Pharmacist jobs in Portland, ME
Pay for pharmacists in the Portland area centers on $65.14 per hour, or about $135,500 a year. The lower quarter earns under $62.54 and the upper quarter over $77.02. That ranks 178th of 383 U.S. metro areas for pharmacist pay, and 320th of 340 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 2 hospitals in Portland. The free report below lists employers near Portland and what they pay.
- $65.14median pay per hour, Portland
- $63–$77typical range per hour
- 570pharmacists employed in the metro area
- 102cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Pharmacist pay in Portland, ME
The metro median is 1% below the Maine statewide median of $65.85 per hour. Nationally the median is $66.10 per hour. BLS counts about 570 pharmacists employed in the Portland-South Portland metro area, 2.0 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.94).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $40.98 | $85,240 | 38% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $62.54 | $130,080 | 5% below U.S. median |
| Median | $65.14 | $135,500 | 1% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $77.02 | $160,200 | 17% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $80.43 | $167,290 | 22% above U.S. median |
How Portland ranks
- 178th of 383 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 320th of 340 after adjusting for local prices
- 3rd of 3 Maine 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 Portland
- Overall prices in Portland-South Portland run 2% above the U.S. average (index 101.9, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 5% above the U.S. average (index 105.2).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $65.14 median hour buys what $63.95 buys at the national price level, 3% below 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.
Get the Portland Pharmacist pay report
Named employers near Portland, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Portland paycheck
- Per year: $117,252
- Per month: $9,771
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Portland-South Portland metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Portland
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $152 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,624 |
| 13-week assignment | $21,112 |
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 Portland
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Portland, 2 of the 2 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of pharmacists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainehealth Maine Medical Center Portland, ME | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Northern Light Mercy Hospital Portland, ME | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Pharmacist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haverhill, MA | 74 mi | $65.77/hr | 68,291 |
| Manchester, NH | 78 mi | $66.13/hr | 116,386 |
| Lawrence, MA | 81 mi | $65.77/hr | 89,332 |
| Peabody, MA | 86 mi | $65.77/hr | 55,418 |
| Lynn, MA | 89 mi | $65.77/hr | 103,489 |
| Lowell, MA | 89 mi | $65.77/hr | 120,418 |
License and tax basics in Maine
PharmD from an accredited program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Maine requires for your role with the Maine licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Maine taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Portland
Portland city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do pharmacists make in Portland, ME?
Pharmacists in the Portland-South Portland metro area have a median pay of $65.14 per hour, about $135,500 a year. The middle half earn between $62.54 and $77.02 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Portland a good place for pharmacists once cost of living is counted?
Portland-South Portland ranks 320th of 340 metro areas for pharmacist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 178th of 383 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% above the U.S. average.
Where do pharmacists work in Portland?
CMS lists 2 hospitals in Portland, led by Mainehealth Maine Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a Maine license to work in Portland as a pharmacist?
PharmD from an accredited program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Maine requires for your role with the Maine 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 Portland?
The federal per diem benchmark in Portland is $152 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,624 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place pharmacists in Portland?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Portland and across Maine. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Portland.
What do employers near Portland pay pharmacists? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other employers
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
Get your free pay report
20+ Pharmacist roles in Maine, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Your Pharmacist pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Maine list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- MaineHealthPortland, ME · 1 wage offer$66.29/ hr$59–$73
- Shaw’s Supermarkets Inc.Saco, ME · 1 wage offer$68.60/ hr$69–$69
- 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
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your Maine list
2What they are offering now
332 Pharmacist postings with published pay in the US, 282 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open Pharmacist roles
Open Pharmacist roles near Portland, ME, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.