The Salaries Pharmacists Can Expect

In some occupations, salaries change dramatically between regions and across different parts of an industry. The strong demand for pharmacists across the U.S., however, means that salaries don't have the wide variance experienced elsewhere. Nonetheless, the differences are worth noting.

Most of the following salaries come from the occupational employment figures of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The figures were applied in May 2008.

Average national levels

There are around 266,410 licensed pharmacists who receive salaries. The average national annual salary of $104,260 therefore excludes the 10% of pharmacists who are self-employed.

Based on the above figure, the average hourly salary for pharmacists is $50.13. This assumes that the number of hours worked per year is 2,080.

Salaries vary, of course, according to experience and position held within an organization. For example, those pharmacists in the lowest 10% of the salary structure receive an average of $77,390 a year, or $37.21 an hour. Others have the following salaries:

  • The lowest 25% earn an average of $92,670 a year or $44.55 an hour
  • Half of salaried pharmacists earn $106,410 a year or $51.16 an hour
  • The top 10% earn an average of $131,440 a year or $63.19 an hour

Salaries according to sector

There are some differences in the average salary of pharmacists based on the sector of the profession in which they work.

The federal government, for instance, employs around 6,110 pharmacists on an annual average salary of $96,490. Chain drug stores offer higher average salaries that fall between $102,310 and $111,000 depending on the exact type and size of store. This compares to an average of $103,480 in hospitals and clinics.

State levels

Average annual salaries for pharmacists also change from state to state. The five states that pay the most are:

  • California - $116,960
  • Maine - $112,450
  • New Hampshire - $111,050
  • Alaska - $110,610
  • Minnesota - $109,760

These compare to states such as North Dakota and Montana where pharmacists earn an average of $86,930 and $91,080 respectively.

Metropolitan areas

The five metropolitan areas where pharmacists receive the highest average annual salaries are:

  • El Centro, CA - $140,800
  • Modesto, CA - $136,020
  • Santa Barbara-Santa Maria, CA - $135,770
  • Farmington, NM - $128,550
  • Gadsden, AL - $127,520

Other metropolitan areas that have large numbers of pharmacists include Iowa City, IA with an average salary of $86,990 a year; Fargo, ND-MN with $90,010; and Sioux Falls, SD with $90,420.

Newly-qualified

A newly-qualified pharmacist with less than a year's experience may earn a national average of $81,377. At the other end of the scale, a pharmacist who has twenty or more years of work behind them should expect an average salary of $105,939.

As expected, salaries tend to increase steadily according to experience. A pharmacist who has put in five to nine years of work can earn an average of $97,679.

Self-employment

Self-employed pharmacists run their own businesses. These are usually independent community pharmacies. As a result, the self-employed pharmacists draw their incomes from the overall profits.

These profits depend on factors such as the location of the business, the debt commitments, and business skills. No accurate figures are available, but self-employed pharmacists are likely to earn more than the national average salaries.

Published on 2009-11-11