Pharmacist Salary in Sacramento, CA
Pharmacists in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area earn a median $172,680 a year — 23% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $115,218 take-home, or $9,602 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacist salary in Sacramento, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$30,177
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,706
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,504
- California income tax$11,830
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,245
- Take-home pay$115,218
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Pharmacist pay by experience in Sacramento, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $104,420 | $50.20 | $75,451 | $6,288 |
| 25th percentile | $156,420 | $75.20 | $105,828 | $8,819 |
| Median (50th) | $172,680 | $83.02 | $115,218 | $9,602 |
| 75th percentile | $202,560 | $97.38 | $133,571 | $11,131 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,820 | $102.80 | $140,670 | $11,723 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $172,680 buys in Sacramento, CA
Prices in Sacramento, CA are 6.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.30× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacist's $115,218 take-home pay has the buying power of $108,014 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 Sacramento, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for pharmacists, adjusted for cost of living
Sacramento, CA ranks #55 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 |
| 55 | Sacramento, CA | $172,680 | $115,218 | $108,014 |
*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
- Stockton, CA — $162,440
- Riverside, CA — $161,870
- San Francisco, CA — $177,410
- San Diego, CA — $165,130
- Oxnard, CA — $160,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacist make in Sacramento, CA?
The median pharmacist salary in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area is $172,680 a year, or about $83.02 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $156,420 and $202,560.
What is a pharmacist’s take-home pay in Sacramento, CA?
On the median $172,680 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $115,218 a year ($9,602 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $14,074 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Sacramento, CA a good place to work as a pharmacist?
Pay here is 23% above the national median of $140,910. Local prices are 6.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $108,014 would in a typical U.S. city. Sacramento, CA ranks #55 of 120 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacist afford rent in Sacramento, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Sacramento, CA is $1,812 a month ($2,241 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 Sacramento, CA
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $172,010
- Registered Nurse — $171,460
- Dentists, General — $170,500
- Veterinarian — $165,260
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $163,220
- Physician Assistant — $161,470
- Optometrist — $139,020
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $135,880
- Respiratory Therapist — $134,430
- Physical Therapist — $131,430