Pharmacist salary in Kentucky
Pharmacists in Kentucky earn a median of $136,530 a year ($65.64 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,030 workers.
Pay ranges from $84,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,940 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $140,910. Kentucky ranks 40th of 51 states for pharmacists pay. There are 2.5 pharmacists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $136,480, close to the median.
Pay range for pharmacists in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,280 | $40.52 |
| 25th percentile | $128,970 | $62.01 |
| Median | $136,530 | $65.64 |
| 75th percentile | $158,280 | $76.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,940 | $81.22 |
| Average (mean) | $136,480 | $65.62 |
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 | $11,377.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,688.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,251.15 |
| Weekly | $2,625.58 |
| Hourly | $65.64 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Pharmacist salary in cities in Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $143,920 | 1,830 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $140,200 | 2,380 |
| Owensboro, KY | $139,950 | 120 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $136,530 | 1,060 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $134,980 | 160 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | $134,810 | 130 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $134,370 | 450 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $133,920 | 190 |
| Elizabethtown, KY | $132,620 | 100 |
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 Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $81,040 | $38.96 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $122,870 | $59.07 |
| Physical Therapist | $100,710 | $48.42 |
| Physicians, All Other | $327,390 | $157.40 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $83,550 | $40.17 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $72,750 | $34.98 |
| Occupational Therapist | $97,650 | $46.95 |
| Dental Hygienist | $78,830 | $37.90 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $222,520 | $106.98 |
| Physician Assistant | $120,760 | $58.06 |
| Veterinarian | $104,100 | $50.05 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $248,730 | $119.58 |
| Anesthesiologist | $347,960 | $167.29 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $241,530 | $116.12 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for pharmacists in Kentucky is $136,530 a year, or $65.64 an hour. Pay ranges from $84,280 for the lowest-paid 10% to $168,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pharmacists make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of pharmacists in Kentucky earn at least $168,940 a year. The top 25% earn $158,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for pharmacists in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $84,280 a year, and a quarter of pharmacists earn $128,970 or less.
How many pharmacists work in Kentucky?
About 5,030 pharmacists are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.