CA · Vista · Updated October 15, 2026

Pharmacist jobs in Vista, CA

The median pharmacist pay in the Vista area is $78.78 per hour ($163,860 a year), with the typical range running from $73.05 to $94.19. 21 open roles with published pay are listed for Vista and its metro area. The CMS hospital directory lists 18 hospitals in the Vista metro area. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Vista.

Open Pharmacist roles near Vista

Roles in other cities of the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area.

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Named employers near Vista, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Who is hiring pharmacists near Vista

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
Sharp HealthCare13$92.12
Sharp Healthcare6$93.07
Rady Children's Hospital2$84.26

Pharmacist pay in Vista, CA

The metro median is 1% below the California statewide median of $79.40 per hour. Nationally the median is $66.10 per hour. BLS counts about 2,820 pharmacists employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area, 1.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.86).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$61.05$126,9808% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$73.05$151,94011% above U.S. median
Median$78.78$163,86019% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$94.19$195,92042% above U.S. median
Top 10%$100.04$208,08051% above U.S. median

How Vista ranks

  • 17th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 163rd of 340 after adjusting for local prices
  • 14th of 24 California metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Pharmacists (SOC 29-1051), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Vista

  • Overall prices in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad run 12% above the U.S. average (index 111.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 79% above the U.S. average (index 179.3).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $78.78 median hour buys what $70.41 buys at the national price level, 7% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Vista paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,836
  • Per year: $141,804
  • Per month: $11,817

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Vista

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$205
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$2,037
13-week assignment$26,481

Travel pharmacist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area

CMS lists 18 hospitals in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area, 10 of the 13 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of pharmacists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Uc San Diego Health Hillcrest - Hillcrest Med Ctr
San Diego, CA
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Va San Diego Healthcare System
San Diego, CA
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Grossmont Hospital
La Mesa, CA
Acute careGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Diego
San Diego, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Kaiser Foundation Hospital - San Marcos
San Marcos, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Scripps Memorial Hospital - Encinitas
Encinitas, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Scripps Mercy Hospital
San Diego, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center
Chula Vista, CA
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes
Sharp Coronado Hospital And Hlthcr Ctr
Coronado, CA
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes
Sharp Memorial Hospital
San Diego, CA
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Pharmacist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Oceanside, CA5 mi$78.78/hr170,941
Carlsbad, CA5 mi$78.78/hr113,575
Temecula, CA22 mi$77.23/hr112,431
Murrieta, CA27 mi$77.23/hr112,539
San Clemente, CA28 mi$76.18/hr62,627

Pharmacist jobs in California · Pharmacist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in California

PharmD from an accredited program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

California state guide

Other healthcare roles in Vista

Vista city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do pharmacists make in Vista, CA?

Pharmacists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad metro area have a median pay of $78.78 per hour, about $163,860 a year. The middle half earn between $73.05 and $94.19 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Vista a good place for pharmacists once cost of living is counted?

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad ranks 163rd of 340 metro areas for pharmacist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 17th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring pharmacists in Vista?

We list 21 open roles with published pay from 3 employers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Vista.

Do I need a California license to work in Vista as a pharmacist?

PharmD from an accredited program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Vista?

The federal per diem benchmark in Vista is $205 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,037 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place pharmacists in Vista?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Vista and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Vista.

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What do employers near Vista pay pharmacists? Get the report.

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    Pay for your role at other employers

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    What they are offering now

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · Pharmacist near Vista, CA
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Pharmacist pay reportVista, CA · pay published by employers, collected October 15, 2026

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare SystemSalinas, CA · 3 postings$99.69/ hr$78–$109
  • Kaweah Delta Health Care DistrictVisalia, CA · 3 postings$98.56/ hr$71–$118
  • Veterans Health AdministrationPalo Alto, CA · 2 postings$97.43/ hr$85–$110
  • Sharp HealthcareLa Mesa, CA · 6 postings$93.07/ hr$80–$114

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.

2What they are offering now

Low$71Median$92.12High$110

58 Pharmacist postings with published pay in California, 56 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 58 Pharmacist roles

  1. Pharmacist (Facility Program Manager - Pharmacy Benefits Manager)Permanent
    $177k–$228k/ year
    Veterans Health Administration · Palo Alto, CA · posted today
  2. Pharmacist Full TimePermanent
    $77.34–$108.26/ hour
    Trinity Health · California · posted today

+ 56 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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