National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Pharmacists earn a national median of $132,750/year vs Nurses at $89,010/year. Pharmacists earn 33% more nationally. The gap is $43,740 per year — or $3,645 per month.
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Pharmacist
$132,750
national median/year
$11,063/mo • $64/hr
VS
Nurse
$89,010
national median/year
$7,418/mo • $43/hr
Annual salary gap
$43,740
Pharmacists earn 33% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $495,806.
Best states for Nurses
vs Pharmacists
California+$-16,850
Hawaii+$-34,000
Washington+$-38,000
Oregon+$-39,000
Connecticut+$-43,000
Best states for Pharmacists
vs Nurses
Indiana+$54,000
Michigan+$54,000
Minnesota+$54,000
Missouri+$54,000
Ohio+$54,000
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Pharmacists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Pharmacists is $132,750 versus $89,010 for Nurses — a difference of $43,740 per year or $3,645 per month.
The national median salary gap between Pharmacists and Nurses is $43,740 per year. Pharmacists earn 33% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $495,806.
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, California pays Nurses the highest median salary at $131,470 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 Registered Nurses 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 Nurses earn approximately $43 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.
