Pharmacists
Pharmacists (SOC 29-1051) earn a median $140,910 a year ($67.75 an hour) in the United States, with 321,970 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Alaska.
What pharmacists do
Pharmacists make sure that medications are dispensed correctly and used safely. They review each prescription for accuracy, work out the ingredients needed, confirm that the dose and drug suit the patient, and look for interactions, calling the prescriber when something looks wrong. They also check the identity, strength or purity of medications, and counsel patients on dosage, side effects and proper storage. Pharmacists collaborate with other health professionals to evaluate drug regimens, and they analyze prescribing trends to catch overuse or harmful combinations. Alternate titles such as hospital, clinical, industrial and informatics pharmacist show the range of settings and roles. Record keeping is a large part of the job, covering patient profiles, inventories and registries of controlled drugs and poisons. Pharmacists plan how pharmaceuticals are mixed, packaged and labeled, and they order and store stock. Most people in this occupation hold a doctoral degree. They supervise the work of others in the pharmacy, and are responsible for quality and legal compliance.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a doctoral degree as the typical level of education for this occupation (78 percent).
Also called: Apothecary, Clinical Pharmacist, District Pharmacy Supervisor, Druggist, Float Pharmacist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $47.73 | $62.20 | $67.75 | $77.81 | $83.77 | $67.75 | 321,970 |
| Annual | $99,290 | $129,380 | $140,910 | $161,840 | $174,230 | $140,920 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where pharmacists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $64.34 | $75.96 | $80.44 | $83.46 | $94.24 | $77.51 | 560 | 1.73 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $133,830 | $158,000 | $167,310 | $173,600 | $196,020 | $161,220 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $60.60 | $69.24 | $79.79 | $87.52 | $93.20 | $76.56 | 3,250 | 1.65 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $126,040 | $144,020 | $165,960 | $182,040 | $193,860 | $159,230 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $43.54 | $66.52 | $79.14 | $95.12 | $102.80 | $78.05 | 34,030 | 1.87 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $90,560 | $138,360 | $164,610 | $197,860 | $213,820 | $162,340 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $61.26 | $64.37 | $78.47 | $82.46 | $85.24 | $73.67 | 1,190 | 1.89 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $127,410 | $133,900 | $163,220 | $171,510 | $177,290 | $153,220 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $60.69 | $66.29 | $77.22 | $86.29 | $98.66 | $76.49 | 7,350 | 2.07 | 1.00 |
| Annual | $126,230 | $137,890 | $160,610 | $179,480 | $205,210 | $159,100 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $43.54 | $66.52 | $79.14 | $95.12 | $102.80 | $78.05 | 34,030 | 1.87 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $90,560 | $138,360 | $164,610 | $197,860 | $213,820 | $162,340 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $46.13 | $61.62 | $66.47 | $76.96 | $81.81 | $66.11 | 24,700 | 1.76 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $95,950 | $128,170 | $138,260 | $160,080 | $170,170 | $137,510 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $26.92 | $60.28 | $65.37 | $74.27 | $79.96 | $62.59 | 21,540 | 2.17 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $56,000 | $125,370 | $135,970 | $154,470 | $166,310 | $130,190 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $44.67 | $62.14 | $68.31 | $78.61 | $83.92 | $67.43 | 19,760 | 2.04 | 0.98 |
| Annual | $92,910 | $129,240 | $142,090 | $163,510 | $174,550 | $140,260 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $54.21 | $62.50 | $66.42 | $75.47 | $78.64 | $66.70 | 14,090 | 2.32 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $112,750 | $129,990 | $138,160 | $156,970 | $163,570 | $138,740 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Napa, CA | Hourly | $70.09 | $81.33 | $96.43 | $104.51 | $104.53 | $89.78 | 180 | 2.36 | 1.14 |
