Pharmacists pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $121,420 a year or less, while the top 10% make $179,230 or more. The middle half of pharmacists in Washington earn between $135,310 and $164,720.
- $121K10th
- $135K25th
- $151KMedian
- $165K75th
- $179K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $148,360 | $12,363 | $71.33 |
| Median | $150,540 | $12,545 | $72.38 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $135,310 | $11,276 | $65.05 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $164,720 | $13,727 | $79.19 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Pharmacists salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $148,360, a single filer in Washington takes home about $103,028 a year, or $8,586 a month and $3,963 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $106,764 | $8,897 |
| Working in MD | $105,672 | $8,806 |
| Working in VA | $104,953 | $8,746 |
| Working in DC | $103,028 | $8,586 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for pharmacists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $148,360 buys what about $136,255 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Pharmacists salary in nearby metro areas
- Hagerstown, MD$133,580
- Baltimore, MD$137,980
- Winchester, VA$136,130
- Lexington Park, MD$136,610
- Gettysburg, PA$133,450
- Chambersburg, PA$151,150
Highest-paying cities for pharmacists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($190,370).
- San Jose, CA$190,370
- Napa, CA$186,750
- San Francisco, CA$184,540
- Florence, SC$184,250
- Santa Rosa, CA$175,910
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Pharmacists salary in Washington: questions
How much do pharmacists make an hour in Washington?
$71.33 an hour on average, and $72.38 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level pharmacists salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $121,420 a year and the 25th percentile is $135,310, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the pharmacists take-home pay in Washington?
About $103,028 a year ($8,586 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $148,360.
Do pharmacists earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($141,264).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1051; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.4%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.81, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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