Pharmacist Hourly Pay in Milwaukee, WI: $75.07 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a pharmacist working in Milwaukee, WI runs $75.07 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $156,146 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1051). Weighted against Milwaukee's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.9, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $77.44 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $93,686 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Pharmacists in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, will find that the projected median hourly pay in 2026 is $75.07, significantly higher than the national median of $68.99 per hour. This attractive hourly rate is particularly advantageous for part-time workers operating three days per week, enabling them to capitalize on the various settings that pharmacists work in, such as retail pharmacy counters, hospital inpatient areas, and specialty pharmacies. For entry-level positions, hourly wages start at $59.04, while top earners can command up to $88.57 per hour. These figures are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026 and speak volumes about the evolving demand for pharmacists in a market that’s increasingly moving toward specialization and clinical services.
Pharmacist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $59.04 | $472.33 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $65.31 | $522.51 |
| Median (P50) | $75.07 | $600.55 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $83.41 | $667.27 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $88.57 | $708.57 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Milwaukee
Based on $75.07/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $75.07/hr, a pharmacist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Milwaukee, WI can expect to earn approximately $156,144 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $90,083. With a cost-of-living index of 96.94 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Milwaukee.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Milwaukee
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $3,002.76 | $13,012 | $156,144 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,801.66 | $7,807 | $93,686 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,201.11 | $5,205 | $62,457 |
Compare PharmD Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Pharmacist (Milwaukee) | $75.07 |
| Pharmacy Technician (National Avg) | $19.27 |
| Registered Nurse (National Avg) | $42.80 |
| Physician Assistant (National Avg) | $63.17 |
| Nurse Practitioner (National Avg) | $60.81 |
Pharmacists in Milwaukee, WI earn a median of $156,146 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.82% higher than the national median of $143,489 and 6.00% above the Wisconsin state average of $147,308.
Pharmacist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $75.07/hr = $93,686/year (purchasing power: $96,646).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $156,144/year (purchasing power: $161,077).
CoL index: 96.937 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$64.69/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$73.72/hr
2026 Current Est.
$75.07/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+18.2%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Pharmacists in Milwaukee (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $64.69/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $62.42/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $62.80/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $66.58/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $70.66/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $71.51/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $73.72/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $75.07/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $76.44/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for pharmacists in Milwaukee grew 14.0% from $64.69/hr (2019) to $73.72/hr (2025). At a 1.83% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $76.44/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem pharmacists can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Milwaukee metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 1.83% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Pharmacist in Milwaukee
Considering part-time work in Milwaukee, a pharmacist working 24 hours a week can still expect a respectable annual income, especially when compared to full-time earnings. Within the realm of per diem employment, retail pharmacists average $55-$75 per hour, while those in hospital settings can earn between $60-$85. In more specialized areas like oncology, per diem rates can reach $70-$95. Hourly rates vary significantly depending on the employer type, whether it be major retail chains like CVS and Walgreens, specialty pharmacies like Accredo, or mail-order operations such as Express Scripts. Many pharmacists must weigh the benefits of lower hourly rates with health insurance coverage against higher pay options that lack benefits. For those negotiating salaries, it’s critical to consider local demand and the prospective employer’s philosophy—whether they prioritize competitive pay for clinical roles or offer comprehensive benefits that offset somewhat lower hourly rates.
More salary data for Milwaukee, WI:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Sofia Chen, PharmD
Career Analyst
Sofia Chen has 10 years of experience in community pharmacy. She specializes in medication therapy management.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures 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 estimate current 2026 hourly rates for pharmacists in Milwaukee. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.83%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for pharmacists (SOC 29-1051).
Compiled and verified by Sofia Chen, PharmD, a licensed pharmacist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov