Pharmacist Salary in Riverside, CA
Pharmacists in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $161,870 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $108,976 take-home, or $9,081 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacist salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$27,583
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,036
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,347
- California income tax$10,824
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,104
- Take-home pay$108,976
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Pharmacist pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $103,810 | $49.91 | $75,086 | $6,257 |
| 25th percentile | $131,620 | $63.28 | $91,506 | $7,626 |
| Median (50th) | $161,870 | $77.82 | $108,976 | $9,081 |
| 75th percentile | $187,280 | $90.04 | $123,822 | $10,319 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $207,020 | $99.53 | $136,383 | $11,365 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $161,870 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacist's $108,976 take-home pay has the buying power of $102,380 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 Riverside, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for pharmacists, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #91 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 |
| 91 | Riverside, CA | $161,870 | $108,976 | $102,380 |
*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
- San Francisco, CA — $177,410
- San Diego, CA — $165,130
- Oxnard, CA — $160,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacist make in Riverside, CA?
The median pharmacist salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $161,870 a year, or about $77.82 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $131,620 and $187,280.
What is a pharmacist’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $161,870 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $108,976 a year ($9,081 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $12,929 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a pharmacist?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $140,910. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $102,380 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #91 of 120 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacist afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 20% of a median pharmacist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $169,920
- Physician Assistant — $165,490
- Veterinarian — $160,860
- Registered Nurse — $133,940
- Optometrist — $129,990
- Dentists, General — $125,230
- Physical Therapist — $120,110
- Occupational Therapist — $119,530
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $118,560
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $105,860