Pharmacist salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Pharmacists in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn a median of $141,360 a year ($67.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,150 workers.
Pay ranges from $102,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,740 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $140,910. Pay here is 2% higher than the North Carolina statewide median of $138,860. There are 3.3 pharmacists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $140,040, close to the median.
Pay range for pharmacists in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $102,870 | $49.46 |
| 25th percentile | $133,500 | $64.19 |
| Median | $141,360 | $67.96 |
| 75th percentile | $164,900 | $79.28 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,740 | $79.69 |
| Average (mean) | $140,040 | $67.33 |
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 | $11,780 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,890 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,436.92 |
| Weekly | $2,718.46 |
| Hourly | $67.96 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Pharmacist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NC | $151,790 | 480 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $150,580 | 2,530 |
| Greenville, NC | $143,480 | 270 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $140,220 | 400 |
| Goldsboro, NC | $139,210 | 100 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $138,180 | 710 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $137,180 | 330 |
| Asheville, NC | $136,460 | 520 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $136,280 | 1,470 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $135,710 | 1,010 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | $133,320 | 130 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $133,120 | 1,730 |
| Jacksonville, NC | $132,850 | 80 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | $132,170 | 90 |
| Burlington, NC | $130,730 | 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 |
See Pharmacist pay in every state or the North Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | $63.61 |
| Physical Therapist | $100,240 | $48.19 |
| Physician Assistant | $132,670 | $63.79 |
| Occupational Therapist | $83,160 | $39.98 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $83,460 | $40.13 |
| Dental Hygienist | $101,460 | $48.78 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $74,630 | $35.88 |
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | $123,280 | $59.27 |
| Veterinarian | $132,500 | $63.70 |
| Dentists, General | $208,490 | $100.24 |
| Acupuncturist | $89,990 | $43.26 |
| Audiologist | $92,470 | $44.46 |
| Recreational Therapist | $53,100 | $25.53 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $214,620 | $103.18 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median salary for pharmacists in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area is $141,360 a year, or $67.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $102,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,740 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pharmacists make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The top 10% of pharmacists in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area earn at least $165,740 a year. The top 25% earn $164,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for pharmacists in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $102,870 a year, and a quarter of pharmacists earn $133,500 or less.
How many pharmacists work in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
About 1,150 pharmacists are employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.