Pharmacist Salary in Duluth, MN: $157,694 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacist in Duluth, MN earns a median $157,694/year (≈ $75.81/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1051). Once you factor in Duluth's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 88.8), that paycheck buys what $177,647 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.4% below the Minnesota state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Duluth, Minnesota, the pharmacist salary seen in 2026 is projected to reach a median of $157,694, advantageous compared to the national median of $143,489. The salary range for pharmacists in this region varies from $110,648 at the lower end (P10) to $174,262 at the high end (P90). This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys projected to 2026, reflects the importance of residency training, particularly for those pursuing roles in hospital or specialty settings, which often offer higher compensation compared to retail positions. As the demand for various pharmaceutical services grows, the job market in Duluth shows promise for residents pursuing careers within this field.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $110,648 | $53.20 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $135,077 | $64.95 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $157,694 | $75.81 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $160,769 | $77.29 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $174,262 | $83.78 |
Median Salary Position
9.90% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Duluth
In Duluth, MN, the pharmacist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $63,614 (2026 est.). At $157,694, the local median is 9.9% above the national median of $143,489.
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At 40 hours/week in Duluth: You'd be above the median
How Duluth Pharmacist Pay Compares
Duluth median: $157,694/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Duluth Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Average | $159,933 | -1.40% less |
| National Average | $143,489 | +9.90% more |
Pharmacists in Duluth, MN earn a median of $157,694 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.90% higher than the national median of $143,489 and 1.40% below the Minnesota state average of $159,933.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Duluth has a cost of living 11.23% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Duluth, MN has a cost-of-living index of 88.768 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacist earning $157,694 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $177,647 in an average-cost city — an effective 12.65% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$142,050
2025 BLS Actual
$154,860
2026 Current Est.
$157,694
2019–2027 Growth
+13.0%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacists in Duluth (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $142,050 | Actual |
| 2020 | $137,340 | Actual |
| 2021 | $127,240 | Actual |
| 2022 | $132,030 | Actual |
| 2023 | $143,660 | Actual |
| 2024 | $139,290 | Actual |
| 2025 | $154,860 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $157,694 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $160,580 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Duluth metropolitan area, the median pharmacist salary grew 9.0% from $142,050 (2019) to $154,860 (2025). At a 1.83% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $160,580 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,530 (13.04%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Duluth 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) | $110,648 – $135,077 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $135,077 – $157,694 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $157,694 – $160,769 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $160,769 – $174,262 |
PharmD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacist Job Market in Duluth
With approximately 330 pharmacists currently employed in Duluth, the local job market reflects a consistent need for skilled professionals, especially given the area's lower cost of living index at 88.768. In practical terms, this means that while salaries may be higher than the national average, the purchasing power for pharmacists remains competitive. Employers such as Accredo and OptumRx tend to offer some of the highest salaries in this market, particularly for roles that require board certification or specialized training. The discrepancy in pay among pharmacists in Duluth primarily stems from factors such as type of practice setting, whether they work in hospitals or retail chains. With ongoing shifts in the retail pharmacy landscape, particularly following recent layoffs and consolidations among major chains like CVS and Walgreens, pharmacists seeking to optimize their pay may benefit from pursuing additional certifications or considering positions in specialty and hospital pharmacies, where pay scales tend to reflect that additional expertise.
More salary data for Duluth, MN:
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 $154,860 for pharmacistsin the Duluth 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