Pharmacists Salary 2025: $146,529 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
- Official U.S. BLS OEWS data (May 2025)
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$146,529 per year is the national median annual wage for pharmacists (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $70/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $151,900 to $234,080. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 29-1051.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $146,529
- Median hourly wage
- $70/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $143,031
- Total US employment
- 195,450
- Top-paying metro
- San Jose, CA, CA ($199,040)
- BLS SOC code
- 29-1051
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
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The national median wage for pharmacists (BLS SOC 29-1051) is $146,529 per year — about $70/hour — across 195,450 workers in 70 U.S. metros in the BLS OEWS May 2025 release. The mean wage of $143,031 sits below the median, which is unusual and points to a cluster of lower-paid workers dragging the average down.
Experience drives the range as much as anything: the 10th percentile earns $95,976 while the 90th earns $177,827 — a 1.9× gap from entry-level to the top of the field. Most pharmacists land in the $116,030–$161,969 band (25th–75th percentile), which is the right anchor when you size up an offer.
Location matters too. San Jose, CA, CA posts the highest median at $199,040, versus $128,100 in New Orleans, LA, LA — a 55% gap. But adjusted for cost of living, Wichita, KS delivers the strongest real purchasing power ($169,524 in national-average dollars), which can flip the nominal ranking for anyone weighing a move.
In Healthcare, pharmacist wages reflect a regulated labor market: state licensing and credentialing constrain supply, so pay holds up more evenly across regions than in unregulated fields. The figures here are base wage and exclude shift differentials and overtime.
Pharmacists Salary by Experience Level (2025)
BLS OEWS doesn’t publish wages by years of experience, but its national percentile bands map cleanly to career stages. Here’s what pharmacists earn from entry-level to the top of the field.
| Career stage | Typical experience | BLS percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | 0–2 years | 10th | $95,976 |
| Junior / early-career | 2–5 years | 25th | $116,030 |
| Mid-career | 5–10 years | 50th (median) | $146,112 |
| Senior | 10–15 years | 75th | $161,969 |
| Top earners | 15+ years | 90th | $177,827 |
Experience bands are SalaryTruth’s interpretation of BLS OEWS percentiles, not a separate BLS series. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and region.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Pharmacists salaries range from $128,100 to $199,040 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Pharmacists Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | $151,900 | $170,756 | $199,040 | $216,560 | $234,080 | $101,655 | 1,960 |
| San Francisco, CA | $135,580 | $152,312 | $177,410 | $203,315 | $229,220 | $98,781 | 3,670 |
| Sacramento, CA | $104,420 | $131,724 | $172,680 | $193,250 | $213,820 | $138,476 | 2,310 |
| Fresno, CA | $128,300 | $144,644 | $169,160 | $190,135 | $211,110 | $160,341 | 890 |
| Portland, OR | $127,100 | $143,792 | $168,830 | $182,665 | $196,500 | $129,769 | 2,070 |
| San Diego, CA | $131,400 | $144,892 | $165,130 | $189,805 | $214,480 | $103,077 | 2,840 |
| Anchorage, AK | $106,190 | $128,906 | $162,980 | $173,905 | $184,830 | $128,331 | 360 |
| Seattle, WA | $126,410 | $140,994 | $162,870 | $186,165 | $209,460 | $109,016 | 4,440 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $125,170 | $139,874 | $161,930 | $181,390 | $200,850 | $160,964 | 600 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $103,810 | $127,034 | $161,870 | $184,445 | $207,020 | $132,247 | 3,400 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $79,060 | $111,832 | $160,990 | $166,830 | $172,670 | $151,591 | 4,160 |
