Pharmacist salary in Raleigh-Cary, NC
Pharmacists in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn a median of $133,120 a year ($64.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,730 workers.
Pay ranges from $101,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,060 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $140,910. Pay here is 4% lower than the North Carolina statewide median of $138,860. There are 2.3 pharmacists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $135,270, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for pharmacists in Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $101,720 | $48.91 |
| 25th percentile | $128,950 | $61.99 |
| Median | $133,120 | $64.00 |
| 75th percentile | $157,760 | $75.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,060 | $79.35 |
| Average (mean) | $135,270 | $65.04 |
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 | $11,093.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,546.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,120 |
| Weekly | $2,560 |
| Hourly | $64.00 |
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 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $141,360 | 1,150 |
| 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 |
| 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $84,830 | $40.78 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $128,150 | $61.61 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,800 | $47.50 |
| Physician Assistant | $124,300 | $59.76 |
| Physical Therapist | $99,900 | $48.03 |
| Physicians, All Other | $354,130 | $170.26 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $87,400 | $42.02 |
| Dentists, General | $207,380 | $99.70 |
| Occupational Therapist | $84,080 | $40.42 |
| Veterinarian | $130,350 | $62.67 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $291,060 | $139.93 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $87,820 | $42.22 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $69,210 | $33.27 |
| Optometrist | $163,290 | $78.51 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Raleigh-Cary, 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median salary for pharmacists in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area is $133,120 a year, or $64.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $101,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,060 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pharmacists make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The top 10% of pharmacists in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area earn at least $165,060 a year. The top 25% earn $157,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for pharmacists in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $101,720 a year, and a quarter of pharmacists earn $128,950 or less.
How many pharmacists work in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
About 1,730 pharmacists are employed in the Raleigh-Cary, NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.