National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Pharmacists earn a national median of $132,750/year vs HVAC Technicians at $57,620/year. Pharmacists earn 57% more nationally. The gap is $75,130 per year — or $6,261 per month.
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Pharmacist
$132,750
national median/year
$11,063/mo • $64/hr
VS
HVAC Technician
$57,620
national median/year
$4,802/mo • $28/hr
Annual salary gap
$75,130
Pharmacists earn 57% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $851,621.
Best states for HVAC Technicians
vs Pharmacists
Hawaii+$-63,700
Maine+$-65,700
Idaho+$-67,700
Illinois+$-67,700
Kansas+$-67,700
Best states for Pharmacists
vs HVAC Technicians
California+$74,700
Connecticut+$73,700
Florida+$73,700
Georgia+$73,700
Maryland+$73,700
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Pharmacists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Pharmacists is $132,750 versus $57,620 for HVAC Technicians — a difference of $75,130 per year or $6,261 per month.
The national median salary gap between Pharmacists and HVAC Technicians is $75,130 per year. Pharmacists earn 57% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $851,621.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Pharmacists the highest median salary at $148,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, Hawaii pays HVAC Technicians the highest median salary at $74,620 per year.
Salary is one factor — Pharmacists earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Pharmacists and Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Pharmacists earn approximately $64 per hour nationally and HVAC Technicians earn approximately $28 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
