State comparison · 2025
Pharmacists salary: California vs Illinois
Pharmacists in California earn a median of $164,610. In Illinois, $139,080. After cost-of-living, the gap is 6.9% — not 18.4%.
Nominal pay gap
+18.4%
California vs Illinois
COL-adjusted gap
+6.9%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Pharmacists
- Median
- $164,610
- p25
- $138,360
- p75
- $197,860
- p10
- $90,560
- p90
- $213,820
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -70%
Illinois
Pharmacists
- Median
- $139,080
- p25
- $126,270
- p75
- $162,280
- p10
- $98,970
- p90
- $169,430
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 100.0
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -25%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.