Pharmacist Salary

Highest Paying States for Pharmacists (2026): Where PharmDs Earn the Most

The highest paying state for pharmacists is Oregon at $169,291 average median salary in 2026, based on BLS OEWS data across 52 states and 1690+ metro areas. Pharmacist pay varies from Puerto Rico ($113,848) to Oregon ($169,291) — driven by retail vs hospital vs specialty mix, board-certified specialty (BCPS / BCOP / BCNSP), and state income tax.

Best States for Pharmacist Salary: 2026 Rankings

Pharmacist pay variance is driven by retail (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Costco) vs hospital vs specialty (oncology, IV infusion, nuclear) mix, BPS specialty cert, state income tax, COL, and PGY1/PGY2 residency. Oregon leads at $169,291, while Puerto Rico sits at $113,848.

Top-Tier States

  • California ($150,000-$175,000) — SF Bay Area / LA / San Diego top metros. Premium retail + hospital + Kaiser.
  • Alaska ($150,000+) — chronic shortage + no state income tax + IHS premium.
  • Oregon ($145,000-$165,000) — Portland + strong hospital + specialty.
  • Washington ($140,000-$162,000) — Seattle + no state income tax.
  • Nevada ($138,000-$160,000) — Las Vegas + no state income tax.
  • Connecticut ($135,000-$155,000) — Yale + Fairfield.

Mid-Tier Markets

  • New Jersey ($132,000-$152,000) — Bergen / Morris + biopharma (Merck, BMS, J&J).
  • Massachusetts ($130,000-$148,000) — Boston biopharma + academic.
  • New York ($128,000-$148,000) — NYC academic + Long Island retail.
  • Hawaii ($128,000-$145,000) — shortage + high COL.
  • Texas ($120,000-$140,000) — Houston Medical Center + no state income tax.
  • Florida ($115,000-$135,000) — Miami / Tampa + no state income tax.

Specialty Premium Markets

  • Oncology pharmacist (BCOP) — premium specialty $145,000-$180,000+.
  • Nuclear pharmacist (BCNP) — premier niche specialty.
  • Critical Care / ICU pharmacist (BCCCP) — premium specialty.
  • Infectious Disease pharmacist (BCIDP) — premium specialty.
  • Pediatric pharmacist (BCPPS) — premium children's.
  • Ambulatory Care pharmacist (BCACP) — premium MTM.
  • Specialty pharmacy (CVS Specialty, Walgreens Specialty) — premium chronic disease.
  • Biopharma industry (Pfizer, Merck, J&J, BMS, Lilly, Genentech) — premium clinical / regulatory roles.
  • Federal VA / DoD / IHS / FDA — pension + PSLF + premium federal.

2026 State Ranking Methodology

Rankings reflect 2026 projected median from BLS OEWS 2025. Board specialty (BCPS, BCOP, BCCCP, BCIDP) + residency materially shift ceiling.

Oregon
#1 Highest Paying
$169,291
Top State Avg Salary
$143,489
National Median
52
States + DC + PR

2019 BLS

$128,090

2025 BLS

$140,910

2026 Current Est.

$143,489

2019–2027 Growth

+14.1%

National Average for Context

2019–2025: BLS OEWS actual data. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.

BLS Actual Estimated Projected
National Median Annual Salary trend chart. 2019: $128,090. 2027: $146,114.$124.5K$130.8K$137.1K$143.4K$149.7K201920202021202220232024202520262027$128.1K$128.7K$128.6K$132.8K$136.0K$137.5K$140.9K$143.5K$146.1K
YearMedian Annual SalaryStatus
2019$128,090Actual
2020$128,710Actual
2021$128,570Actual
2022$132,750Actual
2023$136,030Actual
2024$137,480Actual
2025$140,910Actual
2026(current)$143,489Estimated
2027$146,114Projected

Understanding the national salary trend helps contextualize state-level differences. The national median provides a baseline for comparing how each state's pharmacist pay stacks up.

Note: BLS actual data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. Estimated and projected values are calculated using a 1.83% historical CAGR. Actual compensation may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.

