National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Pharmacists earn a national median of $132,750/year vs Social Workers at $54,150/year. Pharmacists earn 59% more nationally. The gap is $78,600 per year — or $6,550 per month.
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Pharmacist
$132,750
national median/year
$11,063/mo • $64/hr
VS
Social Worker
$54,150
national median/year
$4,513/mo • $26/hr
Annual salary gap
$78,600
Pharmacists earn 59% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $890,954.
Best states for Social Workers
vs Pharmacists
Maine+$-72,000
Arkansas+$-74,000
Idaho+$-74,000
Vermont+$-74,000
West Virginia+$-74,000
Best states for Pharmacists
vs Social Workers
Hawaii+$82,000
Nevada+$82,000
New Hampshire+$82,000
Oregon+$82,000
Alaska+$80,000
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Pharmacists earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Pharmacists is $132,750 versus $54,150 for Social Workers — a difference of $78,600 per year or $6,550 per month.
The national median salary gap between Pharmacists and Social Workers is $78,600 per year. Pharmacists earn 59% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $890,954.
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 Social Workers the highest median salary at $68,320 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 Child, Family, and School Social Workers 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 Social Workers earn approximately $26 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.
