Pharmacists Salary
The median pay for a pharmacists in New Orleans-Metairie, LA is $128,100/year ($61.59/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $86K at the entry level to $155K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $138,337 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,331/month, or 17.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $128K get you in New Orleans-Metairie?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by New Orleans-Metairie’s Regional Price Parity (92.6). 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
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What this looks like in New Orleans-Metairie
Pharmacists pay in New Orleans-Metairie tracks closely to the national median, $128K locally vs. $141K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,331/month, 17.1% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for pharmacists in metros near New Orleans-Metairie, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | $135K | $148K |
| Lafayette | $132K | $152K |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $138K | $163K |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington | $131K | $141K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Entry-level pharmacists (10th percentile) start around $86K. Mid-career wages sit at $128K. Top earners bring in $155K or more, a $69K 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 New Orleans-Metairie numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Orleans-Metairie?
Yes — at the median salary of $128K, rent takes 17.1% 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 New Orleans-Metairie?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pharmacists typically earn — is $86K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,164/month. At HUD’s $1,331/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is pharmacist a high-paying job in New Orleans-Metairie?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $128K locally vs. $141K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does New Orleans-Metairie compare to the national average for pharmacists?
New Orleans-Metairie pays $128K median vs. the U.S. average of $141K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $138K — below the national median.
How much do pharmacists make in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The median is $128,100 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $86,060, and experienced pharmacists can clear $155,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $128K enough to live in New Orleans-Metairie?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,787/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,331/month, which eats 17.1% 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 New Orleans-Metairie?
New Orleans-Metairie 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 $138,337 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.