Pharmacists pay in California
In California, the median pay for pharmacists is $79.14 an hour ($164,610 a year). About 34,030 people work in this job there.
That is 17% higher than the U.S. median ($140,910). California ranks 3rd of 51 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for pharmacists in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $43.54 | $90,560 |
| 25% of workers | $66.52 | $138,360 |
| Half of workers (median) | $79.14 | $164,610 |
| 75% of workers | $95.12 | $197,860 |
| 90% of workers | $102.80 | $213,820 |
Pharmacists pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Napa | $200,580 | 180 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $199,040 | 1,960 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $177,410 | 3,670 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles | $172,860 | 240 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $172,680 | 2,310 |
| Hanford-Corcoran | $171,900 | 90 |
| Vallejo | $170,870 | 350 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $170,570 | 330 |
| Fresno | $169,160 | 890 |
| Redding | $166,800 | 160 |
| Salinas | $166,470 | 260 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $165,130 | 2,840 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $162,520 | 290 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $162,440 | 530 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville | $161,940 | 170 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $161,930 | 600 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $161,870 | 3,400 |
| Chico | $161,410 | 160 |
| Yuba City | $161,240 | 140 |
| Modesto | $160,520 | 380 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $160,430 | 630 |
| El Centro | $158,490 | 90 |
| Visalia | $158,080 | 310 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $157,440 | 12,450 |
| Merced | $154,870 | 120 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for pharmacists
- Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 2 years (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +5.2% over ten years, faster than average · about 12,500 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $140,270 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $55,110 |
| Physicians, All Other | $281,590 |
| Nurse Practitioners | $168,520 |
| Physician Assistants | $165,650 |
| Pediatricians, General | $214,140 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $313,890 |
| Paramedics | $74,590 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.