Pharmacist Hourly Pay in Great Falls, MT: $66.86 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a pharmacist working in Great Falls, MT runs $66.86 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $139,059 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1051). Weighted against Great Falls's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.8, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $69.04 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $83,443 per year.
Official BLS data · View source

In Great Falls, Montana, pharmacists earn a median hourly pay of $66.86, which is slightly below the national median of $68.99. This hourly rate offers flexibility to part-time pharmacists who may work three days a week, allowing them to earn a respectable income while juggling personal commitments or other careers. Per-diem workers can also thrive in various settings, such as retail pharmacy counters, hospital IV rooms, and specialty pharmacies. The hourly range for pharmacists in Great Falls spans from $48.47 at the entry-level to $78.88 for the most seasoned professionals, reflecting a diverse landscape in terms of experience and specialization, as illustrated by the official 2025 BLS OEWS projections.
Pharmacist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $48.47 | $387.77 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $64.36 | $514.85 |
| Median (P50) | $66.86 | $534.89 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $76.37 | $610.98 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $78.88 | $631.02 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Great Falls
Based on $66.86/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $66.86/hr, a pharmacist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Great Falls, MT can expect to earn approximately $139,072 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $80,234. With a cost-of-living index of 96.84 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Great Falls.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Great Falls
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,674.46 | $11,589 | $139,072 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,604.68 | $6,954 | $83,443 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,069.79 | $4,636 | $55,629 |
Compare PharmD Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Pharmacist (Great Falls) | $66.86 |
| 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 Great Falls, MT earn a median of $139,059 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.09% lower than the national median of $143,489 and 3.90% below the Montana state average of $144,702.
Pharmacist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $66.86/hr = $83,443/year (purchasing power: $86,162).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $139,072/year (purchasing power: $143,603).
CoL index: 96.845 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$55.57/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$65.66/hr
2026 Current Est.
$66.86/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+22.5%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Pharmacists in Great Falls (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $55.57/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $57.21/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $59.06/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $60.31/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $64.35/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $64.90/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $65.66/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $66.86/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $68.09/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for pharmacists in Great Falls grew 18.2% from $55.57/hr (2019) to $65.66/hr (2025). At a 1.83% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $68.09/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 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.
Working as an Hourly Pharmacist in Great Falls
Part-time pharmacists working 24 hours a week can take home around $83,959 annually, a figure that may differ significantly from their full-time counterparts. For those pursuing per diem work, rates tend to vary considerably based on the setting; retail pharmacists typically earn between $55-$75 per hour, while hospital roles may command $60-$85 per hour, and specialty fields can go as high as $70-$95 per hour. In Great Falls, hourly rates often depend on the type of employer. While retail pharmacy chains offer reliable wages, specialty pharmacies and mail-order operations may provide premium pay along with unique challenges. Pharmacists willing to accept lower hourly rates in exchange for health benefits may need to navigate negotiations carefully to secure the compensation they desire, understanding the trade-offs involved in their career choices.
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
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 Great Falls. 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