There were more than 312,500 pharmacists working in the U.S. as of May 2021 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Pharmacists work in varied settings, including health and personal care stores, hospitals, food and general merchandise stores with pharmacy services, and other businesses involved in the distribution of pharmacy products. Like many other healthcare professionals with advanced technical training and skills, pharmacists typically earn higher salaries and wages than most workers in other occupations.  According to BLS estimates, as of May 2021, the national mean wage for pharmacists was $125,690 per year.  While a well-paying occupation, there is considerable variation from state to state in how much pharmacists earn.  Per BLS data, as of May 2021, these were the ten best and worst states for pharmacist pay:

The Best and Worst States for Pharmacist Pay

State	# Employed	Annual Mean Wages	Wage Rank*
CA	33,130	$146,140	1st
AK	480	$145,910	2nd
OR	4,040	$136,520	3rd
WA	7,300	$134,290	4th
VT	420	$130,460	5th
WI	5,850	$129,640	6th
DE	900	$129,360	7th
MN	6,520	$129,160	8th
NH	1,190	$128,870	9th
NY	18,680	$128,260	10th
U.S.	312,550	$125,690	-------
IN	5,830	$119,020	42nd
NE	2,210	$118,940	43rd
IL	12,430	$118,770	44th
WV	2,120	$117,420	45th
OK	3,690	$116,450	46th
DC	900	$116,340	47th
SC	5,340	$116,080	48th
ND	1,100	$115,480	49th
TN	7,940	$115,400	50th
RI	1,140	$110,410	51st

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on August 6, 2022