Pharmacist Salary in West Des Moines, IA: $141,836 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacist in West Des Moines, IA earns a median $141,836/year (≈ $68.19/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1051). Once you factor in West Des Moines's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.4), that paycheck buys what $156,898 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.6% below the Iowa state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, pharmacists in West Des Moines, Iowa, can expect a median annual salary of $141,836, reflecting the shifting dynamics of the local pharmacy market following the consolidation of retail chains. The salary range for this role spans from $103,202 at the 10th percentile to $175,136 at the 90th percentile, demonstrating a diverse set of earnings based on experience and employer type. These figures are derived from estimates based on 2025 BLS data, adjusted for regional cost factors. The changing commercial landscape, especially with retail pharmacy closures, is influencing compensation trends and creating distinct pay variations within West Des Moines's pharmacist roles.
About the West Des Moines Market
Salary estimated from Iowa average ($130,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $103,202 | $49.61 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $128,507 | $61.78 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $141,836 | $68.19 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $163,823 | $78.77 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $175,136 | $84.20 |
Median Salary Position
1.15% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in West Des Moines
In West Des Moines, IA, the pharmacist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $71,934 (2026 est.). At $141,836, the local median is 1.15% below the national median of $143,489.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in West Des Moines: You'd be above the median
How West Des Moines Pharmacist Pay Compares
West Des Moines median: $141,836/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | West Des Moines Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $142,692 | -0.60% less |
| National Average | $143,489 | -1.15% less |
Pharmacists in West Des Moines, IA earn a median of $141,836 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.15% lower than the national median of $143,489 and 0.60% below the Iowa state average of $142,692.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
West Des Moines has a cost of living 9.60% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
West Des Moines, IA has a cost-of-living index of 90.4 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacist earning $141,836 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $156,898 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.62% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$126,615
2025 BLS Actual
$139,287
2026 Current Est.
$141,836
2019–2027 Growth
+14.1%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacists in West Des Moines (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $126,615 | Actual |
| 2020 | $127,228 | Actual |
| 2021 | $127,089 | Actual |
| 2022 | $131,221 | Actual |
| 2023 | $134,463 | Actual |
| 2024 | $114,842 | Actual |
| 2025 | $139,287 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $141,836 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $144,432 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the West Des Moines metropolitan area, the median pharmacist salary grew 10.0% from $126,615 (2019) to $139,287 (2025). At a 1.83% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $144,432 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,817 (14.07%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the West Des Moines 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $103,202 – $128,507 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $128,507 – $141,836 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $141,836 – $163,823 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $163,823 – $175,136 |
PharmD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacist Job Market in West Des Moines
Analyzing the job market further reveals that 16 pharmacists are employed in West Des Moines, navigating a cost of living index of 90.4, which indicates lower living expenses compared to the national average. This environment may enhance purchasing power, but the competition among employers remains intense. Retail pharmacy chains, such as CVS and Walgreens, currently represent the largest hiring sectors yet may offer lower pay than specialized settings. Hospital inpatient pharmacies and specialty pharmacies often provide better compensation and additional benefits related to board certification or residency training. Factors like shift differentials for overnight roles or salaries that vary significantly based on workplace setting contribute to the discrepancies between high and low pay. To optimize salaries, pharmacists should seek positions that align with advancing requirements, such as PGY-1 residency or board certifications, while focusing on the expanding opportunities within hospital and specialty pharmacy environments in the area.
More salary data for West Des Moines, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Career Resources
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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $139,287 for pharmacistsin the West Des Moines metropolitan area. A 1.83% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for West Des Moines is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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