Top 10 Highest Paying States for Pharmacists

1
Oregon
$169,291/yr$81.39/hr+17.98% vs national
Top city: Hillsboro · 36 metros · 3,444 employed
2
California
$168,822/yr$81.16/hr+17.66% vs national
Top city: Sunnyvale · 158 metros · 35,559 employed
3
Hawaii
$168,560/yr$81.04/hr+17.47% vs national
Top city: Honolulu · 10 metros · 1,100 employed
4
Alaska
$166,450/yr$80.02/hr+16.00% vs national
Top city: Fairbanks · 5 metros · 425 employed
5
Washington
$163,586/yr$78.65/hr+14.01% vs national
Top city: Longview · 50 metros · 6,934 employed
6
Minnesota
$162,721/yr$78.23/hr+13.40% vs national
Top city: Rochester · 44 metros · 5,702 employed
7
Colorado
$159,350/yr$76.61/hr+11.05% vs national
Top city: Boulder · 33 metros · 3,639 employed
8
Vermont
$156,078/yr$75.04/hr+8.77% vs national
Top city: South Burlington · 9 metros · 290 employed
9
Wisconsin
$154,255/yr$74.16/hr+7.50% vs national
Top city: Onalaska · 46 metros · 4,779 employed
10
District of Columbia
$153,295/yr$73.70/hr+6.83% vs national
Top city: Washington · 1 metros · 5,260 employed

What Drives State-Level Pharmacist Pay Differences

Five primary factors explain pharmacist state-level pay variance.

1. Cost of Living (25-35%)

  • HCOL markets command premium.
  • RPP from BEA — CA 113, MS 86.
  • COL-adjusted real income — Texas / Tennessee net often beat California.

2. Setting Mix: Retail / Hospital / Specialty (25-35%)

  • Hospital / academic medical center — premium specialty + PSLF.
  • Retail chain (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Costco) — standardized pay + benefits.
  • Specialty pharmacy — premium chronic disease.
  • Long-term care / consultant — premium specialty.
  • Biopharma industry — premium clinical / regulatory / medical affairs.
  • Managed care / PBM (Express Scripts, OptumRx) — premium.
  • Independent pharmacy — ownership equity.
  • Federal VA / DoD / IHS / FDA — pension + PSLF.

3. State Income Tax (5-10% take-home)

  • No state income tax — AK, WA, TX, FL, TN, NV, SD, WY, NH. 5-10% boost on high incomes.
  • High state income tax — CA (13.3%), NY (10.9%), OR (9.9%), HI (11%), NJ (10.75%).
  • NYC + Philadelphia local — additional.
  • Property + sales tax — TX, NJ tradeoff.

4. BPS Specialty Cert + Residency (10-15%)

  • BCPS (Pharmacotherapy Specialist) — broadest premium.
  • BCOP (Oncology Pharmacy Specialist) — top specialty.
  • BCCCP (Critical Care Pharmacy Specialist) — premium ICU.
  • BCIDP (Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Specialist) — premium.
  • BCNP (Nuclear Pharmacy Specialist) — premier niche.
  • BCNSP (Nutrition Support Pharmacy Specialist) — premium TPN.
  • BCPPS (Pediatric Pharmacy Specialist) — premium children's.
  • BCACP (Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Specialist) — premium MTM.
  • PGY1 + PGY2 residency — premium specialty path.

5. PharmD Pipeline (Inverse Variable: 5-10%)

  • States with many PharmD schools — pipeline pressure can compress retail wages.
  • States with few PharmD schools — chronic shortage → premium pay.
  • Retail wage compression (post-2020) — affecting certain markets.
  • Hospital + specialty growth — offsetting retail compression.
  • Rural / underserved area shortage — premium HPSA loan forgiveness.

Where Do Pharmacists Get Paid the Most?

Complete ranking of all 52 states by average pharmacist salary. Click any state to see city-level breakdowns and detailed data.

