Pharmacist Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Pharmacists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $157,440 a year — 12% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $106,417 take-home, or $8,868 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacist salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$26,520
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,761
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,283
- California income tax$10,412
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,047
- Take-home pay$106,417
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Pharmacist pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,800 | $30.19 | $50,006 | $4,167 |
| 25th percentile | $133,030 | $63.96 | $92,320 | $7,693 |
| Median (50th) | $157,440 | $75.69 | $106,417 | $8,868 |
| 75th percentile | $183,690 | $88.31 | $121,577 | $10,131 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $209,060 | $100.51 | $137,669 | $11,472 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $157,440 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacist's $106,417 take-home pay has the buying power of $93,705 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 Los Angeles, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for pharmacists, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #115 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 |
| 115 | Los Angeles, CA | $157,440 | $106,417 | $93,705 |
*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 California
- San Jose, CA — $199,040
- Fresno, CA — $169,160
- Bakersfield, CA — $161,930
- Sacramento, CA — $172,680
- Stockton, CA — $162,440
- Riverside, CA — $161,870
- San Francisco, CA — $177,410
- San Diego, CA — $165,130
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacist make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median pharmacist salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $157,440 a year, or about $75.69 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $133,030 and $183,690.
What is a pharmacist’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $157,440 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $106,417 a year ($8,868 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $12,459 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a pharmacist?
Pay here is 12% above the national median of $140,910. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $93,705 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #115 of 120 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacist afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median pharmacist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $196,760
- Pediatricians, General — $176,900
- Radiation Therapist — $169,150
- Physician Assistant — $161,890
- Nurse Practitioner — $161,470
- Veterinarian — $160,080
- Nuclear Medicine Technologist — $156,410
- Dentists, General — $139,990
- Optometrist — $138,940
- Registered Nurse — $135,560
- Audiologist — $128,110