Pharmacist Salary in San Diego, CA
Pharmacists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $165,130 a year — 17% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $110,858 take-home, or $9,238 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$28,365
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,238
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,394
- California income tax$11,128
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,147
- Take-home pay$110,858
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Pharmacist pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $131,400 | $63.17 | $91,379 | $7,615 |
| 25th percentile | $154,000 | $74.04 | $104,431 | $8,703 |
| Median (50th) | $165,130 | $79.39 | $110,858 | $9,238 |
| 75th percentile | $201,750 | $97.00 | $133,060 | $11,088 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $214,480 | $103.12 | $141,086 | $11,757 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $165,130 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacist's $110,858 take-home pay has the buying power of $99,080 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 San Diego, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.89).
Best-paying cities for pharmacists, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #105 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 |
| 105 | San Diego, CA | $165,130 | $110,858 | $99,080 |
*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
- Oxnard, CA — $160,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacist make in San Diego, CA?
The median pharmacist salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $165,130 a year, or about $79.39 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $154,000 and $201,750.
What is a pharmacist’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $165,130 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $110,858 a year ($9,238 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $13,274 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a pharmacist?
Pay here is 17% above the national median of $140,910. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $99,080 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #105 of 120 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacist afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median pharmacist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Diego, CA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Pediatricians, General — $239,200+
- Physician Assistant — $165,160
- Nurse Practitioner — $163,860
- Veterinarian — $159,750
- Dentists, General — $158,160
- Registered Nurse — $139,520
- Optometrist — $133,280
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $129,630
- Dental Hygienist — $123,790
- Occupational Therapist — $121,680