Pharmacist Salary in Yakima, WA: $149,334 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacist in Yakima, WA earns a median $149,334/year (≈ $71.80/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1051). Once you factor in Yakima's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 95.5), that paycheck buys what $156,297 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.2% below the Washington state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Yakima, Washington, the pharmacist salary in Yakima is projected to reach a median annual figure of $149,334 by 2026. This places local pharmacists above the national average, which stands at $143,489, reflecting a 4.07% premium for professionals practicing in the area. Salaries range significantly from $102,899 at the 10th percentile to $170,097 at the 90th percentile, highlighting disparities often shaped by factors such as experience, specific certifications, and practice settings. The data, derived from the 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), illustrates a growing demand for skilled pharmacists, particularly those with residency training who command higher salaries, especially in hospital or specialty roles.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $102,899 | $49.47 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $139,314 | $66.97 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $149,334 | $71.80 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $169,802 | $81.64 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $170,097 | $81.78 |
Median Salary Position
4.07% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Yakima
In Yakima, WA, the pharmacist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $67,198 (2026 est.). At $149,334, the local median is 4.07% above the national median of $143,489.
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At 40 hours/week in Yakima: You'd be above the median
How Yakima Pharmacist Pay Compares
Yakima median: $149,334/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Yakima Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Average | $160,920 | -7.20% less |
| National Average | $143,489 | +4.07% more |
Pharmacists in Yakima, WA earn a median of $149,334 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.07% higher than the national median of $143,489 and 7.20% below the Washington state average of $160,920.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Yakima has a cost of living 4.45% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Yakima, WA has a cost-of-living index of 95.545 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacist earning $149,334 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $156,297 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.66% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$140,310
2025 BLS Actual
$146,650
2026 Current Est.
$149,334
2019–2027 Growth
+8.4%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacists in Yakima (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $140,310 | Actual |
| 2020 | $134,570 | Actual |
| 2021 | $127,240 | Actual |
| 2022 | $136,990 | Actual |
| 2023 | $141,670 | Actual |
| 2024 | $141,620 | Actual |
| 2025 | $146,650 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $149,334 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $152,067 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Yakima metropolitan area, the median pharmacist salary grew 4.5% from $140,310 (2019) to $146,650 (2025). At a 1.83% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $152,067 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,757 (8.38%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Yakima 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) | $102,899 – $139,314 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $139,314 – $149,334 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $149,334 – $169,802 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $169,802 – $170,097 |
PharmD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacist Job Market in Yakima
Yakima's job market currently employs around 180 pharmacists, offering a variety of opportunities across different pharmacy settings. The cost of living index in Yakima is 95.545, which indicates a generally lower cost of living compared to many areas, potentially amplifying take-home purchasing power. Employers that tend to pay the most include hospital inpatient pharmacies and specialty pharmacies, where additional skills and certifications, such as board certification and residency training, can greatly affect compensation. As retail pharmacy chains face consolidation, the market is shifting; those in clinical specialist roles may see higher salaries over retail positions due to demand for clinical care. Strategies to maximize pharmacist pay in Yakima include pursuing advanced certifications, gaining experience in thriving sectors, and considering roles in specialty or inpatient pharmacies that offer competitive compensation.
More salary data for Yakima, 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 $146,650 for pharmacistsin the Yakima 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