RankStateAvg Salary
1Oregon$169,291
2California$168,822
3Hawaii$168,560
4Alaska$166,450
5Washington$163,586
6Minnesota$162,721
7Colorado$159,350
8Vermont$156,078
9Wisconsin$154,255
10District of Columbia$153,295
11Delaware$151,749
12Idaho$150,783
13New Jersey$149,505
14Indiana$149,109
15Arizona$148,943
16South Dakota$148,029
17New Mexico$147,797
18Utah$146,840
19New Hampshire$146,079
20Montana$145,857
21Nebraska$145,075
22Connecticut$144,645
23Maine$144,166
24Pennsylvania$144,077
25North Dakota$143,712
26North Carolina$143,633
27Texas$143,451
28New York$143,341
29South Carolina$143,277
30Kentucky$143,055
31Illinois$142,851
32Michigan$142,817
33Iowa$142,751
34Nevada$142,583
35Virginia$141,605
36Massachusetts$141,534
37Maryland$141,191
38Kansas$141,144
39Missouri$140,571
40Oklahoma$140,142
41Georgia$140,133
42Ohio$139,938
43Arkansas$138,889
44Florida$138,372
45Wyoming$138,272
46Alabama$138,231
47Tennessee$136,997
48Mississippi$134,913
49West Virginia$134,637
50Louisiana$134,635
51Rhode Island$133,625
52Puerto Rico$113,848

Lowest Paying States for Pharmacists

Even the lowest-paying states offer pharmacist salaries well above the national average for all occupations. Here are the 5 lowest-paying states:

#48Mississippi$134,913-5.98% vs national#49West Virginia$134,637-6.17% vs national#50Louisiana$134,635-6.17% vs national#51Rhode Island$133,625-6.87% vs national#52Puerto Rico$113,848-20.66% vs national

Top Earner Potential by State

The 90th percentile represents what experienced, highly-skilled pharmacists earn in each state. These are the 10 states with the highest earning ceilings:

#StateTop Earner (P90)
1California$216,528
2Washington$205,441
3Oregon$195,359
4Colorado$190,139
5Alaska$188,415
6Hawaii$184,526
7New Jersey$183,061
8Delaware$182,672
9District of Columbia$182,510
10South Carolina$180,025

How to Move to a Higher-Paying State for Pharmacist Work

Relocating for pharmacist pay requires balancing nominal salary against setting mix, state tax, COL, and BPS specialty cert.

1. Verify NAPLEX + MPJE + State License

  • PharmD from ACPE-accredited program — required.
  • NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination) — universal entry.
  • MPJE (Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination) — state-specific.
  • State pharmacist license — verify per state.
  • State endorsement / reciprocity — most states accept NAPLEX + MPJE.
  • BPS specialty cert (BCPS, BCOP, BCCCP, etc.) — premium specialty.
  • PGY1 + PGY2 residency — premium specialty path.
  • Background check + fingerprint — typical.

2. Calculate Real Take-Home, Not Nominal

  • COL-adjusted income — Texas pharmacist at $130,000 may exceed California pharmacist at $160,000 net.
  • State + local income tax — model effective rate.
  • Property + sales tax — TX, NJ tradeoff.
  • Childcare cost spread — major.
  • Health + benefits — retail vs hospital vs federal.
  • 401(k) match + pension — federal + academic + retail chain.
  • Stock options (biopharma, retail) — premium total comp.

3. Target Specialty / Industry / Federal Premium

  • Oncology (BCOP) hospital — top specialty.
  • Critical Care (BCCCP) ICU — premium.
  • Nuclear pharmacist (BCNP) — premier niche.
  • Specialty pharmacy chronic disease — premium.
  • Biopharma industry (Pfizer, Merck, J&J) — premium clinical / regulatory.
  • Managed care PBM (OptumRx, Express Scripts) — premium.
  • Federal VA / DoD / IHS / FDA — pension + PSLF.
  • Independent pharmacy owner — equity premium.

4. Negotiate Sign-On + Loan Forgiveness

  • Sign-on bonus ($15,000-$50,000) — common at shortage + retail chains.
  • Relocation assistance ($10,000-$30,000) — standard at top employers.
  • HRSA NHSC loan forgiveness — up to $50,000-$100,000 HPSA.
  • PSLF stack (501(c)(3) + government) — 10-year forgiveness on high PharmD loans.
  • IHS loan repayment — premium federal.
  • State pharmacist loan repayment — varies.
  • PGY1 + PGY2 residency stipend — premium specialty path.
  • Tuition reimbursement (MS, MBA) — premium industry.

