Pharmacist Salary in St. Louis, MO
Pharmacists in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area earn a median $138,530 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $100,378 take-home, or $8,365 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacist salary in St. Louis, MO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$21,981
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,589
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,009
- Missouri income tax$5,574
- Take-home pay$100,378
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.70% state
Living in St. Louis? City residents also pay St. Louis’s Earnings Tax — about $1,385 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $98,992 ($8,249 a month). Choose “St. Louis” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The St. Louis, MO-IL metro spans Missouri, Illinois. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Pharmacist pay by experience in St. Louis, MO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $111,110 | $53.42 | $82,711 | $6,893 |
| 25th percentile | $129,760 | $62.38 | $94,796 | $7,900 |
| Median (50th) | $138,530 | $66.60 | $100,378 | $8,365 |
| 75th percentile | $159,630 | $76.75 | $113,808 | $9,484 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,840 | $80.21 | $118,397 | $9,866 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Missouri resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $138,530 buys in St. Louis, MO
Prices in St. Louis, MO are 4.9% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 21% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacist's $100,378 take-home pay has the buying power of $105,563 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 St. Louis, MO as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.05).
Best-paying cities for pharmacists, adjusted for cost of living
St. Louis, MO ranks #11 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 |
| 11 | St. Louis, MO | $138,530 | $100,378 | $105,563 |
*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 Missouri
- Kansas City, MO — $139,460
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacist make in St. Louis, MO?
The median pharmacist salary in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area is $138,530 a year, or about $66.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $129,760 and $159,630.
What is a pharmacist’s take-home pay in St. Louis, MO?
On the median $138,530 salary, a single filer living in Missouri takes home about $100,378 a year ($8,365 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,574 in Missouri taxes in 2026.
Is St. Louis, MO a good place to work as a pharmacist?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $140,910. Local prices are 4.9% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $105,563 would in a typical U.S. city. St. Louis, MO ranks #11 of 29 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacist afford rent in St. Louis, MO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in St. Louis, MO is $989 a month ($1,211 for two bedrooms) — 12% of a median pharmacist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in St. Louis, MO
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $131,580
- Physical Therapist — $100,600
- Registered Nurse — $83,180
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $65,120
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $61,830
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $47,570
- Pharmacy Technician — $45,220