| Madison, WI | $112,140 | $130,532 | $158,120 | $164,050 | $169,980 | $152,331 | 1,120 |
| Denver, CO | $122,450 | $136,626 | $157,890 | $173,190 | $188,490 | $139,973 | 2,630 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $62,800 | $100,656 | $157,440 | $183,250 | $209,060 | $94,843 | 12,450 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $111,630 | $129,954 | $157,440 | $165,005 | $172,570 | $114,502 | 660 |
| Spokane, WA | $115,850 | $131,734 | $155,560 | $166,485 | $177,410 | $159,713 | 710 |
| Reno, NV | $126,360 | $137,568 | $154,380 | $162,800 | $171,220 | $144,958 | 440 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $105,800 | $125,100 | $154,050 | $166,020 | $177,990 | $147,416 | 0 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $120,600 | $133,696 | $153,340 | $167,125 | $180,910 | $157,433 | 1,760 |
| Austin, TX | $90,810 | $115,002 | $151,290 | $161,890 | $172,490 | $146,883 | 1,800 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $111,950 | $127,590 | $151,050 | $160,580 | $170,110 | $167,647 | 2,220 |
| Boise, ID | $77,180 | $106,592 | $150,710 | $157,685 | $164,660 | $147,610 | 830 |
| Charlotte, NC | $91,770 | $115,294 | $150,580 | $162,255 | $173,930 | $155,719 | 2,530 |
| Washington, DC | $121,420 | $133,068 | $150,540 | $164,885 | $179,230 | $98,521 | 5,260 |
| San Antonio, TX | $96,670 | $118,202 | $150,500 | $158,800 | $167,100 | $164,481 | 2,260 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $119,840 | $131,400 | $148,740 | $158,005 | $167,270 | $125,625 | 6,460 |
| Tucson, AZ | $72,760 | $102,624 | $147,420 | $161,395 | $175,370 | $154,528 | 1,010 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $66,360 | $98,620 | $147,010 | $160,070 | $173,130 | $144,980 | 1,520 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $104,180 | $121,308 | $147,000 | $162,950 | $178,900 | $156,383 | 1,000 |
| Richmond, VA | $106,310 | $121,762 | $144,940 | $155,315 | $165,690 | $141,959 | 1,350 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $105,920 | $121,348 | $144,490 | $157,825 | $171,160 | $143,486 | 5,050 |
| Louisville, KY | $97,700 | $116,188 | $143,920 | $158,770 | $173,620 | $159,557 | 1,830 |
| Wichita, KS | $107,230 | $121,298 | $142,400 | $154,170 | $165,940 | $169,524 | 580 |
| Omaha, NE | $56,130 | $90,410 | $141,830 | $155,960 | $170,090 | $154,499 | 1,350 |
| New York, NY | $96,010 | $114,134 | $141,320 | $158,580 | $175,840 | $75,491 | 20,000 |
| Des Moines, IA | $123,510 | $130,550 | $141,110 | $153,005 | $164,900 | $151,243 | 850 |
| Chicago, IL | $84,950 | $107,322 | $140,880 | $156,295 | $171,710 | $131,295 | 8,930 |
| Tulsa, OK | $108,990 | $121,722 | $140,820 | $152,625 | $164,430 | $162,235 | 820 |
| Houston, TX | $83,200 | $106,108 | $140,470 | $155,320 | $170,170 | $145,565 | 6,410 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $102,600 | $117,640 | $140,200 | $154,995 | $169,790 | $153,728 | 2,380 |
| Atlanta, GA | $103,170 | $117,850 | $139,870 | $157,715 | $175,560 | $140,998 | 6,120 |
| Boston, MA | $127,550 | $132,394 | $139,660 | $154,025 | $168,390 | $91,821 | 5,280 |
| Kansas City, MO | $85,500 | $107,084 | $139,460 | $155,945 | $172,430 | $146,184 | 2,640 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $62,500 | $93,096 | $138,990 | $150,755 | $162,520 | $146,151 | 1,420 |
| Birmingham, AL | $107,330 | $119,918 | $138,800 | $149,995 | $161,190 | $153,540 | 1,550 |
| St. Louis, MO | $111,110 | $122,078 | $138,530 | $152,685 | $166,840 | $153,922 | 2,910 |
| Greensboro, NC | $80,650 | $103,662 | $138,180 | $148,595 | $159,010 | $151,347 | 710 |
