Pharmacist Salary in Chicago, IL
Pharmacists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $140,880 a year — 0% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $100,729 take-home, or $8,394 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacist salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$22,545
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,735
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,043
- Illinois income tax$6,829
- Take-home pay$100,729
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Pharmacist pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,950 | $40.84 | $64,532 | $5,378 |
| 25th percentile | $126,050 | $60.60 | $91,326 | $7,611 |
| Median (50th) | $140,880 | $67.73 | $100,729 | $8,394 |
| 75th percentile | $163,710 | $78.71 | $115,203 | $9,600 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $171,710 | $82.55 | $120,275 | $10,023 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $140,880 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacist's $100,729 take-home pay has the buying power of $97,233 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 Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for pharmacists, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #108 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 |
| 108 | Chicago, IL | $140,880 | $100,729 | $97,233 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 120 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacist make in Chicago, IL?
The median pharmacist salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $140,880 a year, or about $67.73 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $126,050 and $163,710.
What is a pharmacist’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $140,880 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $100,729 a year ($8,394 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,829 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a pharmacist?
Pay here is 0% below the national median of $140,910. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $97,233 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #108 of 120 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacist afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 18% of a median pharmacist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,200+
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Emergency Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $226,060
- Family Medicine Physician — $225,080
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist — $208,000
- Pediatricians, General — $188,340
- Dentists, General — $156,100
- Veterinarian — $148,730
- Optometrist — $145,630
- Nurse Practitioner — $131,740