Salaries › Pharmacist › California
Pharmacist Salary in California (2026)
$79.14 per hour · take-home ≈ $112,545/year ($9,379/month) for a single filer
Pharmacist pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $90,560 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $138,360 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $164,610 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $197,860 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $213,820 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 34,030 Pharmacist jobs in California (occupation code 29-1051, “Pharmacists”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Pharmacist salary of $164,610 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $112,545 — an effective tax rate of 31.6%.
| Gross (median) | $164,610 |
| Federal income tax | −$28,240 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$12,593 |
| California state income tax | −$11,232 |
| Take-home (annual) | $112,545 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $9,379 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Pharmacist make in California?
- The median Pharmacist salary in California is $164,610 per year ($79.14 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $138,360 and $197,860.
- What is the take-home pay for a Pharmacist in California?
- On the median salary of $164,610, a single filer in California takes home about $112,545 per year ($9,379 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 31.6%.
- How many Pharmacist jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 34,030 Pharmacist jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Pharmacists
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.