SOC 29-1051.00Bright outlook

    Pharmacists

    Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use.

    Median pay
    $140,910
    Growth
    +5.2%
    Faster than average
    Openings a year
    12,500
    Typical education
    Doctoral or professional degree

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $99,290
    Median
    $140,910
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $174,230
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    321,970 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Pharmacists dispense prescribed medications and advise patients and healthcare providers on drug use, dosage, and side effects. This profession offers a median annual pay of $140,910, with employment opportunities projected to grow faster than average.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What pharmacists do

    Job Zone 5: Extensive preparation

    Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use. May advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosage, interactions, and side effects of medications.

    Most need a graduate degree, such as a master's, PhD, MD or JD.

    What the work is like

    Pharmacists work in an investigative environment where they dispense medications prescribed by doctors and other healthcare professionals. On a daily basis, these professionals gather information, solve complex problems, and make critical decisions regarding drug safety and interactions. They evaluate information to ensure compliance with standards, document records, and use computers to process information. A major part of the job involves assisting and caring for others by providing consultation and advice on how to use medications safely.

    To perform this work successfully, pharmacists rely on strong skills in active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, and critical thinking. They must monitor patient details, show social perceptiveness, and manage their time effectively. Key knowledge areas for this field include medicine, biology, chemistry, mathematics, and the English language. Pharmacists also need a solid understanding of customer service, therapy, and relevant laws. Because accuracy is vital, workers must demonstrate high levels of attention to detail, dependability, integrity, and cautiousness. They must also maintain cooperation, empathy, and self-control when dealing with patients and colleagues in high-stress environments.

    How to get there

    Entering this career requires extensive preparation. Most individuals in this field need a graduate degree, and the typical education required to enter the profession is a doctoral or professional degree. Students preparing for this career path generally major in pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, and administration.

    In addition to completing an advanced degree, aspiring professionals must navigate specific credentialing. The North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination, administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, is the primary certification associated with this field. Furthermore, some states list a license for this work, which candidates must obtain to practice legally in those jurisdictions. Related careers that require similar medical and clinical preparation include nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and various types of physicians.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for pharmacists was $140,910. Earnings vary based on experience and setting, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $99,290 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $174,230.

    There were 321,970 people employed in this occupation. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 5.2 percent, which is faster than the average for all occupations. This growth, combined with retirement and career transitions, is expected to result in approximately 12,500 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R)
    30 / 100
    Investigative (I) · strongest
    78 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    8 / 100
    Social (S)
    65 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    27 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    59 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code ISC. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Getting Information
    91
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    89
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    89
    Assisting and Caring for Others
    88
    Documenting/Recording Information
    86
    Working with Computers
    86
    Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
    84
    Providing Consultation and Advice to Others
    84
    Processing Information
    83
    Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
    82
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Active Listening
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Speaking
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Critical Thinking
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Monitoring
    • Service Orientation
    • Social Perceptiveness
    • Time Management

    Knowledge

    • Medicine and Dentistry
    • English Language
    • Biology
    • Mathematics
    • Chemistry
    • Education and Training
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Law and Government
    • Therapy and Counseling
    • Administrative

    Abilities

    • Oral Comprehension
    • Written Comprehension
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Inductive Reasoning
    • Near Vision
    • Oral Expression
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Written Expression
    • Category Flexibility
    • Information Ordering

    Work styles

    • Attention to Detail
    • Dependability
    • Integrity
    • Cautiousness
    • Cooperation
    • Intellectual Curiosity
    • Self-Control
    • Empathy
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Achievement Orientation

    Also called

    Apothecary · Clinical Pharmacist · Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (CPS) · Community Pharmacist · Druggist · Floater Pharmacist · Hospital Pharmacist · Industrial Pharmacist · Inpatient Pharmacist · Outpatient Pharmacist

    Career pathway

    From your interests to pharmacists

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Pharmacists$140,910 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1Northeastern University logo
      Northeastern University

      Boston, MA · Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $142,985
      Median debt
      $21,908
    2. 2Long Island University logo
      Long Island University

      Brookville, NY · Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $136,840
      Median debt
      Not reported
    3. 3University of Louisiana at Monroe logo
      University of Louisiana at Monroe

      Monroe, LA · Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $134,329
      Median debt
      $13,980
    4. 4University of Hawaii at Hilo logo
      University of Hawaii at Hilo

      Hilo, HI · Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $80,004
      4 yrs after
      $131,134
      Median debt
      Not reported
    5. 5Western New England University logo
      Western New England University

      Springfield, MA · Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $129,138
      Median debt
      $19,500
    6. 6University of Kansas logo
      University of Kansas

      Lawrence, KS · Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $125,384
      Median debt
      $12,577
    7. 7North Dakota State University-Main Campus logo
      North Dakota State University-Main Campus

      Fargo, ND · Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      Not reported
      4 yrs after
      $125,175
      Median debt
      $13,000
    8. 8Saint Joseph's University logo
      Saint Joseph's University

      Philadelphia, PA · Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $60,086
      4 yrs after
      $122,633
      Median debt
      $26,500

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What pharmacists may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work. Showing 12 of 35.

    • Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program
    • Cardiology Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program
    • Clinical Pharmacogenomics Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program
    • Clinical, Hospital, and Managed Care Pharmacy
    • Combined Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program
    • Community/Community-Based Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program
    • Corporate Pharmacy Leadership Residency/Fellowship Program
    • Critical Care Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program
    • Drug Information Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program
    • Emergency Medicine Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program
    • Family Medicine Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program
    • Geriatric Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Program

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    53 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about pharmacists

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What is the typical education needed to become a pharmacist?

    To enter this profession, individuals typically need a doctoral or professional degree. Most workers in this field hold a graduate degree, such as a pharmacy degree, after studying relevant college majors like pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences.

    What are the licensing and certification requirements for this career?

    Candidates typically take the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination through the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. Additionally, some states list a license for this work, which must be obtained to practice.

    How much do pharmacists earn?

    The median annual pay for these professionals was $140,910 in 2025. The lowest 10 percent of earners made less than $99,290, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $174,230.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.