Pharmacist Salary in the US | 2022

Pharmacists are responsible for not just dispensing prescriptions, but also ensuring that prescribed treatments are safe for patients. Pharmacists earn a higher-than-average salary as a result of their substantial training and knowledge.

Most individuals are aware that working as a pharmacist may be a lucrative profession. But, exactly, how much is a pharmacist’s salary? 

In the United States, a typical Pharmacist’s salary is around 128,000 dollars per year and salaries range from 64,100 USD to 199,000 USD. This average annual salary includes housing, transportation, and other perks. 

However, the salary for pharmacists varies greatly depending on experience, skills, gender, and location. 

We analyzed and compiled a round-up of the average pharmacist salary in each U.S. state for 2022, using occupational data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Continue reading to find out more about the typical pharmacist salary, how it varies by state, where pharmacists make the most money, and where they make the least.

Is Pharmacist Salary Dependable?

Because of the aging population in the United States, more people will require medication and healthcare advice. 

By 2026, they predict the pharmacy field to grow at a rate of 6% on average, according to projections. 

Because there is a limited quantity of space in pharmacist training programs, you will have a better chance of landing a job and being highly compensated for your work.

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What is the Average Salary of a Pharmacist in the US?

As of 2020, the average pharmacist pay is around $125,000; however, figures from different sources may change. This equates to about $60 per hour. The majority of pharmacists work full time, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates to be 2,080 hours per year.

Pharmacists earn more than their healthcare colleagues and the general public on a national level. Pharmacists earned a median salary of $128,710 in 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners,” which includes respiratory therapists, registered nurses, and surgical technologists earned A median annual wage of $84,430. In that year, the average annual wage for all workers in the United States was $41,950.

The median annual wage is the wage that falls in the middle of all salaries in a particular profession. Half of all workers earn a wage that is higher than the median annual wage, while the other half earn a wage that is lower than the median annual wage.

Some people may be surprised to learn that pharmacist salary is higher than expected. The typical Pharmacist salary in the United States is $120,270 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

 Pharmacists with the greatest salaries earn more than $157,950 per year, while those with the lowest salaries earn $87,120. 

Pharmacists in the center of the pack make between $109,400 and $138,920 a year, which suggests you have a good possibility of making a six-figure salary.

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What Factors Influence A Pharmacist’s Salary?

A pharmacist’s salary isn’t a black-and-white figure. The typical Pharmacist’s salary is heavily influenced by experience and location, as it is in all industries. 

Pharmacists hired by major companies or hospitals are likely to earn less than those employed by small, locally-owned pharmacies. 

Many pharmacists prefer to create their own drugstore, which will likely enhance their earnings as the company grows. Earnings are frequently lower in the early years as a result of this trade-off.

A variety of factors influence a pharmacist’s salary, including the practice setting, years of experience, and location. Let’s inspect the various variables at play.

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Setting up the practice

A pharmacist’s salary is influenced by the practice setting or career path he or she chooses. 

According to the Drug Channels Institute’s review of BLS data, those employed in outpatient care centers received the highest average pharmacy wage, while those employed in-home healthcare services earned the lowest. 

In general, people who worked in non-retail pharmacies made more money than those who worked in retail pharmacies.

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Years of Practical Experience

The salary of a pharmacist varies depending on the number of years they have worked. A pharmacist’s salary, like that of other professions, typically rises as the pharmacist gains experience. 

According to PayScale, after 10 years of experience, the average pharmacist’s hourly income reaches a ceiling.

State

Salary levels for pharmacists differ by state. The northeast and west coasts of the United States have the highest pharmacist salaries, according to salary trends. 

The highest-paying states, according to U.S. News & World Report, are the following.

City

The best pharmacist salaries were also ranked by city by U.S. News & World Report. Salary reports from metropolitan regions were used to compile the data. 

The cities with the highest wages were all in California. However, before selecting to work in these places, it’s important to consider the cost of living.

Ranking on a Global Scale

On a national level, pharmacists do fairly well. However, what about on a global scale? It turns out, however, that pharmacists in the United States earn more than pharmacists in other countries. 

The greatest average wage is earned by pharmacists in the United States, followed by pharmacists in Iceland and Australia. 

According to Pharmacist Migration, the following is the international ranking of pharmacist salaries:

• United States: $133,014
• Iceland: $106,000
• Australia: $88,843
• Switzerland: $83,600 to $127,000
• Canada: $80,700
• Sweden: $70,465
• The UK: $57,000 to $53,300
• Germany: $44,800
• Ireland: $45,442 to $68,163
• United Arab Emirates: $24,800

How Much Money Does A Pharmacist Make In The United States?

Pharmacist employment is expected to remain stable between 2018 and 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, with only 100 pharmacist jobs expected to be lost. 

Although employment isn’t increasing, it isn’t decreasing, which is good news given the high average pharmacist salary in the United States.

How Much Is The Salary Of A Pharmacist In A Year?

The average annual compensation for a Pharmacist in the United States is $115,149 per year as of April 8, 2022.

If you need a quick salary calculator, that works out to $55.36 per hour. This equates to $2,214 each week or $9,596 per month.

