Pharmacists pay range in San Jose
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $151,900 a year or less, while the top 10% make $234,080 or more. The middle half of pharmacists in San Jose earn between $158,280 and $224,830.
- $152K10th
- $158K25th
- $199KMedian
- $225K75th
- $234K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $190,370 | $15,864 | $91.52 |
| Median | $199,040 | $16,587 | $95.69 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $158,280 | $13,190 | $76.10 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $224,830 | $18,736 | $108.09 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Pharmacists pay in San Jose vs. California and the U.S.
Pharmacists in San Jose earn 17% more than the California average ($162,340) and 35% more than the U.S. average ($140,920). At the median the gap is +41% against the U.S. median of $140,910.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose | $190,370 | $199,040 | $151,900 | $234,080 | 1,960 |
| 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 Jose
On the average salary of $190,370, a single filer in San Jose takes home about $128,135 a year, or $10,678 a month and $4,928 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 Jose a good place for pharmacists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Jose area are 10% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 110.4), so the average $190,370 buys what about $172,401 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.4 times the median wage of all jobs in San Jose ($84,050). A typical home costs $1,610,466, or 8.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Pharmacists salary in other California cities
San Jose ranks 1st of 25 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- 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 Jose: questions
How much do pharmacists make an hour in San Jose?
$91.53 an hour on average, and $95.69 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level pharmacists salary in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $151,900 a year and the 25th percentile is $158,280, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the pharmacists take-home pay in San Jose?
About $128,135 a year ($10,678 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $190,370. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do pharmacists earn more in San Jose than elsewhere?
The average here is 35% 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA (41940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- 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 0.83, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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