Pharmacist Salary in Great Falls, MT: $139,059 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacist in Great Falls, MT earns a median $139,059/year (≈ $66.86/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1051). Once you factor in Great Falls's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 96.8), that paycheck buys what $143,589 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.9% below the Montana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Great Falls, MT, pharmacists can expect a median annual salary of $139,059 in 2026, reflecting a competitive local pay structure compared to the national median of $143,489. Salaries in this field range from $100,812 at the 10th percentile to $164,068 at the 90th percentile, indicating considerable variation based on experience, setting, and specialty. This data is derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys, which suggest that residency-trained pharmacists in hospital and specialty settings typically command higher salaries compared to their non-residency counterparts. The evolving healthcare landscape and increasing specialization in pharmacy roles further influence these salary dynamics in Great Falls.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $100,812 | $48.47 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $133,866 | $64.36 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $139,059 | $66.86 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $158,865 | $76.37 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $164,068 | $78.88 |
Median Salary Position
3.09% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Great Falls
In Great Falls, MT, the pharmacist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $63,256 (2026 est.). At $139,059, the local median is 3.09% below the national median of $143,489.
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At 40 hours/week in Great Falls: You'd be above the median
How Great Falls Pharmacist Pay Compares
Great Falls median: $139,059/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Great Falls Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Montana Average | $144,702 | -3.90% less |
| National Average | $143,489 | -3.09% less |
Pharmacists in Great Falls, MT earn a median of $139,059 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.09% lower than the national median of $143,489 and 3.90% below the Montana state average of $144,702.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Great Falls has a cost of living 3.16% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Great Falls, MT has a cost-of-living index of 96.845 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacist earning $139,059 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $143,589 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.26% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$115,590
2025 BLS Actual
$136,560
2026 Current Est.
$139,059
2019–2027 Growth
+22.5%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacists in Great Falls (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $115,590 | Actual |
| 2020 | $119,000 | Actual |
| 2021 | $122,850 | Actual |
| 2022 | $125,440 | Actual |
| 2023 | $133,860 | Actual |
| 2024 | $134,990 | Actual |
| 2025 | $136,560 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $139,059 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $141,604 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Great Falls metropolitan area, the median pharmacist salary grew 18.1% from $115,590 (2019) to $136,560 (2025). At a 1.83% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $141,604 by 2027 — a total increase of $26,014 (22.51%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Great Falls 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) | $100,812 – $133,866 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $133,866 – $139,059 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $139,059 – $158,865 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $158,865 – $164,068 |
PharmD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacist Job Market in Great Falls
With around 90 pharmacists employed in the area, the local job market remains relatively strong. The cost of living index in Great Falls is 96.845, which suggests that while salaries may be slightly lower compared to national averages, the purchasing power of pharmacists can still be favorable. Key employers in the region include retail pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens, but hospital inpatient pharmacies and specialty pharmacies typically offer better compensation. The spread between lowest and highest pay can be attributed to various factors such as board certification stipends and the premium associated with residency training. With retail chains consolidating and shifting responsibilities toward more clinical roles, individuals looking to maximize their pharmacist pay in Great Falls should consider pursuing PGY-1 or PGY-2 residencies, obtaining additional certifications, and exploring opportunities in specialized clinical settings.
More salary data for Great Falls, MT:
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 $136,560 for pharmacistsin the Great Falls 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