US
Chico, CA
California salary market
$191K
Avg / Year
+39% vs U.S.
vs National
160
Employment
$15.9K
Monthly Avg
Updated for 2026

Pharmacist Salary in Chico, CA (2026)

The Pharmacist salary in Chico, CA for 2026 is presented as a modeled salary benchmark built from the latest official BLS wage baseline, then extended with wage trend history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available. This guide compares the Chico, CA market with the U.S. baseline and breaks projected pay down by experience, skills, industry, and nearby markets.

Official BLS baseline: 2024Chico, CA city pageModeled salary guide10 min read
City Average
$191K
per year
Entry Level
$143K
starting range
Senior Level
$216K
upper local band
Remote / Hybrid
$195K
modeled local premium
Monthly
$15.9K
avg before tax
Hourly Rate
$82
median equivalent
Salary figures projected to 2026  from May 2024BLS OEWS baseline  ·  Projections use wage history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available
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Pharmacist Salary Overview in Chico, CA

Careerclev's modeled 2026 benchmark places Pharmacist pay in Chico, CA at about $190,833 per year. On the latest official BLS baseline for this market, the lower local range starts near $128,380, while the strongest-paid professionals can reach about $196,810.

Salary estimates are based on data from the Chico, CA metropolitan area.

If you’re comparing Pharmacist salaries in Chico, CA, the real story isn’t just the headline number. Local employer mix, seniority, specialization, and whether the role is remote, hybrid, or onsite can push compensation well above or below the local median.

Chico, CA vs. U.S. National Average

Chico, CA pays +39% vs u.s. for Pharmacist roles. The difference is driven by local employer demand, industry mix, cost pressures, and how concentrated this role is in the underlying metro labor market.

United States National Average
$137K
all U.S. markets combined
+39%
Chico, CA Premium
Chico, CA City Average
$191K
Pharmacist
MarketProjected Salaryvs Chico, CAMarket Maturity
Chico, CA (this guide)$190,833BaselineLocal market
United States$137,480-28% vs U.S.National baseline
Napa, CA$203,950+7% vs U.S.Comparable city
San Jose, CA$196,250+3% vs U.S.Comparable city
San Francisco, CA$183,510-4% vs U.S.Comparable city
Why Chico, CA pay differsThe strongest city salary premiums usually appear where employers compete for specialized talent, where the role is concentrated, and where local costs make compensation harder to hold down.

Pharmacist Salary by Experience Level in Chico, CA

Experience changes the local salary picture quickly because employers usually pay for independence, specialization, and broader scope, not just years on paper. In Chico, CA, this breakdown shows how aPharmacist can move from early-career pay into stronger bands as the role becomes more self-directed.

Entry-Level
0-2 years
$172K
$92/hr median equivalent
$143K - $191K
Mid-Level
3-5 years
$191K
$92/hr median equivalent
$172K - $216K
Senior
6-10 years
$216K
$92/hr median equivalent
$191K - $219K
Lead / Principal
10+ years
$219K
$92/hr median equivalent
$216K - $268K
LevelExperienceProjected SalaryProjected RangeMarket Signal
Entry-Level Pharmacist0-2 years$171,906$143,102 - $190,833+25% vs U.S.
Mid-Level Pharmacist3-5 years$190,833$171,906 - $215,579+39% vs U.S.
Senior Pharmacist6-10 years$215,579$190,833 - $219,380+57% vs U.S.
Lead / Principal Pharmacist10+ years$219,380$215,579 - $267,643+60% vs U.S.
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Best Salary Areas Near Chico, CA

Nearby metro areas help show how Pharmacist pay changes around Chico, CA. Each market reflects its own employer mix, local demand, and industry concentration, making these comparisons useful for candidates weighing their location options.

#1
Chico, CA
$191K
avg / year
Salary estimates are based on data from the Chico, CA metropolitan area.
This guide
#2
Napa, CA
$204K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Pharmacist salaries around Chico, CA.
+7% vs U.S.
#3
San Jose, CA
$196K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Pharmacist salaries around Chico, CA.
+3% vs U.S.
#4
San Francisco, CA
$184K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Pharmacist salaries around Chico, CA.
-4% vs U.S.
#5
Vallejo, CA
$178K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Pharmacist salaries around Chico, CA.
-7% vs U.S.

