dakota ranks lowest, with an average pharmacist salary of $100,000 a year.
Check out the rest of the list below:
State
Annual Pharmacist Salary
California
$144,050
Alaska
$142,610
Vermont
$135,650
Oregon
$135,150
Maine
$134,670
Wisconsin
$134,090
Minnesota
$130,290
Delaware
$130,230
New Hampshire
$129,370
Hawaii
$129,360
Missouri
$128,670
Washington
$128,320
Alabama
$127,460
Texas
$127,320
Virginia
$126,920
New Mexico
$126,120
Illinois
$125,490
Arizona
$125,320
Nevada
$124,860
Connecticut
$123,640
North Carolina
$123,560
Tennessee
$123,550
Rhode Island
$123,350
Louisiana
$123,140
West Virginia
$123,030
Wyoming
$122,720
Georgia
$122,550
South Carolina
$122,500
Kentucky
$122,400
Maryland
$122,110
Mississippi
$122,060
District of Columbia
$121,730
Kansas
$121,710
New Jersey
$121,650
Florida
$121,530
New York
$121,480
Idaho
$121,360
Michigan
$121,110
Utah
$121,020
Colorado
$120,660
Massachusetts
$120,430
Arkansas
$120,020
Indiana
$119,920
Pennsylvania
$119,800
South Dakota
$118,360
Nebraska
$117,630
Iowa
$117,420
Ohio
$117,020
Oklahoma
$116,170
Montana
$115,270
North Dakota
$100,560
Pharmacist salary by job level
In your first pharmacist job, your job title will likely just be “pharmacist.” As one of the lower-ranking members of the team, you’ll report to a pharmacy manager or director.
As you gain more experience and understanding of the nuances of your role, you may be able to increase your responsibilities — and salary — by taking on a supervisory or management role.
Take a look at the average pharmacist salary by job level:
Pharmacist Position
Average Annual Salary
Pharmacist
$139,931
Pharmacy Manager
$157,137
Assistant Pharmacy Director
$161, 637
Pharmacy Director
$183,981
There are plenty of opportunities for a high-paying pharmacist career when you’re willing to develop the experience and skills necessary for these top roles in a hospital, health system, or even retail chain like CVS or Walgreens.
Find a high-paying pharmacist job today
The average pharmacist salary is well into the six figures, but pay depends greatly on your location, skill, and experience.
With this information in mind, you can choose the best pharmacist jobs for you and your career trajectory.
For more resources on finding jobs, check out the Jobcase Getting Hired Resource Center.