Pharmacist Hourly Pay in Trenton, NJ: $68.01 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a pharmacist working in Trenton, NJ runs $68.01 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $141,452 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1051). Weighted against Trenton's regional price level (BEA RPP 103.2, 3% above national), each hour of work buys what $65.92 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $84,879 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Trenton's pharmacist hourly pay is projected to average $68.01 in 2026, positioned slightly below the national median of $68.99. This hour-by-hour compensation reflects the landscape of pharmacy roles in the city, where part-time pharmacists working three days a week can expect to earn a solid income while balancing other commitments. In common settings such as retail pharmacy counters, hospital inpatient pharmacies, and specialty pharmacy clean rooms, the hourly earning capacity spans from $53.99 for entry-level positions to $80.53 for top earners. These figures are based on the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) hourly data, providing a solid understanding of what pharmacists can expect to earn as they contribute to healthcare in NJ.
Pharmacist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $53.99 | $431.92 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $61.98 | $495.87 |
| Median (P50) | $68.01 | $544.10 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $77.12 | $616.93 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $80.53 | $644.22 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Trenton
Based on $68.01/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $68.01/hr, a pharmacist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Trenton, NJ can expect to earn approximately $141,465 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $81,615. With a cost-of-living index of 103.18 (above the national average), these earnings may be offset by higher expenses in Trenton.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Trenton
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,720.49 | $11,789 | $141,465 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,632.29 | $7,073 | $84,879 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,088.20 | $4,716 | $56,586 |
Compare PharmD Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Pharmacist (Trenton) | $68.01 |
| 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 Trenton, NJ earn a median of $141,452 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.42% lower than the national median of $143,489 and 14.40% below the New Jersey state average of $165,248.
Pharmacist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $68.01/hr = $84,879/year (purchasing power: $82,263).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $141,465/year (purchasing power: $137,106).
CoL index: 103.18 (100 = national average).
2019 BLS Actual
$60.71/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$66.79/hr
2026 Current Est.
$68.01/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+14.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Pharmacists in Trenton (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $60.71/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $54.43/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $61.49/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $62.77/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $65.34/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $64.50/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $66.79/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $68.01/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $69.26/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for pharmacists in Trenton grew 10.0% from $60.71/hr (2019) to $66.79/hr (2025). At a 1.83% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $69.26/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 Trenton 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 Trenton
Focusing on the earning potential for part-time and per-diem pharmacists reveals an interesting dynamic in Trenton’s job market. A pharmacist working part-time (24 hours a week) could anticipate an annual income around $84,864, compared to the higher earnings of full-time workers. Per diem pharmacist pay in Trenton can vary significantly; while retail pharmacists might earn between $55-$75 per hour, clinical pharmacy positions in hospitals could command $60-$85. Specialty areas, such as critical care and oncology, could see rates as high as $70-$95, underscoring the impact of employer type on pay scales. With an increasingly competitive landscape, pharmacists in Trenton may find themselves negotiating between higher hourly wages with no benefits versus lower rates that include health insurance. Navigating these discussions effectively is crucial for ensuring that compensation aligns with their responsibilities, experience, and work conditions in this evolving field.
More salary data for Trenton, NJ:
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 Trenton. 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, 6-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