Contents
Pharmacist Salary
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $42.93 | $49.69 | $56.09 | $64.28 | $70.15 |
| Annual Wage | $89,300 | $103,400 | $116,700 | $133,700 | $145,900 |
How much does a pharmacist make? The job of a pharmacist entails dispensing prescriptions and advising patients on the proper use of medications, both prescription and over the counter. Pharmacists fill prescriptions, paying close attention to the doctor’s instructions and possessing knowledge regarding drug interactions. They also deal with insurance companies and perform various other administrative duties. Becoming a pharmacist requires the successful completion of a Doctor of Pharmacy degree which usually takes about 6-8 years to finish and then becoming licensed.
Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for pharmacists in 2012 was $116,670. The median salary means that half of pharmacists made more than $116,670 and half of pharmacists earned less than that amount. Pharmacists in the top 10 percent of the field earned $145,910 or more. The lowest 10 percent of pharmacists made less than or equal to $89,280.
Factors Impacting Salary
Where a pharmacist is employed affects his or her earnings. According to the BLS, the highest paying employers were other general merchandise stores where pharmacists made a median salary of $128,910. Department store pharmacists reported the next highest salaries at $120,540. Work experience also factors into salary, and pharmacists who have been in the field for several years will earn more than those just starting out.
Geographical Location and Salary
The states where pharmacists earn the highest salaries include: Alaska, California, Maine, Vermont, and Wisconsin. The metropolitan areas in the United States with the highest paid pharmacists include Gadsden, AL, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA, and Pascagoula, MS.
Work Environment and Schedule
Pharmacies and drug stores employ many pharmacists. Since pharmacies are often open 24 hours a day, pharmacists employed in these places might work evenings, overnight, weekends, and holidays and can expect to spend the majority of the time on their feet. Other employers of pharmacists include hospitals, grocery stores, and department stores.
Job Outlook
From 2012 until 2022, the job outlook for pharmacists is average. The field is expected to grow by 14 percent which is an additional 41,400 new jobs. The need for more pharmacists is due to the growing number of people with chronic diseases who require medications, the aging population who will need more medications as they get older, and the increased availability of health care to more of the population as a result of new legislation. Additionally, as new drugs are put on the market, more pharmacists will be needed to dispense them.
Top Paying Industries
| Industry | Employment | % of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean salary |
| Other General Merchandise Stores | 16,500 | 0.93 | $60.21 | $125,240 |
| Warehousing and Storage | 160 | 0.02 | $59.88 | $124,540 |
| Offices of Physicians | 4,610 | 0.19 | $59.21 | $123,160 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 210 | 0.08 | $58.66 | $122,010 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 3,500 | 0.52 | $58.37 | $121,420 |
Salary By State
| State | 10% | 25% | Median | 75% | 90% | Jobs (2010) | Jobs (2020) | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $85,800 | $103,800 | $118,500 | $137,600 | $150,000 | 4,500 | 5,430 | +21% |
| Alaska | $106,400 | $121,100 | $132,300 | $144,200 | $152,000 | 370 | 460 | +25% |
| Arizona | $98,600 | $109,900 | $125,400 | $139,400 | $147,900 | 4,940 | 6,080 | +23% |
| Arkansas | $75,700 | $100,000 | $113,200 | $130,700 | $145,900 | 2,960 | 3,250 | +10% |
| California | $97,800 | $120,100 | $132,000 | $143,400 | $150,700 | 23,600 | 29,900 | +27% |
| Colorado | $67,400 | $103,700 | $117,800 | $135,000 | $146,300 | 4,370 | 5,470 | +25% |
