Pharmacists Salary
The median pay for a pharmacists in Minnesota is $159,740/year ($76.8/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $98K at the entry level to $175K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $172,505 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,384/month, or 14.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $160K get you in Minnesota?
About pharmacists
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Minnesota sits well above the national pay line for pharmacists, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $141K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,384/month, 15.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Minnesota offers a genuinely strong financial position for pharmacistss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Minnesota
Entry-level pharmacists (10th percentile) start around $98K. Mid-career wages sit at $160K. Top earners bring in $175K or more, a $77K spread from bottom to top.
Pharmacists salary by metro in Minnesota
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | $164K | +3% | 440 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $161K | +1% | 4,160 |
| Mankato | $157K | -2% | 100 |
| Duluth | $155K | -3% | 330 |
| St. Cloud | $148K | -8% | 230 |
Compare to other states
Track pharmacists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
Yes — at the median salary of $160K, rent takes 15.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for pharmacists in Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pharmacists typically earn — is $98K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,889/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is pharmacist a high-paying job in Minnesota?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $160K here vs. $141K nationally.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for pharmacists?
Minnesota pays $160K median vs. the U.S. average of $141K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $173K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pharmacists make in Minnesota?
The median is $159,740 a year, that works out to about $77 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $98,150, and experienced pharmacists can clear $174,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $160K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,168/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 15.1% 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $172,505 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.