Pharmacist Salary in San Francisco, CA
Pharmacists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $177,410 a year — 26% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $117,950 take-home, or $9,829 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacist salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$31,312
- Social Security (6.2%)$10,999
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,572
- California income tax$12,270
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,306
- Take-home pay$117,950
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Pharmacist pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $135,580 | $65.18 | $93,793 | $7,816 |
| 25th percentile | $164,560 | $79.12 | $110,529 | $9,211 |
| Median (50th) | $177,410 | $85.29 | $117,950 | $9,829 |
| 75th percentile | $220,120 | $105.83 | $144,463 | $12,039 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $229,220 | $110.20 | $149,472 | $12,456 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $177,410 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacist's $117,950 take-home pay has the buying power of $102,021 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 San Francisco, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.75), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for pharmacists, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #94 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 |
| 94 | San Francisco, CA | $177,410 | $117,950 | $102,021 |
*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 Diego, CA — $165,130
- Oxnard, CA — $160,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacist make in San Francisco, CA?
The median pharmacist salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $177,410 a year, or about $85.29 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $164,560 and $220,120.
What is a pharmacist’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $177,410 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $117,950 a year ($9,829 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $14,576 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a pharmacist?
Pay here is 26% above the national median of $140,910. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $102,021 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #94 of 120 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacist afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 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 Francisco, CA
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $219,080
- Veterinarian — $208,080
- Pediatricians, General — $207,450
- Dentists, General — $202,060
- Registered Nurse — $186,610
- Physician Assistant — $184,380
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $160,270
- Dental Hygienist — $146,760
- Optometrist — $142,580