LocalSalaryHub Salary Report
Pharmacists in Chicago, IL · Generated August 10, 2026
Pharmacists Salary in Chicago, IL $140,880/yr
$140,880
Mean: $138,420
~$109,886 est. take-home
$67.73
Based on 2,080 hrs/yr
100
100 = national avg
Very affordable
Affordability score: 100/100
$6,762/mo
73%
Salary Distribution
Where the median falls between the 25th and 75th percentile.
25th %
$126,050
Median
$140,880
75th %
$163,710
Median is in the 39th percentile of the typical range
Pharmacists in other IL cities
Compare the same occupation across cities in IL.
About Pharmacists salaries in Chicago, IL
In Chicago, IL, pharmacists earn a median of $140,880 a year, according to the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. That is roughly in line with the national median of $139,410 for the same role across all U.S. metros in the dataset. The middle 50% land between $126,050 and $163,710 — a 37,660 range that reflects differences in seniority, employer type, and specialization. The catch: Chicago is roughly in line with the national cost of living (cost index 100 against a 100 baseline), so that headline number buys less than it would elsewhere. On an hourly basis that is about $67.73, useful for comparing contract or part-time offers.
For context, the national median for pharmacists across all U.S. metros in our data is $139,410.
Career Outlook
3% growth. The job has changed — automated dispensing handles the routine work now. Pharmacists are spending more time on clinical tasks: medication therapy management, immunizations, and patient consultations. Hospital pharmacists have more upward mobility than retail.
Worth knowing: Retail pharmacy salaries have flattened, but clinical pharmacists in hospital systems and specialty areas (oncology, infectious disease) still see steady raises. Board certification in a specialty can add $15K+.
Pharmacists Jobs in Chicago, IL
Median: $140,880/yr — browse openings that fit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary for a pharmacists in Chicago?▾
The median — where half earn more and half earn less — is $140,880. The average (mean) is $138,420, which is higher because top earners pull it up.
How much does a pharmacists make per hour in Chicago?▾
About $67.73/hour, based on a standard 2,080-hour work year. Part-time or overtime hours will change the actual rate.
What is the salary range for pharmacists in Chicago?▾
The middle 50% earn between $126,050 and $163,710. Below $126,050 is typically entry-level; above $163,710 usually means significant experience or specialized skills.
Salary Conversion Table
How does $140,880 per year break down across different time periods?
| Period | Gross | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly | $140,880 | $109,886 |
| Monthly | $11,740 | $9,157 |
| Biweekly | $5,418 | $4,226 |
| Weekly | $2,709 | $2,113 |
| Hourly (40h/wk) | $67.73 | $52.83 |
| Hourly (35h/wk) | $77.41 | $60.38 |
| Hourly (30h/wk) | $90.31 | $70.44 |
| Daily (8h) | $542 | $423 |
Take-home estimates use an effective tax rate of 22%. Actual amounts vary by filing status, deductions, and state tax.
Pharmacists: Highest-Paying Cities in the U.S.
Top 10 cities nationwide for pharmacists, based on BLS median salary data.
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See more salary data
More pages tied to this occupation and region.
- Pharmacists salaries nationwide — the national median and the highest-paying metros for pharmacists across all states.
- All IL salary data — every occupation we cover in IL, ranked by median pay, plus the cities that pay the most.
- Pharmacists in Napa, CA — the top-paying city for pharmacists in our dataset, in case you are weighing a move out of Chicago.
- Nurse Practitioners salary overview — a closely related role (same SOC major group) with a national median of $131,429.