Pharmacist Salary in Reston, VA: $135,710 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacist in Reston, VA earns a median $135,710/year (≈ $65.24/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1051). Once you factor in Reston's price level (3% above national, BEA RPP 103.2), that paycheck buys what $131,502 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.2% below the Virginia state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Pharmacists in Reston, Virginia, can expect a median annual salary of $135,710 in 2026, reflecting a pay structure that varies significantly based on role and setting. With salaries ranging from $98,900 at the lower tenth percentile to $167,768 for those in the upper ninetieth percentile, the stark salary divide is indicative of the pharmacist’s duties, particularly between hospital clinical specialists and retail pharmacists. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS data and adjusted for regional cost factors, suggest that specialized practice settings, such as hospital positions, typically offer higher compensation compared to retail settings, where responsibilities can be more focused on day-to-day prescription management rather than clinical care.
About the Reston Market
Salary estimated from Virginia average ($132,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $98,900 | $47.54 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $126,045 | $60.60 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $135,710 | $65.24 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $156,864 | $75.42 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $167,768 | $80.66 |
Median Salary Position
5.42% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Reston
In Reston, VA, the pharmacist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $68,868 (2026 est.). At $135,710, the local median is 5.42% below the national median of $143,489.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Reston: You'd be above the median
How Reston Pharmacist Pay Compares
Reston median: $135,710/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Reston Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $138,763 | -2.20% less |
| National Average | $143,489 | -5.42% less |
Pharmacists in Reston, VA earn a median of $135,710 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.42% lower than the national median of $143,489 and 2.20% below the Virginia state average of $138,763.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Reston has a cost of living 3.20% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Reston, VA has a cost-of-living index of 103.2 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $135,710 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $131,502 — a 3.1% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$121,146
2025 BLS Actual
$133,271
2026 Current Est.
$135,710
2019–2027 Growth
+14.1%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacists in Reston (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 1.83% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $121,146 | Actual |
| 2020 | $121,732 | Actual |
| 2021 | $121,600 | Actual |
| 2022 | $125,553 | Actual |
| 2023 | $128,656 | Actual |
| 2024 | $133,216 | Actual |
| 2025 | $133,271 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $135,710 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $138,193 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Reston metropolitan area, the median pharmacist salary grew 10.0% from $121,146 (2019) to $133,271 (2025). At a 1.83% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $138,193 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,047 (14.07%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Reston 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) | $98,900 – $126,045 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $126,045 – $135,710 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $135,710 – $156,864 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $156,864 – $167,768 |
PharmD salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacist Job Market in Reston
In Reston, the local job market shows a decent employment level with 16 pharmacists currently engaged in various roles. The cost-of-living index in the area is at 103.2, which slightly exceeds the national average and can influence take-home pay and purchasing power. Retail pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens, as well as specialty mail-order operations such as Express Scripts, often offer competitive salaries, but the highest earnings usually come from hospital inpatient pharmacies, where advanced certifications, board credentials, and PGY-1 residency training are highly valued. Factors such as board certification stipends, shift differentials, and the ongoing consolidation in the retail pharmacy sector play essential roles in determining the pay disparity. Those seeking to maximize their salaries in Reston should consider pursuing additional certifications, such as BPS board specialties, to enhance their appeal and justify higher remuneration in this evolving market.
More salary data for Reston, VA:
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 $133,271 for pharmacistsin the Reston 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 Reston 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