Healthcare is expected to be one of the fastest growing industries in the United States in the coming years. As demand for healthcare services accelerates and healthcare workers retire out of the labor force, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 1.8 million job openings in the sector each year from 2022 to 2032.
Many jobs in the rapidly growing healthcare sector are also well-paying, with annual compensation well within the six-figure range. These occupations include not only physicians and surgeons, but also pharmacists.
Day-to-day, pharmacist duties often include dispensing prescribed medications, advising patients, administering vaccinations, maintaining records, and managing pharmacy staff. Work environments range from pharmaceutical departments in grocery and convenience stores, to healthcare facilities like hospitals or outpatient clinics. (Here is a look at 17 things you didn’t know your pharmacist can do.)
Pharmacists typically need four years of postgraduate education to become licensed, though some programs for high school graduates can be completed in as few as six years total. By contrast, becoming a medical doctor or surgeon can require as much as 16 years of education and training beyond a bachelor’s degree.
According to the BLS, the typical pharmacist in the U.S. earned $132,750 in 2022, nearly three times as much as the median annual wage across all occupations of $46,310. But exactly how much pharmacists make can vary by state by tens of thousands of dollars.
Using data from the BLS’ May 2022 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, 24/7 Wall St. identified how much pharmacists make in each state. States were ranked on the median annual wage for all pharmacists in 2022. Data on cost of living is from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and is based on regional price parity in 2021.
Across all 50 states, the median annual wage for pharmacists ranges from about $126,000 to nearly $156,000. Notably however, the cost of living in many of the highest ranking states on this list is above average, and higher living expenses in these places are often enough to offset the financial incentives for pharmacists working there. (Here is a look at the cities where wages will increase the most by 2060.)
50. Nebraska
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $126,450
- Cost of living: 8.2% less than U.S. (16th lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $136,881 (19th lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.3 (23rd highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 2,210 (14th lowest)
49. Rhode Island
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $126,860
- Cost of living: 2.1% more than U.S. (14th highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $124,218 (6th lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.7 (7th highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 1,280 (9th lowest)
48. Louisiana
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $127,730
- Cost of living: 8.7% less than U.S. (13th lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $138,873 (24th lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.7 (6th highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 5,010 (25th highest)
47. West Virginia
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $128,030
- Cost of living: 9.2% less than U.S. (9th lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $139,856 (23rd highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 3.5 (the highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 2,360 (15th lowest)
46. Oklahoma
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $128,040
- Cost of living: 9.7% less than U.S. (8th lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $140,500 (18th highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.4 (21st highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 3,810 (24th lowest)
45. Arkansas
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $128,570
- Cost of living: 10.6% less than U.S. (4th lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $142,141 (14th highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.6 (10th highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 3,180 (20th lowest)
44. South Carolina
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $128,690
- Cost of living: 6.3% less than U.S. (22nd lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $136,806 (18th lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.4 (18th highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 5,150 (24th highest)
43. Tennessee
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $128,710
- Cost of living: 9.1% less than U.S. (10th lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $140,482 (19th highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.5 (13th highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 7,780 (12th highest)
42. Mississippi
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $129,080
- Cost of living: 13.4% less than U.S. (the lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $146,375 (2nd highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.8 (2nd highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 3,220 (21st lowest)
41. Montana
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $129,120
- Cost of living: 8.4% less than U.S. (15th lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $140,009 (21st highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.6 (8th highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 1,300 (10th lowest)
40. Alabama
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $129,200
- Cost of living: 11.9% less than U.S. (2nd lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $144,524 (5th highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.8 (3rd highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 5,650 (21st highest)
39. Kansas
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $129,640
- Cost of living: 8.8% less than U.S. (12th lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $141,104 (15th highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.4 (20th highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 3,290 (22nd lowest)
38. Kentucky
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $129,690
- Cost of living: 10.9% less than U.S. (3rd lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $143,795 (11th highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.8 (4th highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 5,320 (23rd highest)
37. Indiana
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $129,870
- Cost of living: 7.3% less than U.S. (20th lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $139,305 (25th highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.2 (21st lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 6,710 (18th highest)
36. Pennsylvania
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $130,280
- Cost of living: 3.6% less than U.S. (23rd highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $135,008 (16th lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.6 (9th highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 15,190 (5th highest)
35. Iowa
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $130,630
- Cost of living: 10.4% less than U.S. (5th lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $144,257 (7th highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 1.8 (7th lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 2,790 (17th lowest)
34. New Jersey
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $130,660
- Cost of living: 9.1% more than U.S. (4th highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $118,771 (the lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.3 (24th highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 9,360 (11th highest)
33. Florida
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $130,670
- Cost of living: 1.4% more than U.S. (15th highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $128,801 (8th lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.4 (16th highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 22,420 (3rd highest)
32. Delaware
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $130,900
- Cost of living: 2.3% less than U.S. (20th highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $133,941 (15th lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.1 (19th lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 970 (5th lowest)
31. Ohio
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $131,100
- Cost of living: 7.5% less than U.S. (19th lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $140,986 (16th highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.5 (15th highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 13,170 (6th highest)
30. Maryland
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $131,390
- Cost of living: 6.2% more than U.S. (7th highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $123,214 (5th lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.2 (23rd lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 5,780 (20th highest)
29. Massachusetts
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $131,440
- Cost of living: 6.6% more than U.S. (6th highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $122,824 (4th lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.1 (17th lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 7,400 (14th highest)
