Pharmacist Hourly Pay in Council Bluffs, IA: $66.25 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a pharmacist working in Council Bluffs, IA runs $66.25 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $137,793 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1051). Weighted against Council Bluffs's regional price level (BEA RPP 90.4, 10% below national), each hour of work buys what $73.29 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $82,681 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Pharmacists in Council Bluffs, Iowa, earn a median hourly rate of $66.25, which falls slightly below the national average of $68.99. This wage indicates a solid income for those working primarily in retail pharmacies, hospitals, or specialty settings. For part-time pharmacists working three days a week, the income can be substantial, allowing for a comfortable quality of life. The hourly range in Council Bluffs extends from $46.70 for entry-level positions to $80.44 for more experienced pharmacists who have honed their skills in various practice settings, including mail-order fulfillment operations and ambulatory care clinics. These hourly figures are estimated based on annual salary computations from projected 2026 data, which offer valuable insights into market expectations for pharmacy professionals in IA.
About the Council Bluffs Market
Salary estimated from Iowa average ($130,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Pharmacist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $46.70 | $373.59 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $60.55 | $484.38 |
| Median (P50) | $66.25 | $530.00 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $76.94 | $615.54 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $80.44 | $643.48 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Council Bluffs
Based on $66.25/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $66.25/hr, a pharmacist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Council Bluffs, IA can expect to earn approximately $137,801 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $79,501. With a cost-of-living index of 90.40 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Council Bluffs.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Council Bluffs
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,650.02 | $11,483 | $137,801 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,590.01 | $6,890 | $82,681 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,060.01 | $4,593 | $55,120 |
Compare PharmD Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Pharmacist (Council Bluffs) | $66.25 |
| 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 Council Bluffs, IA earn a median of $137,793 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.97% lower than the national median of $143,489 and 3.40% below the Iowa state average of $142,643.
Pharmacist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $66.25/hr = $82,681/year (purchasing power: $91,461).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $137,801/year (purchasing power: $152,435).
CoL index: 90.4 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$59.14/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$65.06/hr
2026 Current Est.
$66.25/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+14.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Pharmacists in Council Bluffs (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $59.14/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $59.43/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $59.36/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $61.29/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $62.81/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $54.56/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $65.06/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $66.25/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $67.46/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for pharmacists in Council Bluffs grew 10.0% from $59.14/hr (2019) to $65.06/hr (2025). At a 1.83% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $67.46/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 Council Bluffs 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 Council Bluffs
Considering part-time roles, a pharmacist working 24 hours per week in Council Bluffs would typically take home around $82,200 annually, compared to their full-time counterparts. Per-diem pharmacists often find themselves in different compensation brackets, billing anywhere from $55 to $95 per hour based on their specialty and work environment. For instance, retail pharmacists may earn closer to the lower end, while those in oncology or critical care can command higher rates. Employers within Council Bluffs, including major retail chains and hospital systems, create varied earning potentials due to differences in overhead and benefits offered. Many pharmacists weigh the decision between higher hourly rates without benefits versus stable pay with health insurance, which can lead to trade-offs impacting long-term financial health. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for effective salary negotiations, especially in an evolving retail market that has seen the consolidation of pharmacy chains like Walgreens and CVS.
More salary data for Council Bluffs, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for pharmacists in Council Bluffs in 2026?
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Career Resources
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 Council Bluffs. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Council Bluffs is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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