Pharmacist Salary in Denver, CO
Pharmacists in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $157,890 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $112,945 take-home, or $9,412 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$26,628
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,789
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,289
- Colorado income tax$6,239
- Take-home pay$112,945
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.40% state
Pharmacist pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $122,450 | $58.87 | $90,281 | $7,523 |
| 25th percentile | $137,550 | $66.13 | $99,938 | $8,328 |
| Median (50th) | $157,890 | $75.91 | $112,945 | $9,412 |
| 75th percentile | $169,230 | $81.36 | $120,197 | $10,016 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $188,490 | $90.62 | $132,761 | $11,063 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $157,890 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacist's $112,945 take-home pay has the buying power of $106,772 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 less concentrated in Denver, CO than nationally (location quotient 0.79), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for pharmacists, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #60 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 |
| 60 | Denver, CO | $157,890 | $112,945 | $106,772 |
*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 Denver, CO?
The median pharmacist salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $157,890 a year, or about $75.91 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $137,550 and $169,230.
What is a pharmacist’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $157,890 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $112,945 a year ($9,412 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,239 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a pharmacist?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $140,910. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $106,772 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #60 of 120 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacist afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 19% of a median pharmacist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Dentists, General — $168,620
- Optometrist — $158,130
- Veterinarian — $135,090
- Physician Assistant — $134,540
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,040
- Dental Hygienist — $113,760
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $112,090
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $108,410
- Occupational Therapist — $107,500
- Physical Therapist — $102,340