Pharmacist salary
What a pharmacist actually earns, from 532 live job postings blended with the official US OEWS (Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics) wage anchor. Pick a market for its median and range, then read the seniority split, the trend, and the country comparison below. Updated 2026-07-23.
Switch the market above to see pharmacist pay in the 4 countries our sources cover, each with its own cost of living. The trend, seniority, and state detail below are United States data, where the official record runs deepest.
What the number means
Pharmacist pay is high and unusually flat: a blended US median near 153,000 dollars in a tight band, because the doctorate and license set a firm floor and the retail-versus-hospital split sets a modest ceiling. It is one of the best-paid careers that does not require a residency. But the market has tightened as chains consolidate and automation absorbs dispensing, so the growth is in clinical, hospital, and specialty roles now, not behind the counter. If you are weighing the doctorate, weigh the softening demand alongside the salary.
Open pharmacist roles
Live openings tagged to this occupation, from company career pages and remote boards. Apply at the source.
- Clinical Pharmacist - Work From HomeWorkday · United States$102k–$184kRemoteJul 22
- Pharmacist (Associate CMOP Director)Veterans Health Administration · Murfreesboro, Tennessee$169k–$219kJul 21
- Clinical Staff Pharmacist (Outpatient)Veterans Health Administration · Memphis, Tennessee$129k–$168kJul 20
- Licensed Pharmacist(Pharmacy Supervisor) - Acute CareVeterans Health Administration · Madison, Wisconsin$149k–$193kJul 20
- Pharmacist - Clinical Pharmacy SpecialistVeterans Health Administration · Lake City, Florida$127k–$165kJul 20
- Pharmacy Technician - ClinicalVeterans Health Administration · Saint Cloud, Minnesota$69k–$90kJul 20
By country
- United States$127,659 – $194,810 · median $167,880
- United Kingdom$60,496 – $77,300 · median $70,578
- Australia$67,191 – $91,394 · median $79,789
- Canada$77,146 – $92,724 · median $86,252
Top-paying US states
OEWS median by state, highest first.
- Californiamedian $165,150
- Alaskamedian $163,200
- Washingtonmedian $157,020
- Minnesotamedian $154,610
- Coloradomedian $151,680
- Wisconsinmedian $140,410
Is your offer fair?
Run a specific number through FairElephant, which weighs it against this data, your location, and remote market rates.
Related salaries
- Physician salary$140,794 median
- Registered Nurse salary$94,467 median
- Nurse Practitioner salary$95,455 median
Quick answers
How much do pharmacists make?
The blended US median is about 153,000 dollars, a high floor set by the doctorate and license, with a relatively narrow range.
Is pharmacy still a good career?
The pay holds, but retail demand has softened with consolidation and automation. The growth is in clinical, hospital, and specialty roles.
Do pharmacists earn more than nurses?
At the median, usually yes, though nurse practitioners close the gap and physicians clear it.
Method: bands are the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles of live US postings with stated pay, shrunk toward the official OEWS anchor by sample size (the “blended” figure). Trend is the OEWS annual median for SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code 29-1051. Unemployment is the 2025 BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) CPS (Current Population Survey) annual-average rate for “Pharmacists.” Live corpus 532 observations, 2026-07-23. Definitions in the glossary.