Pharmacists Salary
The median pay for a pharmacists in Athens-Clarke County, GA is $132,230/year ($63.57/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $79K at the entry level to $163K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.34), which stretches that salary to about $141,665 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,331/month, or 16.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $132K get you in Athens-Clarke County?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Athens-Clarke County’s Regional Price Parity (93.34). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About pharmacists
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Athens-Clarke County
Pharmacists pay in Athens-Clarke County tracks closely to the national median, $132K locally vs. $141K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,331/month, 16.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.34 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for pharmacists in metros near Athens-Clarke County, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $140K | $140K |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $132K | $143K |
| Savannah | $137K | $144K |
| Columbus | $133K | $149K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Athens-Clarke County, GA
Entry-level pharmacists (10th percentile) start around $79K. Mid-career wages sit at $132K. Top earners bring in $163K or more, a $84K spread from bottom to top.
Pharmacists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Pharmacists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $167K | +19% | 560 |
| Oregon | $166K | +18% | 3,250 |
| California | $165K | +17% | 34,030 |
| Hawaii | $163K | +16% | 1,190 |
| Washington | $161K | +14% | 7,350 |
| Minnesota | $160K | +13% | 6,310 |
| Colorado | $156K | +11% | 4,560 |
| District of Columbia | $153K | +9% | 850 |
| Delaware | $153K | +8% | 790 |
| Wisconsin | $149K | +6% | 5,730 |
| New Mexico | $147K | +4% | 1,730 |
| Arizona | $147K | +4% | 6,900 |
| South Dakota | $147K | +4% | 1,280 |
| Idaho | $145K | +3% | 1,790 |
| Indiana | $144K | +2% | 6,430 |
| Utah | $144K | +2% | 2,830 |
| Virginia | $144K | +2% | 7,980 |
| New Hampshire | $143K | +1% | 1,130 |
| New York | $142K | +1% | 19,760 |
| Montana | $142K | +1% | 1,190 |
| North Dakota | $142K | +1% | 1,070 |
| Connecticut | $141K | +0% | 3,490 |
| Maine | $141K | +0% | 1,380 |
| Nevada | $140K | -1% | 2,500 |
| Wyoming | $140K | -1% | 510 |
| Nebraska | $139K | -1% | 2,450 |
| Illinois | $139K | -1% | 12,070 |
| Maryland | $139K | -1% | 5,400 |
| North Carolina | $139K | -1% | 11,430 |
| Iowa | $139K | -1% | 3,230 |
| Texas | $138K | -2% | 24,700 |
| Massachusetts | $138K | -2% | 7,230 |
| Pennsylvania | $138K | -2% | 14,090 |
| Michigan | $138K | -2% | 8,780 |
| Kansas | $138K | -2% | 3,500 |
| New Jersey | $138K | -2% | 9,420 |
| Missouri | $138K | -2% | 6,740 |
| Georgia | $137K | -3% | 10,530 |
| Ohio | $137K | -3% | 12,790 |
| Kentucky | $137K | -3% | 5,030 |
| Vermont | $136K | -3% | 530 |
| Arkansas | $136K | -3% | 2,900 |
| Florida | $136K | -4% | 21,540 |
| South Carolina | $136K | -4% | 5,320 |
| Oklahoma | $135K | -4% | 3,610 |
| Alabama | $135K | -4% | 5,400 |
| West Virginia | $133K | -5% | 2,260 |
| Tennessee | $133K | -5% | 8,250 |
| Mississippi | $133K | -5% | 3,050 |
| Louisiana | $132K | -6% | 5,610 |
| Rhode Island | $128K | -9% | 1,510 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track pharmacists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Athens-Clarke County numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Athens-Clarke County?
Yes — at the median salary of $132K, rent takes 16.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,331/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for pharmacists in Athens-Clarke County?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pharmacists typically earn — is $79K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,737/month. At HUD’s $1,331/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is pharmacist a high-paying job in Athens-Clarke County?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $132K locally vs. $141K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Athens-Clarke County compare to the national average for pharmacists?
Athens-Clarke County pays $132K median vs. the U.S. average of $141K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $142K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pharmacists make in Athens-Clarke County, GA?
The median is $132,230 a year, that works out to about $64 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,950, and experienced pharmacists can clear $162,910. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $132K enough to live in Athens-Clarke County?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,860/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,331/month, which eats 16.9% 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 Athens-Clarke County?
Athens-Clarke County has a Regional Price Parity of 93.34 (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 $141,665 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.