Pharmacists Salary
The median pay for a pharmacists in Missouri is $137,610/year ($66.16/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $108K at the entry level to $167K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $154,670 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 13.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $138K get you in Missouri?
About pharmacists
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pharmacists pay in Missouri tracks closely to the national median, $138K locally vs. $141K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,097/month, 13.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Missouri
Entry-level pharmacists (10th percentile) start around $108K. Mid-career wages sit at $138K. Top earners bring in $167K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Pharmacists salary by metro in Missouri
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Girardeau | $141K | +3% | 100 |
| Kansas City | $139K | +1% | 2,640 |
| Columbia | $139K | +1% | 280 |
| St. Louis | $139K | +1% | 2,910 |
| Springfield | $135K | -2% | 560 |
| St. Joseph | $132K | -4% | 120 |
| Jefferson City | $130K | -5% | 100 |
| Joplin | $128K | -7% | 180 |
Compare to other states
Track pharmacists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $138K, rent takes 13.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for pharmacists in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pharmacists typically earn — is $108K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,452/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 17% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is pharmacist a high-paying job in Missouri?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $138K locally vs. $141K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for pharmacists?
Missouri pays $138K median vs. the U.S. average of $141K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $155K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do pharmacists make in Missouri?
The median is $137,610 a year, that works out to about $66 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $107,530, and experienced pharmacists can clear $166,840. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $138K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,252/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 13.3% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $154,670 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.