Pharmacist Hourly Pay in Tucson, AZ: $72.17 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a pharmacist working in Tucson, AZ runs $72.17 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $150,118 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1051). Weighted against Tucson's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.9, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $74.48 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $90,064 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
With a projected hourly median pay of $72.17 in 2026, pharmacists in Tucson, Arizona, enjoy a competitive wage that surpasses the national hourly median of $68.99. This higher pay means that part-time employees working three days a week in retail pharmacy counters or hospital settings can earn a substantial income, even while maintaining flexibility in their schedules. The hourly pay ranges from $35.62 for entry-level positions to $85.85 for seasoned professionals. Official Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicates that the earnings reflect the comprehensive skill set pharmacists possess, including dispensing medications, offering patient consultations, and managing pharmacy operations across various healthcare settings like specialty pharmacies and ambulatory clinic exam rooms.
Pharmacist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $35.62 | $284.96 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $63.83 | $510.62 |
| Median (P50) | $72.17 | $577.34 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $79.30 | $634.36 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $85.85 | $686.82 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Tucson
Based on $72.17/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $72.17/hr, a pharmacist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Tucson, AZ can expect to earn approximately $150,107 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $86,600. With a cost-of-living index of 96.90 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Tucson.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Tucson
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,886.68 | $12,509 | $150,107 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,732.01 | $7,505 | $90,064 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,154.67 | $5,004 | $60,043 |
Compare PharmD Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Pharmacist (Tucson) | $72.17 |
| Pharmacy Technician (National Avg) | $19.27 |
| Registered Nurse (National Avg) | $42.80 |
| Physician Assistant (National Avg) | $63.17 |
| Nurse Practitioner (National Avg) | $60.81 |
Pharmacists in Tucson, AZ earn a median of $150,118 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.62% higher than the national median of $143,489 and 3.40% below the Arizona state average of $155,401.
Pharmacist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $72.17/hr = $90,064/year (purchasing power: $92,949).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $150,107/year (purchasing power: $154,916).
CoL index: 96.896 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$68.07/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$70.87/hr
2026 Current Est.
$72.17/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+8.0%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Pharmacists in Tucson (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $68.07/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $64.31/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $61.17/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $64.07/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $65.80/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $66.79/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $70.87/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $72.17/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $73.49/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for pharmacists in Tucson grew 4.1% from $68.07/hr (2019) to $70.87/hr (2025). At a 1.83% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $73.49/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem pharmacists can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Tucson 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.
Working as an Hourly Pharmacist in Tucson
While the hourly pay offers promising potential, analyzing the part-time earning avenues reveals substantial differences. A pharmacist working 24 hours a week may have lower annual earnings, yet benefits such as health insurance can justify choosing positions that pay less per hour. In Tucson, per-diem pharmacist pay ranges widely, with retail positions commonly offering $55-$75/hr and clinical settings reflecting higher rates of $60-$85/hr. Notably, agency and locum tenens pharmacists specializing in critical care may command rates between $70-$95/hr. Hourly rates fluctuate depending on the employer type, with retail chains like CVS and Walgreens typically on the lower end of the spectrum compared to specialty and hospital roles. For pharmacists looking to negotiate their hourly pay, understanding these dynamics, along with the potential trade-offs in benefits, can be crucial for making informed career choices in the evolving pharmacy field.
More salary data for Tucson, AZ:
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
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 1.83% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for pharmacists in Tucson. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
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