| Annual | $145,780 | $169,160 | $200,580 | $217,380 | $217,420 | $186,750 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $73.03 | $76.10 | $95.69 | $108.09 | $112.54 | $91.53 | 1,960 | 1.73 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $151,900 | $158,280 | $199,040 | $224,830 | $234,080 | $190,370 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $65.18 | $79.11 | $85.29 | $105.83 | $110.20 | $88.72 | 3,670 | 1.55 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $135,580 | $164,560 | $177,410 | $220,120 | $229,220 | $184,540 | ||||
| Fairbanks-College, AK | Hourly | $70.84 | $78.84 | $83.34 | $85.89 | $92.59 | $82.24 | 50 | 1.38 | 0.67 |
| Annual | $147,350 | $163,980 | $173,340 | $178,650 | $192,590 | $171,050 | ||||
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | Hourly | $63.88 | $74.37 | $83.11 | $97.49 | $97.50 | $81.00 | 240 | 1.97 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $132,870 | $154,690 | $172,860 | $202,780 | $202,810 | $168,490 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $46.16 | $62.65 | $67.94 | $79.52 | $84.54 | $68.47 | 20,000 | 2.11 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $96,010 | $130,320 | $141,320 | $165,410 | $175,840 | $142,420 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $30.19 | $63.96 | $75.69 | $88.31 | $100.51 | $72.65 | 12,450 | 1.99 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $62,800 | $133,030 | $157,440 | $183,690 | $209,060 | $151,100 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $40.84 | $60.60 | $67.73 | $78.71 | $82.55 | $66.55 | 8,930 | 1.98 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $84,950 | $126,050 | $140,880 | $163,710 | $171,710 | $138,420 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $50.35 | $62.15 | $66.43 | $76.63 | $81.92 | $66.12 | 7,230 | 1.79 | 0.86 |
| Annual | $104,720 | $129,270 | $138,170 | $159,400 | $170,390 | $137,540 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $57.62 | $64.13 | $71.51 | $76.36 | $80.42 | $69.20 | 6,460 | 2.23 | 1.08 |
| Annual | $119,840 | $133,390 | $148,740 | $158,840 | $167,270 | $143,930 | ||||
Top industries employing pharmacists
Health and Personal Care Retailers employ 37.9% of pharmacists nationally (121,990 jobs) at a median $132,940 a year ($63.91 an hour), followed by General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (29.7%) and General Merchandise Retailers (6.4%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health and Personal Care Retailers NAICS 456100 | 121,990 | 37.9% | $132,940 | $63.91 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 95,760 | 29.7% | $157,440 | $75.69 |
| General Merchandise Retailers NAICS 455000 | 20,690 | 6.4% | $151,370 | $72.77 |
| Food and Beverage Retailers (4451 and 4452 only) NAICS 4450A1 | 19,700 | 6.1% | $144,000 | $69.23 |
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 8,560 | 2.7% | $151,380 | $72.78 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (321,970). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $128,570 for pharmacists in May 2021 and $140,910 in May 2025, with employment of 312,550 and 321,970.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $128,570 | $61.81 | 312,550 |
| May 2022 | $132,750 | $63.82 | 325,480 |
| May 2023 | $136,030 | $65.40 | 331,700 |
| May 2024 | $137,480 | $66.10 | 328,870 |
| May 2025 | $140,910 | $67.75 | 321,970 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska profile | $80.44 | $167,310 | $133,830 | $196,020 | 560 | 1.73 | 0.84 |
| 2 | Oregon profile | $79.79 | $165,960 | $126,040 | $193,860 | 3,250 | 1.65 | 0.80 |
| 3 | California profile | $79.14 | $164,610 | $90,560 | $213,820 | 34,030 | 1.87 | 0.90 |
| 4 | Hawaii profile | $78.47 | $163,220 | $127,410 | $177,290 | 1,190 | 1.89 | 0.91 |
| 5 | Washington profile | $77.22 | $160,610 | $126,230 | $205,210 | 7,350 | 2.07 | 1.00 |
| 6 | Minnesota profile | $76.80 | $159,740 | $98,150 | $174,660 | 6,310 | 2.14 | 1.03 |
| 7 | Colorado profile | $75.01 | $156,030 | $120,410 | $188,430 | 4,560 | 1.59 | 0.77 |
| 8 | District of Columbia profile | $73.75 | $153,400 | $64,870 | $196,080 | 850 | 1.21 | 0.58 |
