Pharmacist Salary in El Paso, TX: $127,196 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacist in El Paso, TX earns a median $127,196/year (≈ $61.15/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1051). Once you factor in El Paso's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 89.9), that paycheck buys what $141,467 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 9.6% below the Texas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Pharmacist salaries in El Paso, Texas, are shaped significantly by recent trends in the retail pharmacy sector, particularly the consolidation efforts among major chains like CVS and Walgreens. In 2026, the median annual salary is projected to be $127,196, reflecting a competitive pay scale given the regional market dynamics. Salaries for pharmacists in El Paso range from $101,871 at the 10th percentile to $168,172 at the 90th percentile, indicating a broad spectrum of pay based on experience, setting, and specialization. This data is derived from projections based on 2025 BLS OEWS data and highlights how these changes in the retail environment are impacting local compensation structures, likely pushing pharmacists to seek opportunities in expanding areas such as hospitals and specialty pharmacies.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $101,871 | $48.98 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $123,408 | $59.33 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $127,196 | $61.15 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $152,287 | $73.22 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $168,172 | $80.85 |
Median Salary Position
11.35% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in El Paso
In El Paso, TX, the pharmacist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $66,301 (2026 est.). At $127,196, the local median is 11.35% below the national median of $143,489.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in El Paso: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How El Paso Pharmacist Pay Compares
El Paso median: $127,196/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | El Paso Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Average | $140,703 | -9.60% less |
| National Average | $143,489 | -11.35% less |
Pharmacists in El Paso, TX earn a median of $127,196 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.35% lower than the national median of $143,489 and 9.60% below the Texas state average of $140,703.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
El Paso has a cost of living 10.09% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
El Paso, TX has a cost-of-living index of 89.912 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacist earning $127,196 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $141,467 in an average-cost city — an effective 11.22% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$137,360
2025 BLS Actual
$124,910
2026 Current Est.
$127,196
2019–2027 Growth
+-5.7%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacists in El Paso (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $137,360 | Actual |
| 2020 | $136,960 | Actual |
| 2021 | $121,520 | Actual |
| 2022 | $126,610 | Actual |
| 2023 | $126,920 | Actual |
| 2024 | $131,390 | Actual |
| 2025 | $124,910 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $127,196 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $129,524 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the El Paso metropolitan area, the median pharmacist salary grew -9.1% from $137,360 (2019) to $124,910 (2025). At a 1.83% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $129,524 by 2027 — a total increase of $-7,836 (-5.70%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the El Paso 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) | $101,871 – $123,408 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $123,408 – $127,196 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $127,196 – $152,287 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $152,287 – $168,172 |
PharmD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacist Job Market in El Paso
As of 2026, El Paso is home to approximately 590 pharmacists, navigating a local economy with a cost of living index of 89.912, which suggests that salaries may stretch further compared to higher-cost markets. Consequently, positions in hospital inpatient pharmacies or specialized roles, such as those offered by Accredo and CVS Specialty, typically command higher pay. The contrast in salaries can often be attributed to various factors, including board certification stipends, shift differentials, and the impact of recent layoffs and consolidations in the retail sector. For those looking to maximize their pharmacist pay in El Paso, pursuing additional certifications or residency training can enhance job prospects and compensation, especially as the demand for clinical specialists continues to grow in light of evolving pharmacy practice standards.
More salary data for El Paso, TX:
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 $124,910 for pharmacistsin the El Paso 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