Pharmacists Employment & Job Outlook in California (2024)

California employs 35,980 Pharmacists professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2024 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-04-06

Total Employed
35,980
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
35.98
workers
Location Quotient
5.53
vs national avg
Average Salary
$157K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 5.53 indicates that California has a higher-than-average concentration of Pharmacists professionals. This means the job is in high demand relative to other states, suggesting strong local job market opportunities.

Note: Location Quotient (LQ) is the ratio of the percentage of workers in an occupation in a given area to the percentage in that occupation nationwide. An LQ > 1.0 means above-average concentration; < 1.0 means below-average.

California vs National Average

Total Employed
35,980
National: 331,700
10.8% of national
Jobs per 1,000
35.98
National: 6.5
+453.5%
Average Salary
$157K
National: $133K
+18.2%

Top States by Pharmacists Employment

#1
35,980
35,980
employed
#2
24,740
24,740
employed
#3
21,360
21,360
employed
#4
20,310
20,310
employed
#5
15,230
15,230
employed
#6
14,620
14,620
employed
#7
12,090
12,090
employed
#8
10,800
10,800
employed
#9
10,690
10,690
employed
#10
10,540
10,540
employed

What Does a Pharmacists Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Pharmacists in California is $157,280. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many Pharmacists jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 35,980 Pharmacists professionals (2024 BLS data). This ranks California among the top states nationwide.

Is Pharmacists in demand in California?

Yes — California has above-average concentration of Pharmacists jobs (LQ: 5.53). A Location Quotient above 1.0 indicates higher-than-average demand.

What is the average salary for Pharmacists in California?

The average (mean) salary for Pharmacists in California is $157280/year. See our detailed salary page for percentile breakdowns.

What is a Location Quotient (LQ)?

Location Quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is in a state compared to the national average. LQ > 1.0 means the state has more of that job proportionally. LQ > 1.2 indicates strong demand.

Which states employ the most Pharmacists professionals?

The top state for Pharmacists employment is California with 35,980 jobs.

Related Pages

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024. This data reflects total employment, jobs per 1,000 workers, location quotient, and average salary for Pharmacists (SOC 291051) in California.

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