| 9 | Delaware profile | $73.50 | $152,880 | $103,170 | $178,760 | 790 | 1.63 | 0.79 |
| 10 | Wisconsin profile | $71.51 | $148,740 | $112,020 | $178,090 | 5,730 | 1.95 | 0.94 |
| 11 | New Mexico profile | $70.67 | $147,000 | $103,500 | $174,200 | 1,730 | 1.99 | 0.96 |
| 12 | Arizona profile | $70.64 | $146,930 | $103,490 | $171,660 | 6,900 | 2.13 | 1.03 |
| 13 | South Dakota profile | $70.57 | $146,790 | $112,200 | $166,340 | 1,280 | 2.81 | 1.36 |
| 14 | Idaho profile | $69.66 | $144,900 | $102,180 | $164,050 | 1,790 | 2.09 | 1.01 |
| 15 | Indiana profile | $69.37 | $144,290 | $107,050 | $169,360 | 6,430 | 2.01 | 0.97 |
| 16 | Utah profile | $69.34 | $144,240 | $70,260 | $172,440 | 2,830 | 1.63 | 0.79 |
| 17 | Virginia profile | $69.26 | $144,060 | $106,800 | $173,550 | 7,980 | 1.94 | 0.94 |
| 18 | New Hampshire profile | $68.76 | $143,020 | $98,870 | $170,030 | 1,130 | 1.66 | 0.80 |
| 19 | New York profile | $68.31 | $142,090 | $92,910 | $174,550 | 19,760 | 2.04 | 0.98 |
| 20 | Montana profile | $68.31 | $142,080 | $98,660 | $165,260 | 1,190 | 2.33 | 1.12 |
| 21 | North Dakota profile | $68.29 | $142,040 | $105,490 | $167,940 | 1,070 | 2.48 | 1.20 |
| 22 | Connecticut profile | $67.93 | $141,290 | $106,660 | $165,360 | 3,490 | 2.06 | 0.99 |
| 23 | Maine profile | $67.75 | $140,930 | $101,360 | $166,810 | 1,380 | 2.15 | 1.04 |
| 24 | Nevada profile | $67.32 | $140,030 | $104,000 | $168,600 | 2,500 | 1.61 | 0.78 |
| 25 | Wyoming profile | $67.09 | $139,550 | $115,820 | $168,450 | 510 | 1.83 | 0.89 |
| 26 | Nebraska profile | $66.99 | $139,330 | $84,990 | $170,090 | 2,450 | 2.39 | 1.16 |
| 27 | Illinois profile | $66.86 | $139,080 | $98,970 | $169,430 | 12,070 | 1.98 | 0.96 |
| 28 | Maryland profile | $66.82 | $138,990 | $115,860 | $169,890 | 5,400 | 1.95 | 0.94 |
| 29 | Iowa profile | $66.76 | $138,860 | $117,450 | $164,520 | 3,230 | 2.07 | 1.00 |
| 30 | North Carolina profile | $66.76 | $138,860 | $101,670 | $169,820 | 11,430 | 2.31 | 1.12 |
| 31 | Texas profile | $66.47 | $138,260 | $95,950 | $170,170 | 24,700 | 1.76 | 0.85 |
| 32 | Massachusetts profile | $66.43 | $138,170 | $113,710 | $164,500 | 7,230 | 1.99 | 0.96 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania profile | $66.42 | $138,160 | $112,750 | $163,570 | 14,090 | 2.32 | 1.12 |
| 34 | Michigan profile | $66.28 | $137,860 | $101,740 | $168,540 | 8,780 | 1.99 | 0.96 |
| 35 | Kansas profile | $66.25 | $137,800 | $78,770 | $169,310 | 3,500 | 2.44 | 1.18 |
| 36 | New Jersey profile | $66.16 | $137,620 | $112,560 | $172,110 | 9,420 | 2.20 | 1.06 |
| 37 | Missouri profile | $66.16 | $137,610 | $107,530 | $166,840 | 6,740 | 2.29 | 1.11 |
| 38 | Georgia profile | $65.92 | $137,120 | $100,950 | $170,110 | 10,530 | 2.15 | 1.04 |
| 39 | Ohio profile | $65.87 | $137,020 | $65,470 | $165,900 | 12,790 | 2.31 | 1.11 |
| 40 | Kentucky profile | $65.64 | $136,530 | $84,280 | $168,940 | 5,030 | 2.51 | 1.21 |
| 41 | Vermont profile | $65.52 | $136,270 | $117,860 | $164,370 | 530 | 1.76 | 0.85 |
| 42 | Arkansas profile | $65.41 | $136,060 | $105,560 | $164,940 | 2,900 | 2.23 | 1.07 |
| 43 | Florida profile | $65.37 | $135,970 | $56,000 | $166,310 | 21,540 | 2.17 | 1.05 |
| 44 | South Carolina profile | $65.24 | $135,700 | $82,430 | $170,270 | 5,320 | 2.31 | 1.12 |
| 45 | Oklahoma profile | $64.97 | $135,140 | $100,320 | $162,070 | 3,610 | 2.11 | 1.02 |
| 46 | Alabama profile | $64.72 | $134,630 | $90,010 | $161,940 | 5,400 | 2.56 | 1.23 |
| 47 | West Virginia profile | $64.15 | $133,430 | $80,900 | $166,020 | 2,260 | 3.23 | 1.56 |
| 48 | Tennessee profile | $64.13 | $133,390 | $88,700 | $164,430 | 8,250 | 2.52 | 1.22 |
| 49 | Mississippi profile | $64.05 | $133,230 | $97,260 | $158,230 | 3,050 | 2.62 | 1.27 |
| 50 | Louisiana profile | $63.66 | $132,410 | $100,920 | $156,740 | 5,610 | 2.90 | 1.40 |
| 51 | Rhode Island profile | $61.63 | $128,180 | $86,650 | $161,090 | 1,510 | 3.01 | 1.45 |
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-1051 Pharmacists.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-1051, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-1051.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.