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.