Pharmacist Salary in Kennewick, WA: $161,024 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacist in Kennewick, WA earns a median $161,024/year (≈ $77.41/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1051). Once you factor in Kennewick's price level (0% above national, BEA RPP 100.1), that paycheck buys what $160,897 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.1% above the Washington state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Kennewick, Washington, the projected median pharmacist salary for 2026 is set at $161,024, which presents a competitive edge over the national median of $143,489. Local salaries range from $127,063 at the 10th percentile up to $206,216 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the diverse roles within the pharmacy sector. This discrepancy often arises from the structural diversity in employment settings; pharmacists in clinical or hospital roles typically earn more than those in retail positions such as pharmacists in charge (PIC) or staff pharmacists. The estimates are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, highlighting Kennewick's evolving market dynamics, especially as healthcare demand grows and pharmacy practice continues to adapt.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $127,063 | $61.09 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $135,607 | $65.20 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $161,024 | $77.41 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $171,522 | $82.46 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $206,216 | $99.14 |
Median Salary Position
12.22% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Kennewick
In Kennewick, WA, the pharmacist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $79,153 (2026 est.). At $161,024, the local median is 12.22% above the national median of $143,489.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Kennewick: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Kennewick Pharmacist Pay Compares
Kennewick median: $161,024/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Kennewick Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Average | $160,863 | +0.10% more |
| National Average | $143,489 | +12.22% more |
Pharmacists in Kennewick, WA earn a median of $161,024 per year (2026 est.), which is 12.22% higher than the national median of $143,489 and 0.10% above the Washington state average of $160,863.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Kennewick has a cost of living 0.08% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Kennewick, WA has a cost-of-living index of 100.079 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $161,024 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $160,897 — a 0.08% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$131,400
2025 BLS Actual
$158,130
2026 Current Est.
$161,024
2019–2027 Growth
+24.8%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacists in Kennewick (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $131,400 | Actual |
| 2020 | $131,580 | Actual |
| 2021 | $127,690 | Actual |
| 2022 | $134,920 | Actual |
| 2023 | $147,530 | Actual |
| 2024 | $153,170 | Actual |
| 2025 | $158,130 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $161,024 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $163,971 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Kennewick metropolitan area, the median pharmacist salary grew 20.3% from $131,400 (2019) to $158,130 (2025). At a 1.83% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $163,971 by 2027 — a total increase of $32,571 (24.79%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Kennewick 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) | $127,063 – $135,607 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $135,607 – $161,024 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $161,024 – $171,522 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $171,522 – $206,216 |
PharmD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacist Job Market in Kennewick
The Kennewick job market currently employs approximately 220 pharmacists, essential for meeting the community's healthcare needs. With a cost-of-living index slightly above the national average at 100.079, prospective pharmacists should be mindful of their take-home purchasing power when evaluating salary offers. Among the highest-paying employers are inpatient pharmacies and specialty pharmacies like Accredo, which often offer additional stipends for board certification. The gap between the lower and higher salary ranges can be attributed to factors such as certifications, clinical training, and specific job demands, as well as the impact of recent retail chain consolidations affecting wages. For pharmacists looking to maximize their pay in Kennewick, pursuing board certification and seeking clinical or specialty roles may provide better compensation opportunities, especially as the landscape shifts toward more diverse pharmacy roles, including ambulatory prescribing and point-of-care testing.
More salary data for Kennewick, WA:
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 $158,130 for pharmacistsin the Kennewick 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