Salary comparison
Pharmacists: Longview vs Santa Rosa
Longview, WA pays about 1.2% more for pharmacists on paper — $172,630 vs $170,570. But once you factor in what it costs to live there, Longview comes out ahead by $2,060 a year in real buying power.
Longview, WA
$172,630
$158,120
$196,530
$83.00
100
$172,630/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
Santa Rosa, CA
$170,570
$159,800
$210,760
$82.00
100
$170,570/yr
Median adjusted for local cost of living.
What the numbers mean in practice
The headline gap is $2,060 a year (1.2%) in favor of Longview. That is the raw salary difference before any living costs.
Longview runs a cost index of 100 against the national baseline of 100; Santa Rosa sits at 100. After adjusting the median for those costs, Longview is the better deal by $2,060 a year — that is what each paycheck actually buys locally.
If you are weighing a move from Santa Rosa to Longview for this role, the raise needs to beat 1.2% 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, Longview or Santa Rosa?
Longview pays $172,630 on median — about 1.2% more than Santa Rosa ($170,570). Based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Which city is the better deal after living costs?
Longview. Once you divide each median by the local cost index, Longview gives you roughly$172,630 of real buying power versus $170,570 in the other city.