Pharmacist Salary in San Diego, CA
Pharmacists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $165,130 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $110,858 take-home, or $9,238 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacist salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$28,365
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,238
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,394
- California income tax$11,128
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,147
- Take-home pay$110,858
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 San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $131,400 | $63.17 | $91,379 | $7,615 |
| 25th percentile | $154,000 | $74.04 | $104,431 | $8,703 |
| Median (50th) | $165,130 | $79.39 | $110,858 | $9,238 |
| 75th percentile | $201,750 | $97.00 | $133,060 | $11,088 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $214,480 | $103.12 | $141,086 | $11,757 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $165,130 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacist's $110,858 take-home pay has the buying power of $99,080 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 San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.89).
Best-paying cities for pharmacists, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #22 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 |
| 22 | San Diego, CA | $165,130 | $110,858 | $99,080 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $157,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacist make in San Diego, CA?
The median pharmacist salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $165,130 a year, or about $79.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $154,000 and $201,750.
What is a pharmacist’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $165,130 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $110,858 a year ($9,238 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $13,274 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a pharmacist?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $140,910. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $99,080 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #22 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacist afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median pharmacist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Registered Nurse — $139,520
- Physical Therapist — $113,850
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $79,720
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $63,770
- Pharmacy Technician — $54,500