Pharmacist salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Pharmacists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $150,540 a year ($72.38 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,260 workers.
Pay ranges from $121,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $179,230 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $140,910. Pay here is 2% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $153,400. There are 1.7 pharmacists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $148,360, close to the median.
Pay range for pharmacists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $121,420 | $58.38 |
| 25th percentile | $135,310 | $65.05 |
| Median | $150,540 | $72.38 |
| 75th percentile | $164,720 | $79.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $179,230 | $86.17 |
| Average (mean) | $148,360 | $71.33 |
Half of pharmacists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $12,545 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,272.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,790 |
| Weekly | $2,895 |
| Hourly | $72.38 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $150,540 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Pharmacist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $148,740 | 6,460 |
| Richmond, VA | $144,940 | 1,350 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $144,090 | 190 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $142,220 | 320 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $138,110 | 2,730 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $138,030 | 110 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $136,970 | 240 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $136,280 | 1,470 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $136,150 | 130 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $135,850 | 150 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $134,370 | 450 |
| Roanoke, VA | $133,980 | 360 |
| Salisbury, MD | $133,480 | 130 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $133,340 | 120 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $133,270 | 370 |
| Beckley, WV | $133,250 | 150 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $133,030 | 150 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $131,740 | 170 |
| Charleston, WV | $131,660 | 340 |
| Morgantown, WV | $130,710 | 300 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $130,310 | 100 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $129,630 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for pharmacists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $167,310 |
| Oregon | $165,960 |
| California | $164,610 |
| Hawaii | $163,220 |
| Washington | $160,610 |
| Minnesota | $159,740 |
| Colorado | $156,030 |
| District of Columbia | $153,400 |
| Delaware | $152,880 |
| Wisconsin | $148,740 |
See Pharmacist pay in every state or the District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $102,710 | $49.38 |
| Physicians, All Other | $208,710 | $100.34 |
| Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other | $166,230 | $79.92 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,980 | $49.51 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $134,840 | $64.83 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $99,960 | $48.06 |
| Dentists, General | $184,540 | $88.72 |
| Physician Assistant | $148,200 | $71.25 |
| Occupational Therapist | $102,960 | $49.50 |
| Dental Hygienist | $119,170 | $57.30 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $101,990 | $49.03 |
| Veterinarian | $154,350 | $74.21 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $225,140 | $108.24 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $223,250 | $107.33 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacist make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for pharmacists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $150,540 a year, or $72.38 an hour. Pay ranges from $121,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $179,230 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pharmacists make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of pharmacists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $179,230 a year. The top 25% earn $164,720 or more.
What is the starting pay for pharmacists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $121,420 a year, and a quarter of pharmacists earn $135,310 or less.
How many pharmacists work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 5,260 pharmacists are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.