The average salary for a pharmacist in California is around $164,610 per year.
Avg Salary
Pharmacists earn an average yearly salary of $164,610.
Wages typically start from $90,560 and go up to $213,820.
99% above national average Updated in 2025
Pharmacist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level pharmacist earnings begin at:
$102.80 per hour
$213,820 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level pharmacist earnings begin at:
$95.12 per hour
$197,860 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level pharmacist earnings begin at:
$79.14 per hour
$164,610 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level pharmacist earnings begin at:
$66.52 per hour
$138,360 per year
10th percentile
Starting level pharmacist earnings begin at:
$43.54 per hour
$90,560 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Pharmacist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $167,310 |
| Oregon | $165,960 |
| California | $164,610 |
| Hawaii | $163,220 |
| Washington | $160,610 |
| Minnesota | $159,740 |
| Colorado | $156,030 |
| District of Columbia | $153,400 |
| Delaware | $152,880 |
| Wisconsin | $148,740 |
| New Mexico | $147,000 |
| Arizona | $146,930 |
| South Dakota | $146,790 |
| Idaho | $144,900 |
| Indiana | $144,290 |
| Utah | $144,240 |
| Virginia | $144,060 |
| New Hampshire | $143,020 |
| New York | $142,090 |
| Montana | $142,080 |
| North Dakota | $142,040 |
| Connecticut | $141,290 |
| Maine | $140,930 |
| Nevada | $140,030 |
| Wyoming | $139,550 |
| Nebraska | $139,330 |
| Illinois | $139,080 |
| Maryland | $138,990 |
| Iowa | $138,860 |
| North Carolina | $138,860 |
| Texas | $138,260 |
| Massachusetts | $138,170 |
| Pennsylvania | $138,160 |
| Michigan | $137,860 |
| Kansas | $137,800 |
| New Jersey | $137,620 |
| Missouri | $137,610 |
| Georgia | $137,120 |
| Ohio | $137,020 |
| Kentucky | $136,530 |
| Vermont | $136,270 |
| Arkansas | $136,060 |
| Florida | $135,970 |
| South Carolina | $135,700 |
| Oklahoma | $135,140 |
| Alabama | $134,630 |
| West Virginia | $133,430 |
| Tennessee | $133,390 |
| Mississippi | $133,230 |
| Louisiana | $132,410 |
| Rhode Island | $128,180 |
| Guam | $121,020 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $120,910 |
| Puerto Rico | $100,730 |
How do pharmacist salaries compare to similar careers?
Pharmacists earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than nurse practitioners but more than registered nurses.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Nurse practitioner salary | $169K |
| Dentist salary | $166K |
| Veterinarian salary | $164K |
| Physician assistant salary | $166K |
| Anesthesiologist assistant salary | $166K |
| Pharmacist salary | $165K |
| Radiation therapist salary | $166K |
| Nuclear medicine technologist salary | $162K |
| Health services manager salary | $141K |
| Registered nurse salary | $140K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)