Salary report · Chicago, IL

What is the average Pharmacist salary in Chicago, IL?

Pharmacists in Chicago earn a median of $140,700 per year — about 6% above the national average. Pay ranges from $101,300 (25th percentile) to $218,100 (90th percentile).

25th percentile
$101,300
Median
$140,700
75th percentile
$180,100
90th percentile
$218,100
YoY change
+3.5%

Pharmacist salary by experience level

Entry · 0–2 yrs
$91,500
Mid · 3–5 yrs
$140,700
Senior · 6–8 yrs
$180,100
Lead · 8+ yrs
$204,000

How Chicago pay compares

Chicago median$140,700
National median$132,750
Cost-of-living adjusted(COL index 107)$131,500

Cost-of-living adjusted is the Chicago salary translated into equivalent purchasing power vs the US average (COL index 100). Useful for comparing offers across cities.

5-year salary trend

$123K
2022
$127K
2023
$131K
2024
$136K
2025
$141K
2026

Trend extrapolated from BLS May 2024 BLS OEWS OEWS data using the latest year-over-year growth rate of 3.5%.

Pharmacist job market in Chicago

Chicago's economy is anchored by finance, manufacturing, and a growing tech scene. Salaries are competitive without the coastal cost of living.

An estimated 15,100 pharmacists work in the Chicago metro. Daily responsibilities typically include:

  • Verify and dispense prescriptions
  • Counsel patients
  • Check drug interactions
  • Manage pharmacy inventory
  • Administer immunizations

Related job salaries in Chicago

Pharmacist salary in other cities

FAQ

How much does a Pharmacist make in Chicago, IL?+

Pharmacists in Chicago earn a median of $140,700 per year — about 6% above the national average of $132,750.

What's the entry-level Pharmacist salary in Chicago?+

Entry-level Pharmacists in Chicago typically earn around $91,500 per year. Salaries scale to about $204,000 at the senior level with 8+ years of experience.

Is $140,700 a good Pharmacist salary in Chicago?+

$140,700 is the median, meaning half of Pharmacists in Chicago earn more and half earn less. Adjusted for the city's cost-of-living index of 107, that's roughly $131,500 in nationally-equivalent purchasing power.

How fast is Pharmacist pay growing in Chicago?+

Pharmacist salaries in Chicago grew about 3.5% year-over-year in the latest BLS data. The 10-year national outlook for this role is +3%.

Where do Pharmacists in Chicago get paid the most?+

The 90th percentile Pharmacist salary in Chicago is around $218,100. These typically include senior, lead, or specialist roles at major employers.

Are you being paid fairly in Chicago?

Run a free comparison against BLS data — see if your salary is below, at, or above the Chicago median.

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