5. Choose Setting Based on Career Plan

  • Hospital / academic medical center (BPS specialty) — premier specialty + PSLF.
  • Retail chain (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Costco) — standardized + benefits.
  • Specialty pharmacy — premium chronic disease.
  • Biopharma industry — premium total comp + equity.
  • Managed care / PBM — premium.
  • Federal VA / DoD / IHS / FDA — pension + PSLF.
  • Independent pharmacy ownership — equity premium.
  • Long-term care / consultant — premium specialty.
  • Academic faculty (PharmD school) — premium + PSLF.
  • FDA / regulatory affairs — premium federal path.

More Salary Resources

National OverviewComplete salary data for 1690+ citiesEntry-Level SalariesStarting pay for new graduatesHourly Pay RatesPer-hour rates, part-time calculationsSalary by StateAll 52 states compared

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the highest paying state for pharmacists?

Oregon is the highest paying state for pharmacists with an average salary of $169,291 per year across 36 metro areas in 2026. The top states are Oregon ($169,291), California ($168,822), Hawaii ($168,560). These states consistently rank at the top due to high demand and expanded scope-of-practice laws.

What is the best state to be a pharmacist?

The best state depends on your priorities. For highest salary, Oregon leads at $169,291/year. For most job opportunities, California employs approximately 35,559 pharmacists. For best purchasing power after cost of living, South Dakota offers an adjusted salary of $163,755. States like Alaska, Washington, and Nevada also benefit from no state income tax, boosting take-home pay by 5-10%.

Which state has the most pharmacist jobs?

California has the most pharmacist jobs with approximately 35,559 employed across 158 metro areas.

Do pharmacists make six figures?

Yes. Pharmacists earn six-figure average salaries in 52 states: Oregon ($169,291), California ($168,822), Hawaii ($168,560), Alaska ($166,450), Washington ($163,586), Minnesota ($162,721), Colorado ($159,350), Vermont ($156,078), Wisconsin ($154,255), District of Columbia ($153,295), Delaware ($151,749), Idaho ($150,783), New Jersey ($149,505), Indiana ($149,109), Arizona ($148,943), South Dakota ($148,029), New Mexico ($147,797), Utah ($146,840), New Hampshire ($146,079), Montana ($145,857), Nebraska ($145,075), Connecticut ($144,645), Maine ($144,166), Pennsylvania ($144,077), North Dakota ($143,712), North Carolina ($143,633), Texas ($143,451), New York ($143,341), South Carolina ($143,277), Kentucky ($143,055), Illinois ($142,851), Michigan ($142,817), Iowa ($142,751), Nevada ($142,583), Virginia ($141,605), Massachusetts ($141,534), Maryland ($141,191), Kansas ($141,144), Missouri ($140,571), Oklahoma ($140,142), Georgia ($140,133), Ohio ($139,938), Arkansas ($138,889), Florida ($138,372), Wyoming ($138,272), Alabama ($138,231), Tennessee ($136,997), Mississippi ($134,913), West Virginia ($134,637), Louisiana ($134,635), Rhode Island ($133,625), Puerto Rico ($113,848). Many individual metro areas in other states also exceed $100,000.

What is the lowest paying state for pharmacists?

Puerto Rico is the lowest paying state for pharmacists with an average salary of $113,848 per year. However, even the lowest-paying states offer salaries well above the national average for all occupations.
SC

Written by Sofia Chen, PharmD

Career Analyst

Sofia Chen has 10 years of experience in community pharmacy. She specializes in medication therapy management.

Clinically reviewed by Liam Patel, PharmDData verified by Amina Al-Sayed, PharmD

Methodology & Data Source

State salary rankings on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 1.83% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to each state's average salary. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Individual pay varies by city, employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Sofia Chen, PharmD, a licensed pharmacist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov