Salary distribution
Where California pharmacists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $137,540 and $197,000, with a median of $165,150.
Pharmacists in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 40 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $158,569. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 8 | $135,138 |
| Level II — qualified | 11 | $148,970 |
| Level III — experienced | 16 | $165,329 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Pharmacists in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVS Rx Services Inc. | CA Pharmacy Manager | 15 | $153,920 |
| Safeway Inc. | Graduate Pharmacist Intern | 4 | $148,398 |
| SAI BEAR CREEK PHARMACY LLC | Pharmacist In charge | 2 | $161,598 |
| Walgreen Co. | Pharmacy Manager | 2 | $154,128 |
| Sutter Bay Hospitals | Inpatient Clinical Pharmacist III | 2 | $181,438 |
| Reliance Imperial Pharmacy LLC | Pharmacist In Charge | 2 | $156,000 |
| Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System | Pharmacist - Medication Safety Officer | 1 | $175,000 |
| BJRX PHARMACY LTC, INC. | Pharmacist | 1 | $135,200 |
| Albertsons LLC | Pharmacy Manager | 1 | $163,176 |
| The Vons Companies, Inc. | Graduate Pharmacist Intern | 1 | $73,840 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Pharmacist - Medication Safety Officer at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System$175,000SalinasWage Level IIIDecided Sep 5, 2025I-200-25240-273408
- Pharmacist In charge at SAI BEAR CREEK PHARMACY LLC$161,598WILDOMARWage Level IIIDecided Jul 2, 2025I-200-25176-126637
- Pharmacy Manager at Walgreen Co.$157,040LancasterWage Level IIDecided Jun 16, 2025I-200-25160-071183
- Staff Pharmacist at Safeway Inc.$161,720SalinasWage Level IIDecided Jun 16, 2025I-200-25161-071895
- Inpatient Clinical Pharmacist III at Sutter Bay Hospitals$181,438Santa RosaDecided Jun 13, 2025I-200-25157-064292
- Inpatient Clinical Pharmacist III at Sutter Bay Hospitals$181,438Santa RosaDecided Jun 13, 2025I-200-25157-064280
- CA Pharmacy Manager at CVS Rx Services Inc.$177,216ROHNERT PARKWage Level IIIDecided Jun 6, 2025I-200-25150-036924
- Pharmacist at Walgreen Co.$151,216Santa MariaWage Level IDecided Jun 2, 2025I-200-25144-015828
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Pharmacists pay by experience level in California
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Pharmacists specialties in California
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 33 certified offers. The most common variant is CA Pharmacy Manager at a median of $165,381.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA Pharmacy Manager | CVS Rx Services Inc. | 7 | $165,381 |
| Pharmacist In charge | SAI BEAR CREEK PHARMACY LLC | 5 | $160,098 |
| Pharmacist | Safeway Inc. | 5 | $151,216 |
| Pharmacy Manager | Walgreen Co. | 4 | $169,988 |
| Inpatient Clinical Pharmacist | Sutter Bay Hospitals | 3 | $181,438 |
| Graduate Pharmacist Intern | Safeway Inc. | 3 | $119,787 |
| CA Staff Pharmacist FT | CVS Rx Services Inc. | 3 | $141,440 |
| CA Staff Pharmacist | CVS Rx Services Inc. | 3 | $135,200 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Pharmacists in California, by industry
Median offered wage across 40 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Retail and wholesale leads with a median of $153,920.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail and wholesale | CVS Rx Services Inc. | 27 | $153,920 |
| Healthcare | Sutter Bay Hospitals | 7 | $175,000 |
| Finance and insurance | CVS Rx Services Inc. | 5 | $163,176 |
| Professional services | Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope | 1 | $156,036 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in California over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.2 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.2 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Oral Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Chemistry
Knowledge
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Review prescriptions to assure accuracy, to ascertain the needed ingredients, and to evaluate their suitability.
- 02
Assess the identity, strength, or purity of medications.
- 03
Provide information and advice regarding drug interactions, side effects, dosage, and proper medication storage.
- 04
Analyze prescribing trends to monitor patient compliance and to prevent excessive usage or harmful interactions.
- 05
Maintain records, such as pharmacy files, patient profiles, charge system files, inventories, control records for radioactive nuclei, or registries of poisons, narcotics, or controlled drugs.
- 06
Collaborate with other health care professionals to plan, monitor, review, or evaluate the quality or effectiveness of drugs or drug regimens, providing advice on drug applications or characteristics.
- 07
Plan, implement, or maintain procedures for mixing, packaging, or labeling pharmaceuticals, according to policy and legal requirements, to ensure quality, security, and proper disposal.
- 08
Order and purchase pharmaceutical supplies, medical supplies, or drugs, maintaining stock and storing and handling it properly.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.6%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for pharmacists in major California metropolitan areas.
- San Jose$196,250
- San Francisco$183,510
- Sacramento$173,510
- San Diego$163,860
- Riverside$160,640
- Los Angeles$158,450
Compare Pharmacists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Pharmacists in California?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Pharmacists in California is $165,150.
- How does California compare to the national median for Pharmacists?
- The California median is +17.9% versus the BLS national figure of $140,121.
- What is the salary range for Pharmacists in California?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $87,170 and the 90th-percentile at $208,070, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Pharmacists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.6% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Pharmacists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.