While yearly salaries as high as $143,000 and as low as $44,000 have been reported on ZipRecruiter, the bulk of Pharmacist salaries in the United States now range from $104,000 (25th percentile) to $126,500 (75th percentile), with top earners (90th percentile) earning $136,500. 

Even with numerous years of experience, the average salary range for a Pharmacist is rather consistent (about $22,500), implying that there are few prospects for greater compensation or development regardless of region.

How Much Does a Pharmacist Make a Month?

The average monthly salary for a Pharmacist in the United States is $9,596 per month as of April 8, 2022.

While monthly incomes as high as $11,917 and as low as $3,667 have been reported on ZipRecruiter, the majority of Pharmacist salaries in the United States now vary from $8,667 (25th percentile) to $10,542 (75th percentile). 

Even with numerous years of experience, the typical salary range for a Pharmacist varies little (about $1,875), implying that there are few prospects for greater compensation or development regardless of region.

What is the Weekly Salary of a Pharmacist in the US?

According to ZipRecruiter, the average weekly compensation for a Pharmacist in the United States is $2,214 per week as of April 8, 2022.

While ZipRecruiter reports weekly incomes as high as $2,750 and as low as $846, the majority of Pharmacist salaries in the United States now vary between $2,000 (25th percentile) to $2,433 (75th percentile). 

Even with numerous years of experience, the typical salary range for a Pharmacist varies little (about $433), implying that there are few prospects for greater compensation or development regardless of region.

What Is The Hourly Salary For A Pharmacist In The Us?

The average hourly income for a Pharmacist in the United States is $55.36 per hour as of April 8, 2022.

While ZipRecruiter reports hourly salaries as high as $68.75 and as low as $21.15, the bulk of Pharmacist salaries in the United States now varies between $50.00 (25th percentile) to $60.82 (75th percentile). 

Even with numerous years of experience, the typical salary range for a Pharmacist is quite consistent (about $10.82), implying that there are few prospects for greater compensation or advancement regardless of location.

What are the Highest-salarying States in the United States for Pharmacist Jobs?

According to the BLS, the national average annual salary for a pharmacist is $123,670, which is significantly higher than the national average annual salary for all occupations, which is $51,960. 

The following is a list of the top ten states in which pharmacists make the most money:

1. Alaska: $139,880
2. California: $139,690
3. Vermont: $135,420
4. Maine: $133,050
5. Wisconsin: $132,400
6. Oregon: $130,480
7. Minnesota: $129,080
8. Missouri: $128,420
9. Washington: $127,360
10. New Hampshire: $127,350

It’s worth noting that the majority of the top-10 best states for pharmacist salaries, whether West or East, are located in the northern hemisphere. In the five years between 2013 and 2018, the average pharmacist income in Vermont climbed by 10.3 percent.

What are the States in the United States with the Lowest Salary for Pharmacists?

The lowest ten states, where pharmacists make the least money, are at the other end of the scale. 

The majority of the states on this list are in the Midwest, with two in the South, two in the Northeast, and one in the West. 

Here are the states with the lowest salaries for pharmacists:

1. North Dakota: $103,250
2. Montana: $112,290
3. Oklahoma: $115,000
4. West Virginia: $115,130
5. Iowa: $116,160
6. Pennsylvania: $116,200
7. South Dakota: $116,410
8. Ohio: $116,720
9. Massachusetts: $116,890
10. Indiana: $117,260

Although pharmacist salaries in these states are lower than the national average, they are still much higher than the state’s average salary for all occupations. 

Over the previous five years, pharmacist incomes have risen significantly in some of these states. Iowa, for example, is the sixth lowest-salarying state, although pharmacist salaries climbed by 13.5 percent from 2013 to 2018, which is significantly higher than the national average.

What are the Top 10 Cities with the Best salarying Pharmacist Jobs?

We found ten cities where the average compensation for a Pharmacist position is higher than the national average. San Mateo, CA is at the top of the list, with San Ramon, CA and Coalinga, CA coming in second and third, respectively. 

Coalinga, CA, outperforms the national average by $24,657 (21.4%), while San Mateo, CA, outperforms the national average by another $32,878 (28.6%).

Significantly, the Pharmacist job market in San Mateo, CA is highly active, with multiple organizations now hiring for this position.

Because the average salaries in these ten cities are greater than the national average, the chances for economic success as a Pharmacist look to be abundant.

Finally, the average salary in these top ten locations differs only by 12% between San Mateo, CA, and San Francisco, CA, emphasizing the limited opportunity for salary advancement. 

When comparing location and compensation for a Pharmacist position, the possibility of a cheaper cost of living may be the most important element to consider.

What Are The Top Five Highest-salarying Related Pharmacist Jobs In The United States?

There are at least five jobs in the Pharmacist category that salary more per year than the average Pharmacist’s salary. Hospital Pharmacist, Pharmacist IN Charge, and Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner are just a few examples of these positions.

Importantly, these example positions salary anywhere from $4,420 (3.8%) to $13,681 (11.9%) more than the typical Pharmacist income of $115,149. 

