Pharmacists Salary
The median pay for a pharmacists in Alabama is $134,630/year ($64.72/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $90K at the entry level to $162K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $152,365 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,085/month, or 13.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $135K get you in Alabama?
About pharmacists
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What this looks like in Alabama
Pharmacists pay in Alabama tracks closely to the national median, $135K locally vs. $141K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,085/month, 13.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level pharmacists (10th percentile) start around $90K. Mid-career wages sit at $135K. Top earners bring in $162K or more, a $72K spread from bottom to top.
Pharmacists salary by metro in Alabama
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $139K | +3% | 1,550 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $137K | +2% | 200 |
| Huntsville | $137K | +2% | 600 |
| Montgomery | $137K | +1% | 430 |
| Mobile | $135K | -0% | 440 |
| Decatur | $133K | -1% | 120 |
| Auburn-Opelika | $133K | -1% | 210 |
| Tuscaloosa | $132K | -2% | 320 |
| Dothan | $131K | -3% | 160 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals | $131K | -3% | 160 |
| Gadsden | $129K | -4% | 100 |
| Anniston-Oxford | $127K | -6% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
Yes — at the median salary of $135K, rent takes 13.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for pharmacists in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pharmacists typically earn — is $90K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,401/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 20% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is pharmacist a high-paying job in Alabama?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $135K locally vs. $141K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for pharmacists?
Alabama pays $135K median vs. the U.S. average of $141K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $152K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pharmacists make in Alabama?
The median is $134,630 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $90,010, and experienced pharmacists can clear $161,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $135K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,017/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 13.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a pharmacists salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median pharmacists salary is worth about $152,365 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do pharmacists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.