| Connecticut | $87,000 | $104,400 | $122,000 | $137,300 | $146,600 | 3,220 | 3,560 | +11% |
| Delaware | $100,400 | $110,900 | $125,800 | $139,400 | $147,600 | 650 | 770 | +20% |
| District of Columbia | $88,200 | $101,400 | $115,400 | $134,300 | $145,700 | 710 | 830 | +16% |
| Florida | $96,400 | $103,300 | $113,900 | $128,300 | $143,200 | 17,580 | 21,170 | +20% |
| Georgia | $93,300 | $103,000 | $114,500 | $129,300 | $143,300 | 4,570 | 5,370 | +18% |
| Hawaii | $98,800 | $104,900 | $114,600 | $127,300 | $141,900 | 1,100 | 1,310 | +19% |
| Idaho | $95,900 | $102,000 | $110,800 | $120,200 | $137,400 | 1,400 | 1,730 | +23% |
| Illinois | $68,500 | $99,700 | $114,500 | $131,600 | $145,700 | 10,090 | 10,840 | +7% |
| Iowa | $80,200 | $98,800 | $108,100 | $117,400 | $130,200 | 3,080 | 3,720 | +21% |
| Kansas | $67,000 | $102,700 | $117,500 | $134,900 | $146,900 | 3,160 | 3,650 | +16% |
| Kentucky | $67,700 | $104,500 | $122,200 | $138,200 | $148,000 | 4,260 | 5,350 | +26% |
| Louisiana | $78,400 | $98,000 | $109,500 | $121,600 | $142,000 | 4,550 | 5,400 | +19% |
| Maine | $106,500 | $121,200 | $132,500 | $143,300 | $149,900 | 1,320 | 1,510 | +14% |
| Maryland | $83,200 | $100,600 | $111,500 | $123,700 | $140,200 | 5,450 | 6,370 | +17% |
| Massachusetts | $94,200 | $102,000 | $112,400 | $126,100 | $142,300 | 5,610 | 6,680 | +19% |
| Michigan | $73,400 | $100,300 | $111,700 | $124,700 | $145,300 | 9,170 | 10,430 | +14% |
| Minnesota | $88,800 | $107,300 | $124,700 | $138,500 | $147,100 | 5,710 | 6,930 | +21% |
| Mississippi | $75,000 | $101,000 | $116,900 | $135,100 | $147,700 | 2,420 | 2,590 | +7% |
| Missouri | $98,100 | $106,500 | $119,600 | $135,700 | $146,400 | 5,800 | 6,790 | +17% |
| Montana | $79,600 | $98,400 | $107,500 | $115,700 | $124,300 | 1,000 | 1,230 | +23% |
| Nebraska | $77,100 | $96,300 | $106,000 | $115,400 | $122,600 | 2,320 | 2,670 | +15% |
| Nevada | $97,900 | $106,600 | $119,600 | $136,000 | $146,800 | 2,110 | 2,430 | +15% |
| New Hampshire | $97,600 | $108,100 | $123,800 | $139,200 | $148,300 | 1,890 | 2,140 | +13% |
| New Jersey | $86,000 | $100,500 | $110,800 | $121,400 | $139,300 | 8,740 | 9,800 | +12% |
| New Mexico | $96,800 | $105,300 | $118,400 | $135,800 | $147,600 | 1,530 | 1,810 | +18% |
| New York | $88,500 | $102,300 | $116,100 | $133,800 | $146,400 | 17,640 | 21,030 | +19% |
| North Carolina | $93,400 | $106,500 | $123,800 | $138,700 | $147,700 | 8,350 | 9,870 | +18% |
| North Dakota | $83,700 | $97,300 | $107,600 | $117,100 | $133,500 | 850 | 1,000 | +18% |
| Ohio | $90,300 | $103,000 | $114,500 | $129,300 | $143,100 | 11,790 | 13,570 | +15% |
| Oklahoma | $80,600 | $98,200 | $108,100 | $118,100 | $136,100 | 3,300 | 3,870 | +17% |
| Oregon | $98,800 | $106,800 | $119,600 | $134,700 | $144,900 | 3,340 | 3,950 | 0% |
| Pennsylvania | $81,300 | $98,600 | $109,200 | $120,000 | $138,700 | 11,690 | 12,700 | +9% |
| Rhode Island | $44,900 | $96,500 | $109,900 | $125,500 | $142,100 | 1,190 | 1,440 | +21% |
| South Carolina | $96,000 | $104,800 | $117,400 | $134,100 | $145,700 | 4,760 | 5,860 | +23% |
| South Dakota | $85,600 | $99,400 | $108,700 | $118,600 | $135,500 | 1,070 | 1,210 | +13% |
| Tennessee | $96,200 | $106,000 | $120,600 | $137,000 | $147,300 | 6,660 | 8,020 | +20% |
| Texas | $95,900 | $104,500 | $117,200 | $134,300 | $146,000 | 19,890 | 24,890 | +25% |
| Utah | $80,700 | $103,900 | $117,700 | $134,500 | $146,000 | 2,550 | 3,300 | +29% |
| Vermont | $102,300 | $114,100 | $129,200 | $141,100 | $148,300 | 590 | 710 | +21% |
| Virginia | $97,400 | $105,500 | $118,800 | $134,700 | $145,400 | 7,450 | 9,340 | +25% |
| Washington | $97,000 | $104,100 | $115,200 | $130,600 | $143,500 | 5,980 | 6,890 | +15% |
| West Virginia | $79,800 | $104,000 | $119,400 | $136,700 | $148,500 | 2,180 | 2,440 | +12% |
| Wisconsin | $99,800 | $109,600 | $124,500 | $139,000 | $148,000 | 5,400 | 6,110 | +13% |
| Wyoming | $67,500 | $100,200 | $111,700 | $121,400 | $137,900 | 520 | 570 | +8% |
