Pharmacist Salary in Durham, NC: $143,947 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacist in Durham, NC earns a median $143,947/year (≈ $69.20/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1051). Once you factor in Durham's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 97.6), that paycheck buys what $147,529 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.0% above the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, pharmacists in Durham, North Carolina, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $143,947, slightly exceeding the national median of $143,489. Salary ranges vary significantly among different pharmacist roles, from $104,753 at the 10th percentile to $168,773 at the 90th percentile. This compensation structure highlights the distinct divide between hospital clinical specialists, retail pharmacy managers, and staff pharmacists. As large retail chains consolidate and narrow their workforce, the evolving dynamics of pharmacist roles are reflected in the compensation landscape. With over 1,150 pharmacists currently employed in the area, Durham presents a promising job market with diverse earning potentials driven by industry changes.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $104,753 | $50.37 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $135,943 | $65.36 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $143,947 | $69.20 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $167,918 | $80.73 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $168,773 | $81.15 |
Median Salary Position
0.32% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Durham
In Durham, NC, the pharmacist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $64,020 (2026 est.). At $143,947, the local median is 0.32% above the national median of $143,489.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Durham: You'd be above the median
How Durham Pharmacist Pay Compares
Durham median: $143,947/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Durham Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $139,754 | +3.00% more |
| National Average | $143,489 | +0.32% more |
Pharmacists in Durham, NC earn a median of $143,947 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.32% higher than the national median of $143,489 and 3.00% above the North Carolina state average of $139,754.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Durham has a cost of living 2.43% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Durham, NC has a cost-of-living index of 97.572 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacist earning $143,947 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $147,529 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.49% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$121,110
2025 BLS Actual
$141,360
2026 Current Est.
$143,947
2019–2027 Growth
+21.0%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacists in Durham (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $121,110 | Actual |
| 2020 | $124,540 | Actual |
| 2021 | $128,360 | Actual |
| 2022 | $135,630 | Actual |
| 2023 | $144,730 | Actual |
| 2024 | $135,970 | Actual |
| 2025 | $141,360 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $143,947 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $146,581 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Durham metropolitan area, the median pharmacist salary grew 16.7% from $121,110 (2019) to $141,360 (2025). At a 1.83% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $146,581 by 2027 — a total increase of $25,471 (21.03%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Durham 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) | $104,753 – $135,943 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $135,943 – $143,947 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $143,947 – $167,918 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $167,918 – $168,773 |
PharmD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacist Job Market in Durham
The cost of living in Durham, indexed at 97.572, offers a tangible context for evaluating pharmacist pay. While salaries are competitive, local purchasing power remains critical for residents. In a market where specialty and mail-order pharmacies are growing while traditional retail chains scale back, opportunities to optimize earnings exist. Hospital inpatient roles or positions requiring board certification and residency training often command the highest salaries, while retail pharmacies usually pay less, particularly for staff positions. Shifts in job duties, such as the rise of vaccinations and point-of-care testing, require flexibility and continuous education. For pharmacists seeking to maximize their pay in Durham, pursuing further certifications through organizations like the BPS or completing a PGY-1 residency can be beneficial strategies in an evolving healthcare landscape.
More salary data for Durham, NC:
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 $141,360 for pharmacistsin the Durham 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