| Dallas, TX | $104,720 | $118,100 | $138,170 | $154,280 | $170,390 | $132,728 | 7,230 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $98,490 | $114,342 | $138,120 | $149,850 | $161,580 | $159,676 | 1,550 |
| Baltimore, MD | $114,080 | $123,692 | $138,110 | $153,060 | $168,010 | $120,937 | 2,730 |
| Tampa, FL | $52,730 | $86,834 | $137,990 | $153,440 | $168,890 | $138,544 | 3,460 |
| Buffalo, NY | $71,200 | $97,880 | $137,900 | $157,230 | $176,560 | $149,081 | 1,400 |
| Detroit, MI | $63,630 | $93,286 | $137,770 | $154,000 | $170,230 | $144,869 | 4,280 |
| Nashville, TN | $69,510 | $96,742 | $137,590 | $152,330 | $167,070 | $137,178 | 2,630 |
| Albany, NY | $97,340 | $113,092 | $136,720 | $150,525 | $164,330 | $135,770 | 1,050 |
| Little Rock, AR | $94,120 | $111,152 | $136,700 | $151,635 | $166,570 | $154,989 | 1,020 |
| Lexington, KY | $100,260 | $114,768 | $136,530 | $148,895 | $161,260 | $149,540 | 1,060 |
| Rochester, NY | $123,610 | $128,690 | $136,310 | $146,540 | $156,770 | $146,728 | 1,070 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $104,000 | $116,900 | $136,250 | $151,905 | $167,560 | $125,000 | 1,860 |
| Greenville, SC | $73,610 | $98,398 | $135,580 | $150,195 | $164,810 | $150,477 | 900 |
| Miami, FL | $57,190 | $88,398 | $135,210 | $151,635 | $168,060 | $109,838 | 6,150 |
| Orlando, FL | $73,930 | $98,362 | $135,010 | $149,940 | $164,870 | $130,951 | 2,900 |
| Hartford, CT | $104,210 | $116,262 | $134,340 | $148,655 | $162,970 | $119,307 | 1,180 |
| Memphis, TN | $103,470 | $115,770 | $134,220 | $150,040 | $165,860 | $159,786 | 1,460 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $107,650 | $118,262 | $134,180 | $147,215 | $160,250 | $145,374 | 3,300 |
| Columbus, OH | $50,450 | $83,854 | $133,960 | $150,290 | $166,620 | $143,888 | 2,610 |
| Raleigh, NC | $101,720 | $114,280 | $133,120 | $149,090 | $165,060 | $133,387 | 1,730 |
| Knoxville, TN | $85,160 | $104,080 | $132,460 | $145,830 | $159,200 | $146,689 | 990 |
| Providence, RI | $86,620 | $104,308 | $130,840 | $145,060 | $159,280 | $109,581 | 1,880 |
| New Orleans, LA | $86,060 | $102,876 | $128,100 | $141,670 | $155,240 | $133,577 | 1,470 |
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Pharmacist & H-1B Prevailing Wage
Sponsoring or filing an H-1B, PERM, or E-3 case? See the DOL prevailing-wage levels (1–4) for Pharmacist, including the 2026 proposed increase.
Pharmacist prevailing wage in San Jose, CA →Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Pharmacist is $146,529 as of 2025 (BLS OEWS). The national mean (average) is $143,031. Salaries range from $128,100 to $199,040 median depending on city and cost of living.
Entry-level pharmacists (10th percentile) earn about $95,976 per year nationally. Pay rises with experience to a median of $146,529, $161,969 at the 75th percentile, and $177,827 for the top 10% of earners.
The median pharmacist earns about $70/hour, based on the $146,529 annual median over a standard 2,080-hour work year (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
San Jose, CA, CA posts the highest median for Pharmacist at $199,040, well above the national median of $146,529. Cost of living matters, though — see the COL-adjusted column in the city table above, which can reorder the rankings.
There are approximately 195,450 Pharmacist positions in the US across 70 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey.
The 90th percentile pharmacist earns $177,827 — about 1.9× the $95,976 entry-level wage. A spread that wide signals real income growth potential with experience, specialization, and location.
No. BLS OEWS reports base wages only — bonuses, commissions, overtime, and equity are excluded. For roles where variable pay is common, total compensation runs above the figures shown here.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.