Pharmacist Salary by Industry in Chico, CA

Industry premiums in Chico, CA usually come from employers that place the Pharmacist role close to revenue, infrastructure, compliance, product delivery, or other high-value work. National industry data gives the best available benchmark until local industry slices are available.

IndustryModeled SalaryReference RangeSignal
Other Services Except Public Administration$156,600$70,400.0 - $156,610Stronger salary
Government, Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service$150,080$107,170 - $190,320Stronger salary
Health Care and Social Assistance$149,830$115,440 - $188,800Stronger salary
Government Excluding Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service$149,640$95,140.0 - $179,710Competitive
Educational Services$142,560$55,300.0 - $178,310Competitive
Transportation and Warehousing$138,980$60,720.0 - $166,540Competitive
Management of Companies and Enterprises$138,480$105,580 - $185,610Competitive
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services$137,610$75,770.0 - $165,500Competitive

Entry-Level Pharmacist Salary in Chico, CA

Entry-level Pharmacist jobs in Chico, CA are modeled around the lower local wage percentiles. Candidates who can show practical projects, job-ready tools, and strong fundamentals usually have a better path into the middle of the local salary range.

For a broader starting-pay benchmark beyond this city market, see the entry-level Pharmacist salary guide.

Entry estimateA reasonable entry-level salary benchmark for Pharmacist roles in Chico, CA is about $171,906.
Preparation pathJob Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Typical education: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). Training signal: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Remote vs Onsite Pharmacist Pay in Chico, CA

Remote work can widen the employer pool for Pharmacist candidates in Chico, CA. Onsite and hybrid roles may still pay more when employers need local availability, local clients, regulated work, or team coverage.

Local Onsite Role
$190,833
avg local employer
Hybrid Role
$194,650
modeled local premium
+2% local avg
Work TypeEstimated SalaryExperienceBest FitFlexibility
Remote$187,016Market dependentNational hiring poolsHigh
Hybrid$194,650Metro dependentChico, CA employersMedium
Onsite$190,833Location dependentLocal teams and operationsLower

Cost of Living vs Salary in Chico, CA

A salary in Chico, CA should be read alongside housing, commuting, tax, and everyday costs. The same annual pay can feel very different at entry, mid-level, and senior levels.

Monthly Expense
Entry
Mid
Senior
Housing / rent
$2.5K
$3.5K
$4.5K
Transport / commute
$556.6
$636.1
$715.6
Food and groceries
$1.2K
$1.3K
$1.4K
Utilities and internet
$556.6
$636.1
$715.6
Estimated remainder
$5.4K
$8.3K
$10.2K
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Top Employers Hiring Pharmacists in Chico, CA

Employer mix is one of the biggest city-level salary drivers. The industries below highlight where Pharmacist pay tends to be strongest in Chico, CA, based on the sectors that create the most hiring demand for this role.

1
Other Services Except Public Administration employers
$157K
Industry benchmark for Pharmacist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
2
Government, Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service employers
$150K
Industry benchmark for Pharmacist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
3
Health Care and Social Assistance employers
$150K
Industry benchmark for Pharmacist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
4
Government Excluding Schools, Hospitals, and Postal Service employers
$150K
Industry benchmark for Pharmacist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
5
Educational Services employers
$143K
Industry benchmark for Pharmacist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
6
Transportation and Warehousing employers
$139K
Industry benchmark for Pharmacist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.

Chico, CA Compared With Other U.S. Cities

This comparison is useful when one city salary number is not enough on its own. It shows whetherChico, CA is genuinely a stronger-paying market for Pharmacist work or whether the local benchmark sits closer to the broader national middle.

Chico, CA
This guide
$191K
Baseline
Napa, CA
Nearby U.S. market
$204K
+7% vs U.S.
San Jose, CA
Nearby U.S. market
$196K
+3% vs U.S.
San Francisco, CA
Nearby U.S. market
$184K
-4% vs U.S.
Vallejo, CA
Nearby U.S. market
$178K
-7% vs U.S.
Santa Rosa, CA
Nearby U.S. market
$175K
-8% vs U.S.
Sacramento, CA
Nearby U.S. market
$174K
-9% vs U.S.

