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- Retail State of Affairs - Part III
January 19th, 2026
Hello there,
Can we still say happy new year? Let’s make 2026 the best one yet.
I am incredibly proud to bring you the third annual update on retail pharmacy through the lens of Pharmacist Compensation data.
Hope you enjoy!
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Today’s Insights
Retail State of Affairs - Part III
As 2026 kicks off, I am incredibly excited to bring Part III of this story. This edition includes 3 full years of retail pharmacy data. And not to jump ahead too much, but after two stagnant years there is (finally) a noticeable trend in the data.
This update includes data from over 2,400 retail pharmacists representing the full spectrum of job titles. As expected, most participants are either a Floater Pharmacist, Staff Pharmacist, or Pharmacy Manager. The below graph visualizes the full retail pharmacist pool of data over the past 36 months.
The graph displays a quarterly breakout of retail pharmacist participants by job title. Data collected by Pharmacist Compensation beginning January 2023 through the end of 2025.
The participants in 2025 reported higher median annual wages compared to prior years. The blue trend line in the below graph is right where you want to see it if you’re a retail pharmacist. Up and to the right!
The above graph displays median annual wages as reported by retail pharmacists. Total annual wages was defined as the sum of base salary, overtime, and bonus(es). Data collected by Pharmacist Compensation beginning January 2023 through the end of 2025.
The upward trend was also spotted in the hourly wages reported by participants in 2025. Each quarter reported over $68/hour with Q4 ending at greater than $70/hour! This should be your new benchmark for 2026.
The above graph displays median hourly wages as reported by retail pharmacists. Data collected by Pharmacist Compensation beginning January 2023 through the end of 2025.
Moreover, a breakdown by job title also shows increases in compensation reported for 2025. The biggest trend seen in the jump Pharmacy Managers made from Q3 to Q4 (red line below).
The above graph displays median annual wages as reported by retail pharmacists and stratified by Job Title. Total annual wages was defined as the sum of base salary, overtime, and bonus(es). Data collected by Pharmacist Compensation beginning January 2023 through the end of 2025.
Retail pharmacy is showing strong indicators that more compensation is available. In terms of hourly wages, the years of $60+ per hour are gone. The new benchmark (read; floor) is $70/hour in retail pharmacy. Go get it!
The next section of the newsletter is an optional paid section which includes the following additional data stratification:
Prescription Volume Connection to Compensation
Compensation by Retail Pharmacy Setting (Chain, Independent, Grocery, Outpatient, Other)
Job Satisfaction based on Retail Pharmacy Setting (Chain, Independent, Grocery, Outpatient, Other)
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