Pharmacist pay in San Jose, CA
Pharmacists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a typical $199,040 a year. The middle half earn $158,280 to $224,830, and the top 10% earn more than $234,080. About 1,960 people do this job there.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (occupation: Pharmacists, SOC 29-1051).
Pay range
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $151,900 |
| 25th percentile | $158,280 |
| Median (typical) | $199,040 |
| 75th percentile | $224,830 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $234,080 |
Typical pay here ranks No. 1 of 50 large metros for pharmacists before taxes and prices.
After taxes and cost of living
At the typical $199,040, a single filer keeps about $133,900 a year after federal, Social Security, Medicare, and California state income tax. Prices in San Jose are 10% above the US average, so that take-home buys what $121,300 would in a typical US city. That ranks San Jose No. 1 of 50 large metros for pharmacists after cost of living.
Where pharmacists’ pay goes furthest
- San Antonio, TX$150,500 typical · worth $121k
- Austin, TX$151,290 typical · worth $117k
- Milwaukee, WI$153,340 typical · worth $113k
- Indianapolis, IN$151,050 typical · worth $112k
All 50 metros for pharmacists →
Where does your salary land?
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Common questions
How much does a pharmacist make in San Jose, CA?
The typical (median) pharmacist in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earns $199,040 a year. The middle half earn between $158,280 and $224,830, and the top 10% earn more than $234,080. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
What is a good salary for a pharmacist in San Jose?
Anything above $199,040 pays more than half of pharmacists in San Jose. $224,830 or more puts you in the top quarter, and $234,080 in the top 10%. Experience and employer move where you should be in that range.
How much does a pharmacist in San Jose take home after taxes?
At the typical $199,040, a single filer keeps about $133,900 a year ($11,160 a month) after federal, Social Security, Medicare, California state income tax. With local prices 10% above the US average, that buys what $121,300 would in a typical US city.
Where do pharmacists get paid the most after cost of living?
Among the 50 largest US metros, typical pharmacist pay goes furthest after taxes and prices in San Antonio, TX, Austin, TX, Milwaukee, WI. San Jose, CA ranks No. 1.
More: Pharmacist pay in every large metro · Pay for other jobs in San Jose, CA
Local prices: BEA regional price parities, 2024. Updated November 2026.