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Pharmacists Employment & Job Outlook in California (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

California employs 34,030 Pharmacists professionals, above the national average concentration.

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 • California employment outlook • Updated 2026-05-19

Total Employed
34,030
professionals
Jobs per 1,000
34.03
workers
Location Quotient
5.39
vs national avg
Average Salary
$162K
annual

High Demand in California

The location quotient (LQ) of 5.39 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
34,030
National: 321,960
10.6% of national
Jobs per 1,000
34.03
National: 6.31
+439.3%
Average Salary
$162K
National: $140K
+15.8%

Top States by Pharmacists Employment

#1
34,030
34,030
employed
#2
24,700
24,700
employed
#3
21,540
21,540
employed
#4
19,760
19,760
employed
#5
14,090
14,090
employed
#6
12,790
12,790
employed
#7
12,070
12,070
employed
#8
11,430
11,430
employed
#9
10,530
10,530
employed
#10
9,420
9,420
employed

What Does a Pharmacists Earn in California?

The average annual salary for a Pharmacists in California is $162,340. For a detailed breakdown by percentile, entry-level, median, and senior salaries, see the comprehensive salary guide below.

View full salary breakdown →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Pharmacists jobs are there in California?

California employs approximately 34,030 Pharmacists professionals (2025 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: 5.39). 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 $162340/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 34,030 jobs.

Find Your Next Opportunity

Related Pages

Top Cities in California

Explore cost of living, median household income, and demographics for California's largest cities.

Top Colleges in California

Compare tuition, admissions, and graduate outcomes at California's leading institutions.

Pharmacists Employment in Other States

Compare Pharmacists labor-market data (jobs, location quotient, salary) across the top-employing states.

All Pharmacists & California Resources

Drill deeper into Pharmacists pay, hiring, and education data for California.

Data Source

Employment and location quotient data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025. 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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