Pharmacist Salary in St. Louis, MO: $141,065 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacist in St. Louis, MO earns a median $141,065/year (≈ $67.82/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1051). Once you factor in St. Louis's price level (5% below national, BEA RPP 95.1), that paycheck buys what $148,352 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.3% above the Missouri state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Pharmacists in St. Louis, Missouri, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $141,065 in 2026, reflecting the ongoing impact of retail chain consolidation in the pharmacy sector. This trend has influenced local compensation, as the salary landscape ranges from $113,143 at the 10th percentile to $169,893 at the 90th percentile. These insights are drawn from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) surveys and highlight how local conditions affect pharmacist pay. Amid shrinking retail opportunities, job roles in hospital settings and specialized pharmacy services may provide more favorable salaries and steady employment prospects.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $113,143 | $54.40 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $132,135 | $63.53 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $141,065 | $67.82 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $162,551 | $78.15 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $169,893 | $81.68 |
Median Salary Position
1.69% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in St. Louis
In St. Louis, MO, the pharmacist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $56,750 (2026 est.). At $141,065, the local median is 1.69% below the national median of $143,489.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in St. Louis: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How St. Louis Pharmacist Pay Compares
St. Louis median: $141,065/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | St. Louis Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Average | $139,255 | +1.30% more |
| National Average | $143,489 | -1.69% less |
Pharmacists in St. Louis, MO earn a median of $141,065 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.69% lower than the national median of $143,489 and 1.30% above the Missouri state average of $139,255.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
St. Louis has a cost of living 4.91% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
St. Louis, MO has a cost-of-living index of 95.088 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacist earning $141,065 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $148,352 in an average-cost city — an effective 5.17% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$127,060
2025 BLS Actual
$138,530
2026 Current Est.
$141,065
2019–2027 Growth
+13.1%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacists in St. Louis (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $127,060 | Actual |
| 2020 | $130,150 | Actual |
| 2021 | $129,050 | Actual |
| 2022 | $133,180 | Actual |
| 2023 | $136,470 | Actual |
| 2024 | $137,730 | Actual |
| 2025 | $138,530 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $141,065 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $143,647 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the St. Louis metropolitan area, the median pharmacist salary grew 9.0% from $127,060 (2019) to $138,530 (2025). At a 1.83% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $143,647 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,587 (13.05%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Louis 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) | $113,143 – $132,135 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $132,135 – $141,065 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $141,065 – $162,551 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $162,551 – $169,893 |
PharmD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacist Job Market in St. Louis
With approximately 2,910 pharmacists working in St. Louis, the local job market remains robust, despite a cost-of-living index of 95.088, indicating a more affordable environment compared to the national average. Employers such as major retail pharmacy chains, hospital pharmacies, and specialty organizations typically offer varying levels of compensation, with hospital and specialty roles often commanding the highest salaries due to their increased responsibilities and board certifications. Factors such as residency training, certification stipends, and shift differentials contribute to differences in pay, with hospital clinical specialists often outpacing retail pharmacists. For those seeking to maximize their pharmacist pay in St. Louis, pursuing advanced qualifications like PGY-1 residencies or board certifications can enhance career prospects and salary potential significantly.
More salary data for St. Louis, MO:
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 $138,530 for pharmacistsin the St. Louis 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
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