Marketing Manager
Median wage · national
$166,790
Range: $123K – $216K
Employed
395K
Openings/yr
34K
Typically: bachelor's degree
HEALTH
Pharmacist
With a national median of $140,910 and +4.6% projected job growth through 2034, Pharmacist offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.
About Pharmacist
Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use. May advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosage, interactions, and side effects of medications.
- Median Wage
- $140,910
- Employed Nationally
- 322K
- Openings / Year
- 14,200
- Entry Education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Also known as:
Apothecary
Clinical Pharmacist
District Pharmacy Supervisor
Druggist
Float Pharmacist
How Much Do Pharmacists Make?
Pharmacist earn $140,910 nationally, well above the national median for college graduates. The middle 50% of earners fall between $129,380 and $161,840. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and location.
$140,910
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$129K–$162K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$129,380
Entry-level
$140,910
Median
$161,840
Experienced
What Do Pharmacists Do?
O*NET data identifies 5 core activities and 5 measurable skills for Pharmacist roles. Use this section to judge whether the day-to-day reality aligns with what you actually want to spend time doing.
What You'll Do
- Review prescriptions to assure accuracy, to ascertain the needed ingredients, and to evaluate their suitability.
- Assess the identity, strength, or purity of medications.
- Provide information and advice regarding drug interactions, side effects, dosage, and proper medication storage.
- Analyze prescribing trends to monitor patient compliance and to prevent excessive usage or harmful interactions.
- Maintain records, such as pharmacy files, patient profiles, charge system files, inventories, control records for radioactive nuclei, or registries of poisons, narcotics, or controlled drugs.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Who Thrives Here
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
S
Social
Working closely with people, teaching, advising, or helping others navigate challenges is a defining feature of this career's daily work.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Pharmacists Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
High
High time pressure and significant consequences for errors. Deadline-driven or high-stakes decisions are common.
What Is the Job Outlook for Pharmacists?
The BLS projects +4.6% employment change for Pharmacist through 2034, roughly in line with the national average of +5%. About 14,200 openings per year keep the field accessible to new entrants.
↗ +4.6%
10-Year Growth (2024–2034)
About as fast as average.
14,200
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
322K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2024.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2024.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Pharmacist professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $140,910 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 34,490 | $165,150 | +17.2% |
| 2 | Texas | 22,720 | $136,950 | -2.8% |
| 3 | New York | 21,330 | $136,350 | -3.2% |
| 4 | Florida | 20,270 | $135,460 | -3.9% |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 15,120 | $135,830 | -3.6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
Most Pharmacist positions require a doctoral or professional degree to qualify. The program below is the most common academic pathways into this field, ranked by how many graduates they produce each year.
Typical Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Job Zone
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pharmacy | 18,729 | $116,539 | 194 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Pharmacists
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| 2 | University of Florida Gainesville, FL | 93 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| 3 | University of California-Irvine Irvine, CA | 92 | $14,251 | $80,735 |
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI | 91 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | 90 | $11,655 | $72,200 |
| 6 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA | 90 | $14,741 | $80,838 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Pharmacist, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Pharmacist pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Pharmacist Pros & Cons
The data on Pharmacist shows 4 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are drawn from BLS wage data, employment projections, and IPEDS program completions.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $140,910 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- Steady job outlook The BLS projects +4.6% growth through 2034, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $161,840 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
- Wide job market 322K professionals are employed in this field, large enough to offer geographic flexibility and multiple entry paths.
CONS
- High education requirement Most employers require a doctoral or professional degree, typically 6 to 10+ years of higher education before earning full wages. Factor tuition costs into your ROI calculation.
Pharmacist Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Pharmacist professionals earn?
The national median annual wage for Pharmacist is $140,910, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $129,380 and $161,840. Pay varies by employer size, industry sector, specialization, and geography. National figures are a starting point, not a guarantee.
Is Pharmacist a good career?
Yes, for the right person, but the commitment is significant. The $140,910 median wage reflects years of training most workers invest, and the path to a first career-level role typically spans 8 to 12 or more years. Job growth of +4.6% through 2034 means demand is real. The harder question is whether the education investment at your specific program will pay off. School selection matters enormously at this preparation level.
How long does it take to become a Pharmacist?
Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A doctoral or professional degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Pharmacy are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $140,910 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Is a doctoral or professional degree worth it to become a Pharmacist?
Yes, for most programs. At $140,910 median, graduates at in-state public programs typically recoup their investment within 10 to 15 years of practice. School choice (specifically tuition cost and your expected local job market) matters as much as the credential itself.
What is the job outlook for Pharmacist?
The BLS projects +4.6% employment change for Pharmacist through 2034, about as fast as average compared to all occupations. About 14,200 job openings per year are projected, including new positions and replacements for workers who retire or change careers. 322K people currently work in this occupation nationwide (BLS May 2024).
How competitive is it to get a job as a Pharmacist?
Competitive. With roughly 14,200 annual openings in a field of 322K workers, the ratio of openings to existing employment is below 5%. Most hiring replaces workers who retire or leave rather than filling new positions. Strong credentials, relevant experience, and professional network matter significantly more here than in growing fields.
What skills do Pharmacist professionals need?
O*NET data identifies the core skills employers consistently prioritize for Pharmacist roles: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, and Monitoring. These develop through formal education and hands-on work. Programs with internship or co-op requirements give you a meaningful head start on the ones that take time to build.
Related Findings
-
10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 95 of 385 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
Colleges
Discover 3,811 verified US colleges and universities. Compare admissions, costs, outcomes, and earnings across every accredited institution nationwide.
Majors
Explore 38 fields of study spanning STEM, health, business, and the humanities. See earnings, top programs, and demand.
Programs
Browse 375 specific degree programs. See completion counts, earnings outcomes, and the colleges awarding the most graduates each year.
Careers
Look up 395 BLS occupations. Get median wages, growth projections, education requirements, and the majors leading to each career.