Pharmacist Hourly Pay in State College, PA: $66.10 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a pharmacist working in State College, PA runs $66.10 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $137,481 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1051). Weighted against State College's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.8, 3% below national), each hour of work buys what $68.31 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $82,490 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Pharmacists' hourly pay in State College, Pennsylvania, is projected to reach a median of $66.10 in 2026, which falls slightly below the national median of $68.99. This figure highlights the financial landscape for both full-time and part-time pharmacists working across various settings, including retail pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, and outpatient clinics. Part-time pharmacists, for example, working a typical schedule of three days a week can expect a decent hourly wage, amplifying their earnings based on their hours worked. For employers in State College, the hourly pay range for pharmacists spans from $52.56 at the entry-level position to $81.31 for those at the higher end of the experience spectrum, reflecting the wide distribution and competitive nature of pharmacist hourly rates in the region, as determined by official BLS data.
Pharmacist Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $52.56 | $420.52 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $61.12 | $488.95 |
| Median (P50) | $66.10 | $528.78 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $72.05 | $576.44 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $81.31 | $650.49 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in State College
Based on $66.10/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $66.10/hr, a pharmacist working full-time (40 hr/wk) in State College, PA can expect to earn approximately $137,484 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $79,317. With a cost-of-living index of 96.76 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in State College.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in State College
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $2,643.91 | $11,457 | $137,484 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $1,586.35 | $6,874 | $82,490 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $1,057.57 | $4,583 | $54,993 |
Compare PharmD Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Pharmacist (State College) | $66.10 |
| 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 State College, PA earn a median of $137,481 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.19% lower than the national median of $143,489 and 0.20% below the Pennsylvania state average of $137,756.
Pharmacist Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $66.10/hr = $82,490/year (purchasing power: $85,251).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $137,484/year (purchasing power: $142,084).
CoL index: 96.762 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$60.02/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$64.91/hr
2026 Current Est.
$66.10/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+12.1%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Pharmacists in State College (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $60.02/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $60.99/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $58.40/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $60.86/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $64.45/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $64.12/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $64.91/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $66.10/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $67.31/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for pharmacists in State College grew 8.1% from $60.02/hr (2019) to $64.91/hr (2025). At a 1.83% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $67.31/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 State College 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 State College
Examining the financial implications for part-time professionals reveals interesting dynamics in earning potential. A pharmacist working just 24 hours weekly may take home a substantial salary despite not being full-time, allowing for a flexible lifestyle or supplementary income. Per diem pharmacist pay in State College tends to vary, with retail pharmacists often billing between $55 and $75 per hour, while clinical roles in hospitals range higher, from $60 to $85 per hour. Specialty and critical care settings can yield even more, with rates spiking to $70-$95 per hour. Furthermore, the decision to accept a lower hourly compensation for positions offering health benefits versus higher pay without benefits is a common trade-off in the industry. Pharmacists should market their value effectively and negotiate their rates according to the demand for their specific expertise, especially in a region like State College, where the pharmacy job market is experiencing shifts due to evolving healthcare needs and retail consolidation.
More salary data for State College, PA:
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 State College. 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