Pharmacists pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $135,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $229,220 or more. The middle half of pharmacists in San Francisco earn between $164,560 and $220,120.
- $136K10th
- $165K25th
- $177KMedian
- $220K75th
- $229K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $184,540 | $15,378 | $88.72 |
| Median | $177,410 | $14,784 | $85.29 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $164,560 | $13,713 | $79.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $220,120 | $18,343 | $105.83 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Pharmacists pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Pharmacists in San Francisco earn 14% more than the California average ($162,340) and 31% more than the U.S. average ($140,920). At the median the gap is +26% against the U.S. median of $140,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $184,540 | $177,410 | $135,580 | $229,220 | 3,670 |
| California | $162,340 | $164,610 | $90,560 | $213,820 | 34,030 |
| United States | $140,920 | $140,910 | $99,290 | $174,230 | 321,970 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Pharmacists salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $184,540, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $124,331 a year, or $10,361 a month and $4,782 every two weeks. Taxes take 33% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for pharmacists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $184,540 buys what about $159,619 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.4 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Pharmacists salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 3rd of 25 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($190,370).
- San Jose$190,370
- Napa$186,750
- San Francisco$184,540
- Santa Rosa$175,910
- Sacramento$169,660
- Vallejo$169,600
- San Luis Obispo$168,490
- San Diego$167,490
- Salinas$164,590
- Fresno$163,710
Highest-paying cities for pharmacists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($190,370).
- San Jose, CA$190,370
- Napa, CA$186,750
- San Francisco, CA$184,540
- Florence, SC$184,250
- Santa Rosa, CA$175,910
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Pharmacists salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do pharmacists make an hour in San Francisco?
$88.72 an hour on average, and $85.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level pharmacists salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $135,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $164,560, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the pharmacists take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $124,331 a year ($10,361 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $184,540. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do pharmacists earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 31% more than the U.S. average for this job ($140,920).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 29-1051; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.75, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.75).
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