Pharmacist Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Pharmacists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $157,440 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $106,417 take-home, or $8,868 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacist salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$26,520
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,761
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,283
- California income tax$10,412
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,047
- Take-home pay$106,417
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Pharmacist pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,800 | $30.19 | $50,006 | $4,167 |
| 25th percentile | $133,030 | $63.96 | $92,320 | $7,693 |
| Median (50th) | $157,440 | $75.69 | $106,417 | $8,868 |
| 75th percentile | $183,690 | $88.31 | $121,577 | $10,131 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $209,060 | $100.51 | $137,669 | $11,472 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $157,440 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacist's $106,417 take-home pay has the buying power of $93,705 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 Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for pharmacists, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #26 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 |
| 26 | Los Angeles, CA | $157,440 | $106,417 | $93,705 |
*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 California
- Riverside, CA — $161,870
- San Francisco, CA — $177,410
- San Diego, CA — $165,130
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacist make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median pharmacist salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $157,440 a year, or about $75.69 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $133,030 and $183,690.
What is a pharmacist’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $157,440 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $106,417 a year ($8,868 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $12,459 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a pharmacist?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $140,910. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $93,705 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #26 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacist afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median pharmacist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
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- Nurse Practitioner — $161,470
- Veterinarian — $160,080
- Dentists, General — $139,990
- Optometrist — $138,940
- Registered Nurse — $135,560
- Dental Hygienist — $122,980
- Occupational Therapist — $122,040
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $119,430
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $109,740