Pharmacist Salary in Gurnee, IL: $140,075 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacist in Gurnee, IL earns a median $140,075/year (≈ $67.34/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1051). Once you factor in Gurnee's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.1), that paycheck buys what $144,258 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.5% below the Illinois state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
With the ongoing consolidation in the retail pharmacy sector post-2023, the pharmacist salary in Gurnee, IL, reflects both challenges and opportunities in the local job market. Projected for 2026, the median annual salary stands at $140,075, slightly trailing the national median of $143,489. This figure encompasses a range between $100,193 at the 10th percentile and $162,382 at the 90th percentile, indicating significant variability in compensation based on experience and setting. These estimates, derived from the BLS state-level data and adjusted for regional economic conditions, suggest that Gurnee's labor market is responding to the contractions among major retail chains like CVS and Walgreens, thereby shaping the compensation landscape for pharmacists in the area.
About the Gurnee Market
Salary estimated from Illinois average ($132,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $100,193 | $48.17 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $128,369 | $61.72 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $140,075 | $67.34 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $155,635 | $74.82 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $162,382 | $78.07 |
Median Salary Position
2.38% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Gurnee
In Gurnee, IL, the pharmacist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $62,189 (2026 est.). At $140,075, the local median is 2.38% below the national median of $143,489.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Gurnee: You'd be above the median
How Gurnee Pharmacist Pay Compares
Gurnee median: $140,075/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Gurnee Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $142,208 | -1.50% less |
| National Average | $143,489 | -2.38% less |
Pharmacists in Gurnee, IL earn a median of $140,075 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.38% lower than the national median of $143,489 and 1.50% below the Illinois state average of $142,208.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Gurnee has a cost of living 2.90% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Gurnee, IL has a cost-of-living index of 97.1 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacist earning $140,075 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $144,258 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.99% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$125,043
2025 BLS Actual
$137,558
2026 Current Est.
$140,075
2019–2027 Growth
+14.1%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacists in Gurnee (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $125,043 | Actual |
| 2020 | $125,648 | Actual |
| 2021 | $125,512 | Actual |
| 2022 | $129,592 | Actual |
| 2023 | $132,794 | Actual |
| 2024 | $126,311 | Actual |
| 2025 | $137,558 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $140,075 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $142,639 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Gurnee metropolitan area, the median pharmacist salary grew 10.0% from $125,043 (2019) to $137,558 (2025). At a 1.83% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $142,639 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,596 (14.07%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Gurnee 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $100,193 – $128,369 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $128,369 – $140,075 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $140,075 – $155,635 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $155,635 – $162,382 |
PharmD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacist Job Market in Gurnee
The pharmacist pay in Gurnee, IL, is influenced not only by local employment trends but also by the region's cost of living, which sits below the national average at a index of 97.1. Currently, there are eight pharmacists employed in the Gurnee area, which suggests a tight labor market for this profession. Retail chains such as Costco and Walmart tend to offer competitive salaries, but opportunities in hospital environments and specialty or mail-order pharmacies may provide higher compensation, especially for those with board certifications or residency training. The diversity in roles contributes to the pay disparity; positions like hospital clinical specialists typically earn more than retail pharmacists. For maximizing earnings in Gurnee, pursuing additional certifications and seeking positions in rapidly growing sectors such as ambulatory care or specialty pharmacy can provide an edge in this evolving marketplace.
More salary data for Gurnee, IL:
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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $137,558 for pharmacistsin the Gurnee metropolitan area. A 1.83% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Gurnee 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