Pharmacist Salary in Boston, MA
Pharmacists in Boston, MA earn a median of $112,000/year, ranging from $86,240 (25th percentile) to $179,200 (90th percentile). After Massachusetts state taxes (5%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 162), this is equivalent to $69,136 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Boston, MA
Pharmacists here work for major hospital systems like Mass General and Brigham and Women's, alongside retail chains such as CVS and Walgreens that maintain heavy New England presence. The $112,000 median salary gets squeezed by Boston's cost of living - a one-bedroom apartment in Somerville or Cambridge runs around $2,200 to $2,400 monthly, which eats into what looks solid on paper. The Red and Blue Lines cover much of the metro, though pharmacists in suburban locations often need a car to reach chain stores and smaller hospital outposts; the 128 corridor sees plenty of commute traffic during rush hours. Massachusetts' 5 percent state income tax is straightforward compared to neighboring states, but factor it into your take-home. The region's teaching-hospital concentration means strong clinical pharmacy opportunities if you lean that direction rather than retail.
1Salary Distribution in Boston, MA
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does Boston, MA Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA (current) | $112,000 | 162 | $69,136 |
| San Francisco, CA | $126,000 | 186 | $67,742 |
| New York, NY | $121,000 | 187 | $64,706 |
| Seattle, WA | $122,000 | 162 | $75,309 |
| Austin, TX | $101,000 | 124 | $81,452 |
| Denver, CO | $97,000 | 128 | $75,781 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Pharmacist salary in Boston, MA?
The median Pharmacist salary in Boston, MA is $112,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $86,240 and the 90th percentile is $179,200.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a Pharmacist?
Boston, MA has a cost of living index of 162 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $112,000 Pharmacist salary in Boston, MA is equivalent to $69,136 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Boston, MA?
Boston, MA has a cost of living index of 162, meaning it is 62% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in Massachusetts is approximately 5%.
What is the Pharmacist salary range in Boston, MA?
In Boston, MA, Pharmacists earn between $86,240 (25th percentile) and $179,200 (90th percentile), with a median of $112,000 per year.
How many Pharmacist jobs are there in Boston, MA?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 33,600 Pharmacist positions in the Boston, MA metropolitan area.
What do Pharmacists earn in Boston, MA?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Pharmacists in Boston, MA earn a median annual wage of $112,000. The middle 50% earn between $86,240 and $143,360. The top 10% earn more than $179,200. There are approximately 33,600 Pharmacists employed in the Boston, MA metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 4.1%.
Is Boston, MA a good place for a Pharmacist?
Boston, MA has a cost of living index of 162 (US average = 100), making it 62% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Pharmacist in Boston, MA earning $112,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $69,136 relative to the US median. Massachusetts has a state income tax rate of approximately 5%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Boston, MA?
Boston, MA's cost of living index is 162, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $112,000 in Boston, MAhas the same purchasing power as $69,136 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.
Compare Boston, MA with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a Pharmacist in Boston, MA?
The headline median of $112,000 is only part of the picture. Boston, MA's cost of living index is 162 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 62¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $112,000 salary effectively purchases $69,136 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Boston, MA, the median household typically spends 35–45% of gross income on housing — significantly above the 28% "affordable" threshold most lenders use. For a $112,000 salary, that translates to roughly $44,800/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. Massachusetts levies a state income tax of approximately 5%, which reduces take-home by roughly $5,600 per year on this salary. States with zero income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada) offer a structural advantage, but often offset it with higher sales tax or property tax. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $98,314. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: San Francisco, CA ($126,000 median, COL 186); New York, NY ($121,000 median, COL 187); Seattle, WA ($122,000 median, COL 162). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 4.1% year-over-year growth rate for Pharmacists in Boston, MA is a leading indicator of market health. Healthy growth at a steady pace — enough to support mobility but not so fast that compensation is racing ahead of credentials. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Pharmacists or the Massachusetts state overview.
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.