What is a clinical pharmacist?
A clinical pharmacist is a pharmacist who works on direct patient care in a hospital, clinic or other healthcare setting rather than mainly filling prescriptions. BLS describes clinical pharmacists as recommending medications to patients, overseeing doses and timing and evaluating how well a drug works for each patient.[1] O*NET lists "Clinical Pharmacist" and "Clinical Pharmacy Specialist" among the job titles that fall under the pharmacist occupation, along with tasks such as working with other clinicians to plan and monitor drug regimens and specializing in areas such as oncology.[2]
Because clinical pharmacists are licensed pharmacists with the same Doctor of Pharmacy degree, BLS does not survey them separately. The closest official pay figure is the pay of pharmacists employed by hospitals, which is what this page uses.[3][4]
Clinical pharmacist salary by percentile
Half of hospital pharmacists earn more than $157,290 and the middle half earn $135,910 to $170,330; the mean is $150,840.[3] The low end is much higher than for pharmacists overall: the 10th percentile in hospitals is $116,040, against $99,290 for all pharmacists, because hospitals employ few part-time and entry-level pharmacists at low annual pay.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Take-home* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $116,040 | $55.79 | $90,464 |
| 25th | $135,910 | $65.34 | $104,160 |
| Median (50th) | $157,290 | $75.62 | $118,774 |
| 75th | $170,330 | $81.89 | $127,687 |
| 90th | $189,810 | $91.25 | $141,330 |
*Single filer, 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, before state tax.[5][6]
At the hospital median, a single filer keeps about $118,774 a year, or $9,898 a month, before state income tax. Hourly figures use the BLS 2,080-hour year and do not include shift differentials for nights and weekends, which hospitals open around the clock often pay.[4][1]
Clinical pharmacist vs retail pharmacist pay
Hospital pharmacists earn $24,350 more than pharmacists in pharmacies and drug retailers at the median ($157,290 vs $132,940), and the gap is about the same at the top of the range.[3] Hospital pharmacists earn the most of the five largest employers, a $157,290 median in May 2025, while pharmacies and drug retailers pay the least at $132,940.[1]
| Industry | Jobs | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitals (state, local and private) | 102,470 | $157,290 | $116,040 | $189,810 |
| General medical and surgical hospitals | 95,760 | $157,440 | $115,610 | $189,570 |
| Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing | 1,400 | $138,800 | $122,450 | $169,630 |
| All industries | 321,970 | $140,910 | $99,290 | $174,230 |
| Pharmacies and drug retailers | 121,790 | $132,940 | $85,490 | $161,080 |
The state-by-state picture for every pharmacist, with a take-home calculator, is on pharmacist salary. State figures are not split by industry, so a hospital job in a high-wage state such as California (all-pharmacist median $164,610) can pay well above the national hospital figure.[7]
Residency and board certification
A residency is the usual extra step toward a clinical job, but BLS calls it optional: pharmacists seeking a clinical or other advanced position "may opt to complete a residency or fellowship," and these programs typically last one to two years.[1] Pharmacists may also earn a voluntary certification in a specialty, which generally requires work experience and an exam.[1]
- PharmD first. Every clinical pharmacist holds a Doctor of Pharmacy and a state license (NAPLEX plus a law exam). The full path is on how to become a pharmacist.
- One or two residency years. Residents train in hospitals and clinics after graduation. BLS does not survey resident pay, so it is not part of the figures above.
- Specialty certification. Optional and specialty-specific; check the certifying body's current requirements and fees.
Counting school and residency, a clinical pharmacist typically trains six to ten years after high school. What the degree costs, and how long it takes to pay back, is on pharmacy school cost. For a non-clinical alternative, see pharmaceutical sales rep salary.
Job outlook
BLS projects 5% employment growth from 2025 to 2035 and about 12,500 openings a year.[1] Hospitals employed 102,470 pharmacists in May 2025, about 32% of all 321,970 pharmacist jobs in the survey.[3]
Frequently asked questions
How much does a clinical pharmacist make?
BLS does not track clinical pharmacists separately. Pharmacists employed by hospitals, where most clinical roles are, earn a median of $157,290 a year (May 2025); the top 10% earn over $189,810.
What does a clinical pharmacist do?
Works in direct patient care in hospitals and clinics: recommends medications, oversees doses and timing and checks how well drugs work, usually as part of a care team (BLS).
Do clinical pharmacists make more than retail pharmacists?
Yes. The May 2025 median is $157,290 for hospital pharmacists and $132,940 in pharmacies and drug retailers, a $24,350 gap.
Do you need a residency to be a clinical pharmacist?
BLS describes residency as optional: pharmacists seeking clinical or advanced positions may complete a residency or fellowship of one to two years. Check the job postings you are aiming for.
Sources
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Pharmacists
- Summary Report for 29-1051.00 Pharmacists (tasks, job titles)
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates (pharmaceutical manufacturing, nondurable-goods wholesalers, hospitals, pharmacies) and state estimates for SOC 41-4011
- OEWS Frequently Asked Questions (wage definition; 2,080-hour year)
- IRS releases tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026 (Rev. Proc. 2025-32)
- Contribution and Benefit Base ($184,500 for 2026)
- Local Wages: 29-1051.00 Pharmacists (state and metro percentiles)