Pharmacist Salary in Elizabethtown, KY: $135,047 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacist in Elizabethtown, KY earns a median $135,047/year (≈ $64.93/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1051). Once you factor in Elizabethtown's price level (9% below national, BEA RPP 90.6), that paycheck buys what $149,105 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.3% below the Kentucky state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Elizabethtown, Kentucky, pharmacists can expect to earn a median annual salary of $135,047 in 2026, which is slightly below the national median of $143,489. The salary range for this role in Elizabethtown varies considerably, with entry-level positions starting around $104,254 and experienced professionals potentially earning up to $163,732. This data, derived from BLS 2025 OEWS data projected to 2026, reveals a distinct compensation divide shaped by practice settings. Hospital clinical specialists tend to command higher salaries compared to retail pharmacy managers and staff pharmacists, reflecting differing levels of expertise, responsibility, and demand in the local healthcare market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $104,254 | $50.12 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $130,342 | $62.67 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $135,047 | $64.93 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $150,545 | $72.38 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $163,732 | $78.71 |
Median Salary Position
5.88% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Elizabethtown
In Elizabethtown, KY, the pharmacist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $59,478 (2026 est.). At $135,047, the local median is 5.88% below the national median of $143,489.
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How Elizabethtown Pharmacist Pay Compares
Elizabethtown median: $135,047/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Elizabethtown Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Average | $138,226 | -2.30% less |
| National Average | $143,489 | -5.88% less |
Pharmacists in Elizabethtown, KY earn a median of $135,047 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.88% lower than the national median of $143,489 and 2.30% below the Kentucky state average of $138,226.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Elizabethtown has a cost of living 9.43% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Elizabethtown, KY has a cost-of-living index of 90.572 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacist earning $135,047 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $149,105 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.41% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$124,800
2025 BLS Actual
$132,620
2026 Current Est.
$135,047
2019–2027 Growth
+10.2%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacists in Elizabethtown (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $124,800 | Actual |
| 2020 | $125,970 | Actual |
| 2021 | $127,120 | Actual |
| 2022 | $126,730 | Actual |
| 2023 | $128,170 | Actual |
| 2024 | $132,160 | Actual |
| 2025 | $132,620 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $135,047 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $137,518 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Elizabethtown metropolitan area, the median pharmacist salary grew 6.3% from $124,800 (2019) to $132,620 (2025). At a 1.83% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $137,518 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,718 (10.19%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Elizabethtown 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) | $104,254 – $130,342 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $130,342 – $135,047 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $135,047 – $150,545 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $150,545 – $163,732 |
PharmD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacist Job Market in Elizabethtown
The job market for pharmacists in Elizabethtown is relatively stable, with approximately 100 pharmacists currently employed in the area. The cost-of-living index stands at 90.572, indicating that while salaries are competitive, they are manageable within a below-average cost of living. In this market, those seeking the highest pharmacist pay in Elizabethtown KY should consider opportunities in hospital pharmacy settings, specialty pharmacies, or mail-order operations, which generally offer more lucrative compensation compared to retail chains like CVS and Walgreens. Factors contributing to salary variation include board certification stipends, shift differentials for overnight work, and the growing premium for residency-trained pharmacists. As shifts in the retail space from chain consolidations continue, pharmacists are advised to enhance their qualifications through BPS board certifications or PGY-1 residency programs to secure higher-paying roles in hospital and specialty pharmacy settings.
More salary data for Elizabethtown, KY:
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 $132,620 for pharmacistsin the Elizabethtown 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
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