Pharmacists Salary
The median pay for a pharmacists in Chattanooga, TN-GA is $132,240/year ($63.58/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $87K at the entry level to $168K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.46), which stretches that salary to about $144,588 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,390/month, or 16.3% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $132K get you in Chattanooga?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chattanooga’s Regional Price Parity (91.46). 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 Chattanooga
Pharmacists pay in Chattanooga 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 $1,390/month, 16.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.46 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% 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 Chattanooga, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $138K | $143K |
| Memphis | $134K | $146K |
| Knoxville | $132K | $143K |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $133K | $154K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chattanooga, TN-GA
Entry-level pharmacists (10th percentile) start around $87K. Mid-career wages sit at $132K. Top earners bring in $168K or more, a $82K 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 Chattanooga numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chattanooga?
Yes — at the median salary of $132K, rent takes 16.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,390/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for pharmacists in Chattanooga?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pharmacists typically earn — is $87K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,191/month. At HUD’s $1,390/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is pharmacist a high-paying job in Chattanooga?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $132K locally vs. $141K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Chattanooga compare to the national average for pharmacists?
Chattanooga pays $132K median vs. the U.S. average of $141K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.46), the purchasing-power equivalent is $145K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pharmacists make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median is $132,240 a year, that works out to about $64 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $86,520, and experienced pharmacists can clear $168,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $132K enough to live in Chattanooga?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,428/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,390/month, which eats 16.5% 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 Chattanooga?
Chattanooga has a Regional Price Parity of 91.46 (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 $144,588 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.