Pharmacist salary in California
Pharmacists in California earn a median of $79.40 per hour, about $165,150 a year, 20% above the U.S. median of $66.10. The middle half earn between $66.13 and $94.71 per hour. The highest median among California metro areas is in Napa, CA, at $98.05 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $79.40median pay per hour
- $165,150median pay per year
- 34,490pharmacists employed in California
- #1of 50 states by median pay
Pharmacist pay in California: percentiles
| Level | California per hour | California per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $41.91 | $87,170 | $41.80 |
| Lower quartile | $66.13 | $137,550 | $61.18 |
| Median | $79.40 | $165,150 | $66.10 |
| Upper quartile | $94.71 | $197,000 | $76.26 |
| Top 10% | $100.04 | $208,080 | $82.71 |
Pharmacist pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs California median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $98.05 | $203,950 | 160 | 23% above | $87.11 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $94.35 | $196,250 | 1,950 | 19% above | $85.44 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $88.23 | $183,510 | 4,230 | 11% above | $76.31 |
| Vallejo, CA | $85.35 | $177,530 | 320 | 7% above | $78.68 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $84.04 | $174,810 | 320 | 6% above | $77.97 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $83.42 | $173,510 | 2,320 | 5% above | $78.20 |
| Chico, CA | $82.31 | $171,200 | 160 | 4% above | $81.34 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $81.96 | $170,480 | 230 | 3% above | $75.47 |
| Salinas, CA | $81.27 | $169,050 | 260 | 2% above | $74.53 |
| Modesto, CA | $80.17 | $166,760 | 360 | 1% above | $77.01 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $79.72 | $165,810 | 260 | in line with | $73.27 |
| Visalia, CA | $79.25 | $164,840 | 270 | in line with | $79.39 |
| Fresno, CA | $79.09 | $164,520 | 930 | in line with | $77.42 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $78.78 | $163,860 | 2,820 | 1% below | $70.41 |
| Redding, CA | $78.74 | $163,770 | 140 | 1% below | $78.21 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $78.19 | $162,630 | 150 | 2% below | $71.15 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $78.05 | $162,340 | 650 | 2% below | $77.36 |
| El Centro, CA | $77.68 | $161,570 | 80 | 2% below | — |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $77.23 | $160,640 | 3,800 | 3% below | $72.56 |
| Yuba City, CA | $76.78 | $159,710 | 120 | 3% below | $73.66 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $76.70 | $159,530 | 90 | 3% below | $75.48 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $76.46 | $159,030 | 660 | 4% below | $69.17 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $76.18 | $158,450 | 12,390 | 4% below | $67.08 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $75.98 | $158,030 | 510 | 4% below | $72.30 |
| Merced, CA | $73.60 | $153,090 | 100 | 7% below | $74.89 |
Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).
Pharmacist pay in states next to California
What employers are posting in California
- 58roles with published pay
- $92.12median pay per hour
- $71–$110typical published range
- 19employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp HealthCare | 13 | $92.12 |
| CommonSpirit Health | 10 | $90.26 |
| Sharp Healthcare | 6 | $93.07 |
| Central Maine Healthcare Corporation | 4 | $71.15 |
| BrightSpring Health Services | 3 | $67.50 |
| Kaweah Delta Health Care District | 3 | $98.56 |
| Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System | 3 | $99.69 |
| Veterans Health Administration | 2 | $97.43 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 58 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.
Pharmacist jobs in California · Pharmacist salary nationwide · California state guide
Common questions
How much does a pharmacist make in California?
The median is $79.40 per hour, about $165,150 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $41.91 and the top 10% earn over $100.04 (BLS, May 2024).
Which California city pays pharmacists the most?
Among California metro areas, Napa, CA has the highest median at $98.05 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does California rank for pharmacist pay?
California ranks 1st of 50 states by median pharmacist pay.
Is this the same as the pay in job postings?
No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.
What do employers near you pay pharmacists? Get the report.
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- 1Pay for your role at other employers
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
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Your Pharmacist pay reportCalifornia · 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
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
- Pharmacist (Facility Program Manager - Pharmacy Benefits Manager)Permanent$177k–$228k/ year
- Pharmacist Full TimePermanent$77.34–$108.26/ hour
+ 56 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.