Pharmacists Salary 2025: $146,529 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
$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.
Pharmacist (SOC 29-1051) is a high-paying U.S. occupation: national median wage of $146,529 across 195,450 reported workers per the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey.
Cross-city wage variation runs moderate — $128,100 to $199,040 median across 70 cities, about 55% above the floor. The spread is large enough to matter for relocation decisions but not large enough to dominate them. Pharmacist is in the Healthcare category — wages here reflect a regulated labor market with state-specific licensing and credentialing, which constrains supply more than it does in unregulated fields.
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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Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Pharmacist is $146,529 as of 2025. The national mean (average) is $143,031. Salaries range from $128,100 to $199,040 depending on city and cost of living.
Pharmacist salaries vary significantly by metro area. The highest-paying cities offer median salaries well above the national average of $146,529, though cost of living should be factored in. Check the city breakdown table above for COL-adjusted figures.
There are approximately 195,450 Pharmacist positions in the US across 70 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Pharmacist positions at the 90th percentile earn significantly more than the median, suggesting strong income growth potential with experience and specialization. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile indicates the impact that skills, location, and seniority have on compensation.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.