Pharmacist Salary in Kansas City, KS: $142,915 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacist in Kansas City, KS earns a median $142,915/year (≈ $68.70/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1051). Once you factor in Kansas City's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 90.9), that paycheck buys what $157,222 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 9.6% above the Kansas state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Kansas City, Kansas, the pharmacist salary landscape reveals significant variation, driven largely by the setting in which pharmacists work. The projected median salary of $142,915 reflects a slight dip compared to the national average of $143,489, with a range spanning from $95,061 at the lower end to $176,733 at the upper end. This disparity is indicative of the structural divide between hospital clinical specialists, who generally command higher salaries, and retail pharmacists in positions such as pharmacist-in-charge (PIC) or staff roles, which typically offer lower compensation. Data utilized for these analyses stems from 2025 BLS data, projected to 2026, incorporating regional economic adjustments that inform this local salary picture.
About the Kansas City Market
Salary estimated from Kansas average ($128,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $95,061 | $45.70 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $126,091 | $60.62 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $142,915 | $68.70 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $164,328 | $79.00 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $176,733 | $84.97 |
Median Salary Position
0.4% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Kansas City
In Kansas City, KS, the pharmacist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $81,672 (2026 est.). At $142,915, the local median is 0.4% below the national median of $143,489.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Kansas City: You'd be above the median
How Kansas City Pharmacist Pay Compares
Kansas City median: $142,915/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Kansas City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas Average | $130,397 | +9.60% more |
| National Average | $143,489 | -0.40% less |
Pharmacists in Kansas City, KS earn a median of $142,915 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.40% lower than the national median of $143,489 and 9.60% above the Kansas state average of $130,397.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Kansas City has a cost of living 9.10% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Kansas City, KS has a cost-of-living index of 90.9 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacist earning $142,915 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $157,222 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.01% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$127,578
2025 BLS Actual
$140,347
2026 Current Est.
$142,915
2019–2027 Growth
+14.1%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacists in Kansas City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $127,578 | Actual |
| 2020 | $128,196 | Actual |
| 2021 | $128,056 | Actual |
| 2022 | $132,220 | Actual |
| 2023 | $135,486 | Actual |
| 2024 | $118,263 | Actual |
| 2025 | $140,347 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $142,915 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $145,531 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Kansas City metropolitan area, the median pharmacist salary grew 10.0% from $127,578 (2019) to $140,347 (2025). At a 1.83% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $145,531 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,953 (14.07%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Kansas City 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) | $95,061 – $126,091 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $126,091 – $142,915 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $142,915 – $164,328 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $164,328 – $176,733 |
PharmD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacist Job Market in Kansas City
Within the Kansas City job market, only 25 pharmacists are currently employed, indicating a tightly-knit community that could impact competitive salary negotiations. The local cost-of-living index sits at 90.9, meaning that take-home pay effectively stretches further than in many expensive urban areas, offering some financial relief in terms of purchasing power. Major employers include national retail chains like CVS and Walgreens, which tend to offer consistent pay, while specialty and hospital pharmacies generally provide higher compensation for residency-trained pharmacists with board certifications. Factors contributing to the income ebb and flow include shift differentials, board certification stipends, and the ongoing consolidation in the retail sector, which has paradoxically made positions in the remaining chains more sought after. For those looking to maximize their pharmacist pay in Kansas City, pursuing additional certifications or residency training can significantly enhance earning potential, particularly in the expanding fields of hospital and specialty pharmacy roles.
More salary data for Kansas City, KS:
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
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 $140,347 for pharmacistsin the Kansas City 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 Kansas City 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