If you’re qualified, working in one of these related Pharmacist occupations could help you earn more money than the average Pharmacist.

Salary of Pharmacists based on Years of Experience

The most essential criterion in deciding on a salary is the amount of experience. Naturally, the more years of experience you have, the more money you will earn. This is what we discovered when we looked at Pharmacist salaries by the level of experience.

A pharmacy technician with less than two years of experience earns around 76,900 dollars per year.

Someone with two to five years of experience may expect to make 102,000 USD per year, which is 32% more than someone with less than two years of experience.

Moving forward, someone with five to 10 years of experience earns 136,000 USD per year, which is 34% more than someone with two to five years of experience.

Additionally, pharmacists with ten to fifteen years of experience earn a compensation of 162,000 USD per year, which is 19 percent higher than someone with five to ten years of experience.

If you have fifteen to twenty years of experience, you can expect to earn $175,000 per year, which is 8% more than someone with ten to fifteen years of experience.

Finally, individuals with over twenty years of professional experience get an annual income of 188,000 USD, which is 7% higher than those with fifteen to twenty years of experience.

How To Make More Money As A Pharmacist

As a pharmacist, there are various strategies to increase your earnings. Some options are as simple as working overtime, while others necessitate some creative thinking.

1. Take on extra shifts

If they are available, pharmacists can work extra shifts. This is one of the simplest methods to supplement a pharmacist’s income. 

Unfortunately, hospital pharmacists are more likely than retail pharmacists to have the opportunity to work overtime or extra shifts. Check with your boss to determine if overtime is an option for you, especially if you are paid hourly. 

For example, if you work more than 40 hours, you may be reimbursed with your base pay plus a specified monetary amount or percentage.

2. In the Moonlight

Many full-time staff pharmacist occupations have a weekly work restriction of 40 hours, with no chance for overtime. 

In these instances, a PRN or part-time position at a hospital or independent pharmacy may be available. Moonlighting for two to three days every month can make a big difference. 

You should first check with your company to see if your contract contains a non-compete clause that would prevent you from working for another drugstore.

3. Take on more tasks

Pharmacies are frequently required to achieve various jobs and initiatives. Reviews of hospital formularies and patient education projects are examples of these responsibilities. 

To put in some overtime hours, contact a supervisor or manager to see whether these projects are available.

4. Obtain certification in a specialized field.

Certifications can help improve a pharmacist’s qualifications for various jobs or even promotions. 

Employers may offer to contribute to the expense of obtaining a certain certification. The following certifications are possible:

• Pediatric Pharmacy Specialist with Board Certification (BCPPS)
• Diabetes Educator Certification (CDE)
• Oncology Pharmacist with Board Certification (BCOP)
• Nutrition Support Pharmacist with Board Certification (BCNSP)
• Pain Education Certification (CPE)

5. Become a member of a board of advisors

Advisory boards are used by many healthcare organizations to drive their strategic planning and success. 

Pharmacists can often give advisory boards with specialized knowledge and advice. A pharmacist can earn money by serving on an advisory board.

6. Instruct A Pharmaceutical Class

Educators are frequently needed to teach courses in pharmacy programs, both online and in person. 

Pharmacists with some teaching expertise can assist with courses or programs that focus on certain themes of interest. 

Additional credentials or prior teaching experience may be required for some of these teaching roles.

7. Look for alternative opportunities

Pharmacists might supplement their income by working part-time or doing freelance work. Aspen RxHealth offers a mobile app that allows pharmacists to do comprehensive medication reviews (CMRs) from anywhere. Some companies, such as PipelineRx, offer telepharmacy services and rely on pharmacists for assistance.

Is It Worthwhile To Pursue A Career As A Pharmacist?

While pharmacists can earn more than the national average, it’s crucial to note that obtaining a pharmacist degree requires a significant investment of both time and money. The cost of education for aspiring pharmacists can range from $20,000 to more than $200,000.

Tuition expenses vary depending on where you live, whether you attend private or public schools, and whether you pay in-state or out-of-state tuition. Those who attend a private pharmacy school and pay out-of-state tuition costs pay the highest tuition fees.

Pharmacists don’t get their degrees overnight, either. After getting a Pharm.D. degree, it can take six to eight years to start earning a pharmacist’s salary. People who desire to work as clinical pharmacists typically complete a one- to two-year residency or fellowship program.

Pharmacists often make less money as residents or fellows. While still working full-time, they could be earning half of a typical pharmacist’s income. However, sacrificing a few years of hard effort can pay off in the long run by increasing maximum earning potential.

When these factors are considered, many people believe that becoming a pharmacist is a worthwhile investment of time and money. The highest-paid pharmacists work in hospitals or institutions and earn a median annual pay of $164,980. 

Pharmacists, on the other hand, have numerous options to take on additional tasks, grow their roles, and earn more money than their base income.

References

• ziprecruiter.com – Pharmacist Salary
• singlecare.com – What is the average pharmacist salary?
• pharmapproach.com – Pharmacists’ Salary: How Much Do Pharmacists Earn In the United States?
• forbes.com – Here’s How Much Money Pharmacists Make In Every State