Career Growth Opportunities in Chico, CA

Local career growth is strongest when it is read through both the city salary ladder and the broader national demand outlook. The city salary benchmark shows what this market currently pays, while the career path and BLS demand data show how that benchmark can expand with scope and responsibility.

1
Intern / Trainee
$79.7K - $107K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
2
Junior
$99.0K - $131K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
3
Mid Level
$124K - $154K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
4
Senior
$149K - $193K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
5
Lead
$176K - $223K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
6
Principal / Architect
$206K - $282K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
BLS Demand SignalEmployment is projected to change by 4.6% from 2024 to 2034.
Faster than averageAnnual openings: 14.2 thousand.
Metric2026 Outlook
Projected employment335.1k → 350.5k
Typical educationMost of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Related experienceExtensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Local market anchor160 jobs with a median of $190,833

Factors Affecting Pharmacist Salary in Chico, CA

Local pay rarely moves for one reason alone. In city markets, the biggest differences usually come from employer concentration, industry mix, seniority, and whether the role is tied to business-critical work that is harder to staff.

Years of Experience
Salary usually rises as the role moves from entry-level execution to independent ownership, mentoring, and broader decision-making.
Location and Cost of Living
Local salary ranges vary by labor market, employer density, and household-income context.
Industry
Industry pay can vary when employers in higher-margin or harder-to-staff sectors compete for the same occupation.
Specialized Skills
O*NET marks high-demand role-specific skills as relevant skills for this role, making them useful anchors for specialization and salary-growth content.

How to Increase Your Pharmacist Salary in Chico, CA

In city markets, salary growth often comes from better positioning as much as from patience. These moves are most useful when you already understand the local benchmark and want a clearer path beyond it.

1
Benchmark against stronger markets
Compare national, metro, and industry salary facts before negotiating so your target range is grounded in current wage data.
1-3 months timeline
2
Build a visible specialization
Prioritize skills such as high-demand role-specific skills; O*NET relevance scores make these good first candidates for portfolio and resume positioning.
3-9 months timeline
3
Target higher-paying industries
Use industry salary facts to identify sectors that already pay above the occupation baseline.
2-6 months timeline
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Pharmacist Salary in Chico, CA: FAQs

These questions usually come up after readers compare the city benchmark, the statewide picture, and the local experience ladder. They help clarify how to read the market and what matters most when you compare this city with other options.

These FAQs focus on how readers searching for "Pharmacist" usually compare local pay, employer mix, and market differences in this city.

What is the average Pharmacist in Chico, CAs salary?
The latest national baseline for Pharmacists is about $137,500 per year, based on the current BLS-derived salary facts in CareerClev.
What is the entry-level Pharmacist in Chico, CAs salary?
Entry-level estimates for Pharmacists are modeled around the lower BLS percentile range, currently about $86,900 per year nationally.
How much can senior Pharmacist in Chico, CAs professionals earn?
Senior Pharmacists estimates are modeled from upper percentile wage bands and currently sit around $158,600 per year nationally.
Does location affect Pharmacist in Chico, CAs salary?
Yes. CareerClev stores salary facts by national, state, and metro locations, so location-specific pages should use the closest available geography instead of a single national number.
Which skills matter for Pharmacist in Chico, CAs salary growth?
CareerClev uses O*NET skill importance and level scores to identify role-relevant skills. These are useful for recommendations, but should not be presented as measured salary premiums unless enriched compensation data exists.
Data
Data Sources & MethodologyUpdated using 2024 BLS OEWS salary facts, O*NET occupation-skill data, Census location context where available, ILOSTAT country benchmarks where mapped, BLS Employment Projections where imported, and Stack Overflow Developer Survey enrichment for mapped tech roles.
Salary figures use BLS OEWS wage facts for 2024. City pages use the BLS metropolitan area as the salary dataset, display the largest city as the public page name, and model experience bands from local wage percentiles.
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