28. New Mexico
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $131,560
- Cost of living: 10.1% less than U.S. (6th lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $144,838 (4th highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.2 (24th lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 1,820 (13th lowest)
27. Illinois
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $131,770
- Cost of living: 1.4% more than U.S. (16th highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $129,909 (10th lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.1 (20th lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 12,560 (7th highest)
26. Texas
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $131,830
- Cost of living: 1.5% less than U.S. (18th highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $133,805 (14th lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 1.8 (5th lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 23,600 (2nd highest)
25. South Dakota
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $131,940
- Cost of living: 9.9% less than U.S. (7th lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $144,940 (3rd highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.8 (5th highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 1,220 (8th lowest)
24. Georgia
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $132,230
- Cost of living: 4.2% less than U.S. (24th highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $137,805 (23rd lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.2 (25th highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 10,320 (9th highest)
23. Michigan
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $132,340
- Cost of living: 5.7% less than U.S. (24th lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $139,946 (22nd highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.4 (17th highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 10,200 (10th highest)
22. North Carolina
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $132,530
- Cost of living: 6.2% less than U.S. (23rd lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $140,740 (17th highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.4 (18th highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 11,110 (8th highest)
21. New York
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $132,590
- Cost of living: 9.5% more than U.S. (3rd highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $119,989 (2nd lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.2 (22nd lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 19,930 (4th highest)
20. Wyoming
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $132,600
- Cost of living: 8.6% less than U.S. (14th lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $143,980 (9th highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 1.9 (11th lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 510 (the lowest)
19. Connecticut
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $132,630
- Cost of living: 2.6% more than U.S. (11th highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $129,178 (9th lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 1.8 (6th lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 2,990 (19th lowest)
18. Vermont
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $133,320
- Cost of living: 1.3% less than U.S. (17th highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $135,106 (17th lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 1.9 (9th lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 550 (3rd lowest)
17. Idaho
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $133,540
- Cost of living: 8.2% less than U.S. (17th lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $144,522 (6th highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.0 (16th lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 1,580 (12th lowest)
16. Missouri
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $133,550
- Cost of living: 8.0% less than U.S. (18th lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $144,205 (8th highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.6 (11th highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 7,280 (15th highest)
15. Maine
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $133,640
- Cost of living: 2.8% less than U.S. (21st highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $137,375 (21st lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.2 (25th lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 1,360 (11th lowest)
14. Virginia<
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $134,070
- Cost of living: 2.3% more than U.S. (13th highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $131,016 (11th lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 1.9 (10th lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 7,250 (16th highest)
13. Nevada
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $134,120
- Cost of living: 4.5% less than U.S. (25th highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $140,098 (20th highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.0 (15th lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 2,760 (16th lowest)
12. North Dakota
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $134,620
- Cost of living: 8.9% less than U.S. (11th lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $146,597 (the highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.5 (14th highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 1,010 (6th lowest)
11. Wisconsin
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $134,640
- Cost of living: 6.7% less than U.S. (21st lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $143,598 (12th highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 1.9 (14th lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 5,450 (22nd highest)
10. Arizona
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $134,830
- Cost of living: 3.3% less than U.S. (22nd highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $139,251 (25th lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.6 (12th highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 7,730 (13th highest)
9. New Hampshire
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $135,290
- Cost of living: 2.5% more than U.S. (12th highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $131,894 (12th lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 1.8 (8th lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 1,220 (8th lowest)
8. Utah
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $135,770
- Cost of living: 5.4% less than U.S. (25th lowest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $143,112 (13th highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 1.8 (3rd lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 2,890 (18th lowest)
7. Colorado
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $136,100
- Cost of living: 3.0% more than U.S. (10th highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $132,005 (13th lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 1.8 (4th lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 4,990 (25th lowest)
6. Minnesota
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $137,190
- Cost of living: 1.6% less than U.S. (19th highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $139,353 (24th highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.3 (22nd highest)
- Total employment in occupation: 6,630 (19th highest)
5. Washington
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $138,250
- Cost of living: 8.9% more than U.S. (5th highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $125,966 (7th lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 2.1 (18th lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 7,150 (17th highest)
4. Hawaii
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $139,470
- Cost of living: 13.2% more than U.S. (the highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $121,022 (3rd lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 1.5 (the lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 870 (4th lowest)
3. Oregon
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $141,380
- Cost of living: 3.0% more than U.S. (9th highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $137,093 (20th lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 1.9 (12th lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 3,660 (23rd lowest)
2. Alaska
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $150,660
- Cost of living: 4.4% more than U.S. (8th highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $143,972 (10th highest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 1.7 (2nd lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 520 (2nd lowest)
1. California
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- Median annual salary for occupation: $155,830
- Cost of living: 11.8% more than U.S. (2nd highest)
- Cost-of-living-adjusted median annual salary for occupation: $137,447 (22nd lowest)
- Employment in occupation per 1,000 jobs: 1.9 (13th lowest)
- Total employment in occupation: 34,100 (the highest)
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