Salary comparison
Pharmacists: Fairbanks vs Redding
Fairbanks, AK pays about 3.9% more for pharmacists on paper — $173,340 vs $166,800. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Fairbanks comes out ahead by $6,540 a year in real buying power.
Fairbanks, AK
$173,340
$163,980
$178,650
$83.34
100
$173,340/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Redding, CA
$166,800
$139,480
$179,540
$80.19
100
$166,800/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $6,540 a year (3.9%) in favor of Fairbanks. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Fairbanks runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Redding sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Fairbanks is the better deal by $6,540 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Redding to Fairbanks for this role, the raise needs to beat 3.9% to come out ahead after living costs. Anything below that and you are earning more on paper but keeping less.
Common questions
Where do pharmacists earn more, Fairbanks or Redding?
Fairbanks pays $173,340 on median — about 3.9% more than Redding ($166,800). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Fairbanks. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Fairbanks gives you roughly$173,340 of real buying power versus $166,800 in the other city.