How Much Do Pharmacists Make?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that pharmacists make a median annual income of $128,570 or $62 per hour. The lowest 10% of pharmacists earned less than $76,840 and the highest 10% earned more than $164,590.

Do Pharmacists Get Paid Well?

Pharmacists are paid well—they earn more than the average worker in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary for pharmacists is $128,570 per year. This is 206% more than the average salary for all occupations, which is $45,760. 

How Much Do Pharmacists Make Starting Out?

The BLS does not provide average compensation data for entry-level positions for pharmacists just starting out, but the bottom 25% of pharmacists earn $121,070 each year according to the BLS.

How Many Pharmacists Are There In The United States?

In 2021, there were 322,200 pharmacists in the United States. The BLS predicts the number of pharmacists will decrease by 2 percent, approximately 7,000 fewer jobs, by 2030.

Where Can Pharmacists Earn The Most?

Pharmacists' salaries depend on location and work setting. According to the BLS, pharmacists earn the most in the following industries: health and personal care stores, general medical and surgical hospitals and food and beverage stores. The metropolitan areas with the highest pay for pharmacists are:

1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA - $168,640
2. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA - $163,840
3. Santa Rosa, CA - $158,420

How Much Do Pharmacists Earn In Each State?

The table below compares pharmacists salaries across states and U.S. territories (Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wages May 2020). You can also find data for the number of pharmacists in each state as well as the number of pharmacists per 1,000 jobs—a figure that can help you determine the job's popularity in a given location. Not all locations have salary and employment statistics.