Pharmacist Salary in Boston, MA
Pharmacists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $139,660 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $99,961 take-home, or $8,330 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacist salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$22,252
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,659
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,025
- Massachusetts income tax$6,763
- Take-home pay$99,961
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Pharmacist pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $127,550 | $61.32 | $92,289 | $7,691 |
| 25th percentile | $134,840 | $64.83 | $96,907 | $8,076 |
| Median (50th) | $139,660 | $67.14 | $99,961 | $8,330 |
| 75th percentile | $158,770 | $76.33 | $112,067 | $9,339 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $168,390 | $80.96 | $118,161 | $9,847 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $139,660 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacist's $99,961 take-home pay has the buying power of $92,329 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 Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for pharmacists, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #117 of 120 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochester, MN | $164,250 | $113,470 | $124,938 |
| 2 | Sioux Falls, SD | $148,330 | $112,650 | $124,295 |
| 3 | McAllen, TX | $137,700 | $105,384 | $122,689 |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | $150,500 | $114,133 | $120,500 |
| 5 | Shreveport, LA | $137,970 | $101,816 | $120,114 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $199,040 | $131,343 | $118,945 |
| 7 | Spartanburg, SC | $153,610 | $108,199 | $118,833 |
| 8 | Fargo, ND | $142,040 | $106,840 | $117,573 |
| 117 | Boston, MA | $139,660 | $99,961 | $92,329 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 120 metros →
Pharmacist salaries elsewhere in Massachusetts
- Worcester, MA — $132,930
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacist make in Boston, MA?
The median pharmacist salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $139,660 a year, or about $67.14 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $134,840 and $158,770.
What is a pharmacist’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $139,660 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $99,961 a year ($8,330 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,763 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a pharmacist?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $140,910. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $92,329 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #117 of 120 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacist afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 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 Boston, MA
- Surgeons, All Other — $239,200+
- Emergency Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,200+
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist — $235,460
- Physicians, All Other — $229,870
- Pediatricians, General — $221,170
- Dentists, General — $181,150
- Optometrist — $154,970
- Nurse Practitioner — $147,480
- Physician Assistant — $142,410