Entry-Level Pharmacist Salary in Great Falls, MT: $100,812 (2026)
Quick Answer:New pharmacists entering the Great Falls, MT job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $100,812 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 29-1051, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Great Falls's local price level (BEA RPP 96.8 — 3% below national), a first-year paycheck buys what $104,096 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($139,059) within a few years of clinical practice.
Official BLS data · View source
In Great Falls, Montana, the expected starting pharmacist salary for new graduates in 2026 presents an appealing yet challenging prospect. With a salary at the lower end of the spectrum projected at $100,812, many new entrants can anticipate earning less than the city’s median income of $139,059 initially. The range for new pharmacists spans from $100,812 up to $164,068, illustrating the potential for increased income as experience is gained. With a growth rate of 1.83% annually, those in their first three to five years can move from the lower salary brackets to the more comfortable P25 figure of $133,866. This trajectory suggests that Great Falls remains a viable market for new graduates aiming to establish their careers in pharmacy, despite the competitive nature of the field.
Career Earnings Timeline in Great Falls
New Graduate
Early Career
Mid Career
Experienced
Salary progression estimated from BLS percentile data. Actual progression varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Great Falls
Entry-level pharmacists in Great Falls, MT typically start between $100,812 and $133,866 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $63,256 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $139,059 — 3.09% below the national median.
Return on Investment
The average pharmacy program cost in Montana of $125,000 represents just 123.99% of the starting pharmacist pay ($100,812/year) in Great Falls. Most graduates begin earning back their investment from day one, though actual ROI varies based on living expenses, loan interest, and the 2-year opportunity cost of schooling.
Program cost estimates based on ACPE-accredited PharmD program data and AACP tuition survey reports. Tuition-only averages; actual costs vary significantly by institution type (public in-state vs. private).
PharmD Salary Negotiation Tips for New Graduates in Great Falls
- 1Research the Great Falls market: entry-level pharmacist pay ranges from $100,812 to $133,866, so aim for at least the 25th percentile if you have strong credentials.
- 2Highlight any additional certifications or specialty training within the pharmacy field — employers in MT often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Great Falls, benefits like health insurance, continuing-education allowances, and schedule flexibility can add 20-30% to your effective compensation.
- 4Consider starting with a larger hospital system or multi-site employer in Great Falls for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Great Falls's moderate cost of living means your starting salary goes further here compared to many larger metro areas.
Pharmacist Compensation Range
The pharmacist wage spread in Great Falls is $63,256 ( 62.75%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $100,812, experienced hygienists can earn up to $164,068.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$81,820
2025 BLS Actual
$99,000
2026 Current Est.
$100,812
2019–2027 Growth
+25.5%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacists in Great Falls (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $81,820 | Actual |
| 2020 | $88,240 | Actual |
| 2021 | $75,140 | Actual |
| 2022 | $99,640 | Actual |
| 2023 | $108,780 | Actual |
| 2024 | $101,120 | Actual |
| 2025 | $99,000 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $100,812 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $102,657 | Projected |
Entry-level pharmacist compensation (10th percentile) in Great Falls, MT grew 21.0% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $81,820 in 2019 to $99,000 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $102,657. New graduates entering the Great Falls job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Great Falls metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 1.83% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Starting Your pharmacy Career in Great Falls
Employers in Great Falls looking to hire fresh graduates primarily include local hospitals and retail pharmacy chains. Hospitals often provide PGY-1 residency programs that serve as a pathway to clinical roles, while retail chains such as CVS and Walgreens commonly hire non-residency new grads, sometimes offering sign-on bonuses, which have seen a decline from the more generous offers of previous years. To bolster earning potential, new pharmacists should ensure they possess a PharmD from an ACPE-accredited program, have passed both the NAPLEX and MPJE exams, and maintain an active state pharmacist license. Additional credentials, such as PGY-1 or PGY-2 residency training and BPS board certifications, can open doors, especially as the retail pharmacy landscape shifts. With hospital positions becoming more competitive and specialized roles expanding due to healthcare demands, it’s essential for early-career pharmacists to remain adaptable and engaged in continuing education for better prospects in years one to three.
More salary data for Great Falls, MT:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Sofia Chen, PharmD
Career Analyst
Sofia Chen has 10 years of experience in community pharmacy. She specializes in medication therapy management.
Methodology & Data Source
Entry-level salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The 10th percentile (entry-level) is used as the starting salary benchmark for new pharmacy graduates. A 1.83% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 entry-level compensation in Great Falls. Program costs are averages and actual tuition varies by institution. ROI calculations are simplified estimates.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.83%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for pharmacists (SOC 29-1051).
Compiled and verified by Sofia Chen, PharmD, a licensed pharmacist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov