Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the median salary for pharmacists working at ambulatory care facilities and hospitals has inched past what other work settings pay.
In July 2019, general merchandise stores led the pack with a median pharmacist salary totaling $131,460. Food and beverage stores followed second with $130,140, then hospitals (state, local and private) with $127,330, and retail pharmacies and drug stores with $124,760.
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a slight hike in median annual wages for all pharmacists, regardless of setting. Here's the current breakdown for each:
|
Work setting |
Median salary |
Percentage of pharmacists the work setting employs |
|
Ambulatory healthcare services |
$131,790 |
5 percent |
|
Hospitals (state, local, and private) |
$130,280 |
27 percent |
|
Food and beverage stores |
$128,190 |
8 percent |
|
Pharmacies and drug stores |
$127,820 |
40 percent |