Pharmacist Salary in Hilton Head Island, SC: $139,874 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacist in Hilton Head Island, SC earns a median $139,874/year (≈ $67.25/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1051). Once you factor in Hilton Head Island's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 98.0), that paycheck buys what $142,704 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.7% above the South Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source

In Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, the 2026 median annual salary for pharmacists is projected at $139,874, slightly trailing the national median of $143,489. The compensation for pharmacists in this region varies significantly, with earnings ranging from $88,612 at the 10th percentile to $162,704 at the 90th percentile. This salary structure reflects a division in pharmacist roles, notably between hospital clinical specialists earning higher salaries compared to retail pharmacists, including pharmacy-in-charge (PIC) positions and staff roles. These estimates are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, indicating a competitive job market in Hilton Head Island with numerous opportunities across varied practice settings.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $88,612 | $42.61 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $129,579 | $62.30 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $139,874 | $67.25 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $157,857 | $75.89 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $162,704 | $78.23 |
Median Salary Position
2.52% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Hilton Head Island
In Hilton Head Island, SC, the pharmacist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $74,092 (2026 est.). At $139,874, the local median is 2.52% below the national median of $143,489.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Hilton Head Island: You'd be above the median
How Hilton Head Island Pharmacist Pay Compares
Hilton Head Island median: $139,874/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Hilton Head Island Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Average | $138,901 | +0.70% more |
| National Average | $143,489 | -2.52% less |
Pharmacists in Hilton Head Island, SC earn a median of $139,874 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.52% lower than the national median of $143,489 and 0.70% above the South Carolina state average of $138,901.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Hilton Head Island has a cost of living 1.98% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Hilton Head Island, SC has a cost-of-living index of 98.017 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacist earning $139,874 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $142,704 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.02% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$121,240
2025 BLS Actual
$137,360
2026 Current Est.
$139,874
2019–2027 Growth
+17.5%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacists in Hilton Head Island (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $121,240 | Actual |
| 2020 | $120,850 | Actual |
| 2021 | $126,540 | Actual |
| 2022 | $127,310 | Actual |
| 2023 | $133,600 | Actual |
| 2024 | $134,000 | Actual |
| 2025 | $137,360 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $139,874 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $142,433 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Hilton Head Island metropolitan area, the median pharmacist salary grew 13.3% from $121,240 (2019) to $137,360 (2025). At a 1.83% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $142,433 by 2027 — a total increase of $21,193 (17.48%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Hilton Head Island 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) | $88,612 – $129,579 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $129,579 – $139,874 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $139,874 – $157,857 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $157,857 – $162,704 |
PharmD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacist Job Market in Hilton Head Island
With about 180 pharmacists working in the area, the local job market showcases a blend of opportunities from retail chains like CVS and Walgreens to hospital inpatient pharmacies and specialty mail-order operations. The cost of living in Hilton Head Island, indexed at 98.017, is below the national average, allowing for better purchasing power compared to many other regions. The variations in pay can primarily be attributed to the setting; for instance, hospital roles typically offer higher salaries than retail positions. Additional factors such as residency-trained premiums, board certification stipends, and shift differentials also influence overall compensation. As retail chains shrink their footprint, those in the pharmacy field may consider pursuing advanced certifications or positions in hospital and specialty settings to maximize their earning potential in the evolving market of Hilton Head Island, SC.
More salary data for Hilton Head Island, SC:
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 $137,360 for pharmacistsin the Hilton Head Island 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