How much does a pharmacist make in Santa Cruz?
$161,900a year
Median yearly pay for pharmacists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $77.86 an hour or $13,500 a month.
- Hourly
- $77.86
- Vs. national median
- +15%
- Rank among cities
- 31 of 391
- Jobs in the area
- 170
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $131,300Median: $161,900Highest 10%: $220,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $131,300 | $63.14 | |
| 25th | $139,200 | $66.91 | |
| Median | $161,900 | $77.86 | |
| 75th | $185,400 | $89.15 | |
| 90th | $220,800 | $106.13 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for pharmacists.
| Napa, CA | $200,600 |
| San Jose, CA | $199,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | $177,400 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $172,900 |
| Sacramento, CA | $172,700 |
| Hanford, CA | $171,900 |
| Vallejo, CA | $170,900 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $170,600 |
| Fresno, CA | $169,200 |
| Redding, CA | $166,800 |
| Salinas, CA | $166,500 |
| San Diego, CA | $165,100 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $162,500 |
| Stockton, CA | $162,400 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $161,900 |
| Riverside, CA | $161,900 |
| Chico, CA | $161,400 |
| Yuba City, CA | $161,200 |
| Modesto, CA | $160,500 |
| Oxnard, CA | $160,400 |
| El Centro, CA | $158,500 |
| Visalia, CA | $158,100 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $157,400 |
| Merced, CA | $154,900 |
Related jobs in Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $431,000 |
| Physician | $305,600 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $291,900 |
| Dentist | $176,000 |
| Registered Nurse | $171,000 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $167,200 |
| Veterinarian | $164,800 |
| Physician Assistant | $159,000 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $134,900 |
| Dental Hygienist | $130,600 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacist make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $77.86 ($161,900 a year).
Do pharmacists make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $161,900 against $140,900 nationally, 15% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $164,600, so Santa Cruz pays 2% less.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for pharmacist pay?
31 of 391 metro areas with data.
How much does a pharmacist make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $131,300 or less a year; the top 10% make $220,800 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.