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Pharmacist

$140,910
median pay per year
$99,290 – $174,230
what most earn (10th–90th percentile)

What the job actually is

Dispense prescription medications, check for interactions, and counsel patients on safe use.

Where you work

Pharmacies and hospitals; mostly standing, behind a counter or in a lab.

The hours

Full-time and part-time; evenings, weekends, and holidays in retail.

By the numbers

May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.

Median pay
$140,910
per year
What most earn
$99,290–$174,230
10th to 90th percentile
Openings a year
~14,200
projected, 2024–34
Outlook to 2034
+5%
Faster than average
Working in the U.S.
321,970
people, nationwide

Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.

“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.

How you get in

Typical starting education

Doctoral / professional degree

Training path: PharmD (6–8 years total).

License or certification

Requires a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, national exams, and a state license.

What it takes

Attention to detailCommunicationAnalytical skillsPatience

The honest take

Six figures, but retail pharmacy is consolidating — hospital roles are the growth.

Standard Occupational Classification 29-1051. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.