Pharmacist salary in California
Pharmacists in California earn a median of $164,610 a year ($79.14 an hour), based on BLS data for 34,030 workers.
Pay ranges from $90,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,820 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $140,910. California ranks 3rd of 51 states for pharmacists pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 1.9 pharmacists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $162,340, close to the median.
Pay range for pharmacists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $90,560 | $43.54 |
| 25th percentile | $138,360 | $66.52 |
| Median | $164,610 | $79.14 |
| 75th percentile | $197,860 | $95.12 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,820 | $102.80 |
| Average (mean) | $162,340 | $78.05 |
Half of pharmacists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $13,717.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,858.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,331.15 |
| Weekly | $3,165.58 |
| Hourly | $79.14 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Pharmacist salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $200,580 | 180 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $199,040 | 1,960 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $177,410 | 3,670 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $172,860 | 240 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $172,680 | 2,310 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $171,900 | 90 |
| Vallejo, CA | $170,870 | 350 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $170,570 | 330 |
| Fresno, CA | $169,160 | 890 |
| Redding, CA | $166,800 | 160 |
| Salinas, CA | $166,470 | 260 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $165,130 | 2,840 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $162,520 | 290 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $162,440 | 530 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $161,940 | 170 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $161,930 | 600 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $161,870 | 3,400 |
| Chico, CA | $161,410 | 160 |
| Yuba City, CA | $161,240 | 140 |
| Modesto, CA | $160,520 | 380 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $160,430 | 630 |
| El Centro, CA | $158,490 | 90 |
| Visalia, CA | $158,080 | 310 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $157,440 | 12,450 |
| Merced, CA | $154,870 | 120 |
Highest-paying states for pharmacists
| State | Median 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 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $140,270 | $67.44 |
| Physical Therapist | $124,190 | $59.71 |
| Physicians, All Other | $281,590 | $135.38 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $168,520 | $81.02 |
| Dental Hygienist | $124,930 | $60.06 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $104,820 | $50.40 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $118,970 | $57.20 |
| Dentists, General | $165,950 | $79.79 |
| Occupational Therapist | $124,510 | $59.86 |
| Physician Assistant | $165,650 | $79.64 |
| Veterinarian | $163,920 | $78.81 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $98,850 | $47.52 |
| Optometrist | $136,300 | $65.53 |
| Pediatricians, General | $214,140 | $102.95 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacist make in California?
The median salary for pharmacists in California is $164,610 a year, or $79.14 an hour. Pay ranges from $90,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pharmacists make in California?
The top 10% of pharmacists in California earn at least $213,820 a year. The top 25% earn $197,860 or more.
What is the starting pay for pharmacists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $90,560 a year, and a quarter of pharmacists earn $138,360 or less.
How many pharmacists work in California?
About 34,030 pharmacists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.