The Top 10 Best States to Be a Pharmacist
Our annual look at the best states to practice pharmacy, based on everything from salary to robbery statistics.
There are 328 million people in America, and-as of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ last count in May 2017-308,390 pharmacists. Pharmacists can work anywhere within the country’s borders, but not all states are created equal.
We compiled data from a number of sources (like personal finance website WalletHub, US News and World, the government’s Occupational Employment and Statistics program, and the Pharmacy Workforce Center) to rank the top 10 states for pharmacists in the year 2018.
We ranked each of 12 metrics on a scale from one to 50. The best state got a one, the worst got a 50. We then compiled those numbers-the best states got the lowest total.
And be sure to check out the 10 worst states here.
10. New Jersey
New Jersey was in the bottom 10 for total salary, but the state’s financial savviness indicates that they know how to stretch a dollar. Overall crime statistics were low, and pharmacy robbery rates were in the middle of the pack.
- Mean wage: 42 ($115,110)
- Number of pharmacists: 9
- Location quotient: 17
- Cost of living: 40
- Crime statistics: 4
- Robbery rates: 28
- Well-being: 23
- Health insurance rates: 25
- Job openings: 47
- Financial savviness: 5
- Stress: 10
- Education: 2
- Total: 252
9. Nebraska
Pharmacists in Nebraska were toward the bottom of the national rankings for their annual salary, but a good cost-of-living, a low stress level, and higher education levels secured the number nine position on our list.
- Mean wage: 47 ($113,720)
- Number of pharmacists: 36
- Location quotient: 10
- Cost of living: 5
- Crime statistics: 27
- Robbery rates: 23
- Well-being: 15
- Health insurance rates: 29
- Job openings: 17
- Financial savviness: 12
- Stress: 6
- Education: 6
- Total: 233
8. Connecticut
Like several other states, Connecticut had no pharmacy robberies in 2017 and overall crime statistics were relatively low. Education levels were high and stress levels were somewhat low.
- Mean wage: 14 ($123,610)
- Number of pharmacists: 32
- Location quotient: 48
- Cost of living: 43
- Crime statistics: 8
- Robbery rates: 1
- Well-being: 35
- Health insurance rates: 7
- Job openings: 17
- Financial savviness: 3
- Stress: 12
- Education: 4
- Total: 224
6. New Hampshire (tie)
Pharmacists in New Hampshire earned $15,000 more than Iowa (they tied for sixth place), and coming in number two with financial savviness means that they can do even more with that extra money.
- Mean wage: 5 ($127,900)
- Number of pharmacists: 45
- Location quotient: 49
- Cost of living: 38
- Crime statistics: 12
- Robbery rates: 10
- Well-being: 20
- Health insurance rates: 15
- Job openings: 17
- Financial savviness: 2
- Stress: 6
- Education: 3
- Total: 222
6. Iowa (tie)
With the second-to-worst salary in the nation (Utah came in last), pharmacists in Iowa enjoy a low cost of living, low stress rates, and a relatively high level of health insurance.
- Mean wage: 49 ($112,390)
- Number of pharmacists: 30
- Location quotient: 30
- Cost of living: 3
- Crime statistics: 16
- Robbery rates: 31
- Well-being: 19
- Health insurance rates: 5
- Job openings: 17
- Financial savviness: 11
- Stress: 3
- Education: 8
- Total: 222
5. South Dakota
While salaries in South Dakota are somewhat low, the rest of its metrics boost it into the top five. For instance, there were no pharmacy robberies reported in 2017, the overall state’s well-being was number three, and stress levels are reasonably low.
- Mean wage: 39 ($115,370)
- Number of pharmacists: 43
- Location quotient: 3
- Cost of living: 11
- Crime statistics: 28
- Robbery rates: 1
- Well-being: 3
- Health insurance rates: 32
- Job openings: 17
- Financial savviness: 25
- Stress: 4
- Education: 13
- Total: 219
4. Massachusetts
Massachusetts is the first state in our list where the salary is less than $120,000 per year. Education, financial savviness, and health insurance rates are high enough to put Massachusetts in the number four position.
- Mean wage: 36 ($116,820)
- Number of pharmacists: 12
- Location quotient: 21
- Cost of living: 47
- Crime statistics: 7
- Robbery rates: 20
- Well-being: 13
- Health insurance rates: 1
- Job openings: 45
- Financial savviness: 1
- Stress: 14
- Education: 1
- Total: 218
3. Wisconsin
Wages in the Badger State continue to be a good draw for pharmacists. Stress levels and crime statistics are reasonably low, and Wisconsinites seem to make the most out of their dollars.
- Mean wage: 4 ($130,670)
- Number of pharmacists: 22
- Location quotient: 41
- Cost of living: 15
- Crime statistics: 10
- Robbery rates: 32
- Well-being: 29
- Health insurance rates: 9
- Job openings: 16
- Financial savviness: 7
- Stress: 9
- Education: 17
- Total: 211
2. Vermont
Vermont has a lot going on for pharmacists. It is the safest place to live and work. Vermonters have a reasonably high health insurance rate and they ranked number three in terms of annual salary.
- Mean wage: 3 ($134,090)
- Number of pharmacists: 48
- Location quotient: 33
- Cost of living: 45
- Crime statistics: 1
- Robbery rates: 1
- Well-being: 6
- Health insurance rates: 3
- Job openings: 11
- Financial savviness: 22
- Stress: 7
- Education: 15
- Total: 195
1. Minnesota
It might be cold in Minnesota, but there is a lot going on in terms of quality-of-life and professional opportunity. The state boasts the lowest amount of stress, and pharmacists enjoy a salary in the top 10.
- Mean wage: 6 ($126,840)
- Number of pharmacists: 18
- Location quotient: 27
- Cost of living: 19
- Crime statistics: 17
- Robbery rate: 42
- Well-being: 8
- Health insurance rates: 4
- Job openings: 15
- Financial savviness: 4
- Stress: 1
- Education: 11
- Total: 172
Download Issue: Drug Topics November 2018