Pharmacist Salary in Columbus, OH
Pharmacists in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $133,960 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $99,926 take-home, or $8,327 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacist salary in Columbus, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,884
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,306
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,942
- Ohio income tax$2,902
- Take-home pay$99,926
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Columbus? City residents also pay Columbus’s city income tax — about $3,349 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $96,577 ($8,048 a month). Choose “Columbus” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Pharmacist pay by experience in Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,450 | $24.25 | $42,112 | $3,509 |
| 25th percentile | $127,700 | $61.39 | $95,820 | $7,985 |
| Median (50th) | $133,960 | $64.40 | $99,926 | $8,327 |
| 75th percentile | $156,190 | $75.09 | $114,509 | $9,542 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,620 | $80.11 | $121,351 | $10,113 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $133,960 buys in Columbus, OH
Prices in Columbus, OH are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacist's $99,926 take-home pay has the buying power of $104,669 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Pharmacist jobs are about as common in Columbus, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for pharmacists, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, OH ranks #12 of 29 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlotte, NC | $150,580 | $108,688 | $111,649 |
| 2 | Cleveland, OH | $140,690 | $104,341 | $111,092 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $162,870 | $122,588 | $110,307 |
| 4 | Nashville, TN | $137,590 | $105,309 | $109,312 |
| 5 | Kansas City, MO | $139,460 | $100,970 | $109,106 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $140,200 | $104,020 | $109,069 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $140,470 | $107,277 | $108,768 |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $157,890 | $112,945 | $106,772 |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $133,960 | $99,926 | $104,669 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 29 metros →
About the job: pharmacists
Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use. May advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosage, interactions, and side effects of medications.
- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +5.2% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Pharmacist salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Cleveland, OH — $140,690
- Cincinnati, OH — $140,200
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacist make in Columbus, OH?
The median pharmacist salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $133,960 a year, or about $64.40 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $127,700 and $156,190.
What is a pharmacist’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $133,960 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $99,926 a year ($8,327 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,902 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, OH a good place to work as a pharmacist?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $140,910. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $104,669 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #12 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacist afford rent in Columbus, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, OH is $1,179 a month ($1,416 for two bedrooms) — 14% of a median pharmacist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, OH
- Physicians, All Other — $214,760
- Nurse Practitioner — $124,580
- Registered Nurse — $83,900
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $62,240
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $61,910
- Pharmacy Technician — $45,240