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The role of a pharmacy intern is crucial within the healthcare system, offering hands-on experience in various settings such as hospitals, retail pharmacies, and clinics. The average salary of $80,116 per year reflects the demand for skilled pharmacy interns. Salaries can differ significantly based on geographic location; states like California and New York often provide higher wages due to the cost of living and demand for healthcare services.
Entry-level pharmacy interns can expect to earn around $60,000 annually, while those with more experience can see salaries rise significantly. Furthermore, interns who pursue specialized fields, such as clinical pharmacy, may find higher salary prospects. Understanding these dynamics is essential for making informed decisions about potential career paths.
As the healthcare industry evolves, pharmacy interns are increasingly sought after. Opportunities are available in various sectors, including community pharmacies, hospital settings, and pharmaceutical companies. By securing an internship, aspiring pharmacists not only gain invaluable experience but also enhance their earning potential, paving the way for a successful career.
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The highest-paying states for pharmacy interns are California, Arizona, and Hawaii. The lowest average pharmacy internship salary states are Vermont, Maine, and Iowa.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | $95,736 | $46.03 |
| 2 | California | $98,545 | $47.38 |
| 3 | Florida | $81,064 | $38.97 |
| 4 | New Mexico | $83,056 | $39.93 |
| 5 | Nevada | $73,661 | $35.41 |
| 6 | Texas | $84,913 | $40.82 |
| 7 | Mississippi | $62,481 | $30.04 |
| 8 | Alabama | $60,672 | $29.17 |
| 9 | Idaho | $62,683 | $30.14 |
| 10 | Louisiana | $56,464 | $27.15 |
| 11 | Oregon | $81,893 | $39.37 |
| 12 | Washington | $71,304 | $34.28 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $92,041 | $44.25 |
| 14 | Kansas | $57,485 | $27.64 |
| 15 | Georgia | $68,679 | $33.02 |
| 16 | Oklahoma | $62,961 | $30.27 |
| 17 | Rhode Island | $54,153 | $26.04 |
| 18 | South Carolina | $56,415 | $27.12 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $61,440 | $29.54 |
| 20 | Utah | $60,330 | $29.00 |
| 21 | Colorado | $61,800 | $29.71 |
| 22 | New York | $53,643 | $25.79 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $54,065 | $25.99 |
| 24 | Indiana | $48,617 | $23.37 |
| 25 | Illinois | $57,540 | $27.66 |
| 26 | New Jersey | $54,322 | $26.12 |
| 27 | Pennsylvania | $51,858 | $24.93 |
| 28 | Montana | $47,704 | $22.93 |
| 29 | Minnesota | $51,958 | $24.98 |
| 30 | Michigan | $46,114 | $22.17 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $45,608 | $21.93 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $48,865 | $23.49 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $47,958 | $23.06 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $53,660 | $25.80 |
| 35 | Massachusetts | $52,392 | $25.19 |
| 36 | Ohio | $47,632 | $22.90 |
| 37 | Connecticut | $52,936 | $25.45 |
| 38 | Delaware | $51,942 | $24.97 |
| 39 | Maryland | $55,178 | $26.53 |
| 40 | Virginia | $52,802 | $25.39 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $46,216 | $22.22 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $46,754 | $22.48 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | $55,836 | $26.84 |
| 44 | Vermont | $42,321 | $20.35 |
| 45 | Alaska | $35,408 | $17.02 |
| 46 | Iowa | $41,247 | $19.83 |
| 47 | Maine | $41,799 | $20.10 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $47,066 | $22.63 |
| 49 | Missouri | $45,163 | $21.71 |
| 50 | North Dakota | $40,447 | $19.45 |
| 51 | South Dakota | $40,168 | $19.31 |
The highest-paying cities for pharmacy interns are San Diego, CA, Phoenix, AZ, and Houston, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego, CA | $101,342 | $48.72 |
| 2 | Phoenix, AZ | $95,767 | $46.04 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $85,941 | $41.32 |
| 4 | Miami, FL | $85,498 | $41.10 |
| 5 | Albuquerque, NM | $82,345 | $39.59 |
| 6 | Yakima, WA | $73,421 | $35.30 |
| 7 | Columbus, GA | $71,386 | $34.32 |
| 8 | Franklin, WI | $62,293 | $29.95 |
| 9 | Greenville, MS | $61,844 | $29.73 |
| 10 | Aurora, CO | $61,397 | $29.52 |
| 11 | Salt Lake City, UT | $59,649 | $28.68 |
| 12 | Aurora, IL | $57,354 | $27.57 |
| 13 | Wilmington, NC | $56,702 | $27.26 |
| 14 | Salisbury, MD | $56,570 | $27.20 |
| 15 | Washington, DC | $55,821 | $26.84 |
| 16 | New York, NY | $54,109 | $26.01 |
| 17 | Virginia Beach, VA | $54,020 | $25.97 |
| 18 | Jersey City, NJ | $54,004 | $25.96 |
| 19 | Greenville, SC | $53,913 | $25.92 |
| 20 | Rochester, MN | $53,899 | $25.91 |
Pharmacy Interns are the most in-demand in these five cities:
A pharmacy internship's salary ranges from $45,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $139,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $139,000 | $11,583 | $67 |
| 75th Percentile | $107,000 | $8,917 | $51 |
| Average | $80,116 | $6,676 | $39 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| 10th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
The highest paying types of pharmacy interns are pharmacist in charge, pharmacist, and retail pharmacist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Staff Pharmacist | $77,646 | $6,470 | $37.33 | 162,262 |
| Medical Laboratory Technologist Internship | $37,088 | $3,091 | $17.83 | 169,421 |
| Certified Pharmacist Technician | $37,059 | $3,088 | $17.82 | 113,033 |
| Pharmacist Technician Trainee | $50,647 | $4,221 | $24.35 | 97,227 |
| Clinical Pharmacist | $94,705 | $7,892 | $45.53 | 101,564 |
| Retail Pharmacist | $118,899 | $9,908 | $57.16 | 110,278 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for pharmacy internships, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Michael J. Avaltroni Ph.D.
Top companies hiring pharmacy interns now:
Pharmacy internship salaries at Safeway and University of Maryland Medical System are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average pharmacy internship salary at companies like East Tennessee Children's Hospital and Hy-Vee are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Safeway | $132,365 | $63.64 |
| 2 | University of Maryland Medical System | $131,474 | $63.21 |
| 3 | East Tennessee Children's Hospital | $130,372 | $62.68 |
| 4 | Hy-Vee | $129,729 | $62.37 |
| 5 | Community Medical Center | $128,627 | $61.84 |
| 6 | Cedars-Sinai | $126,597 | $60.86 |
| 7 | CHKD Thrift Store | $126,100 | $60.63 |
| 8 | University of California | $125,709 | $60.44 |
| 9 | Randolph Health | $125,440 | $60.31 |
| 10 | Children's Minnesota | $125,076 | $60.13 |
| 11 | Hca Hospital Services Of San Diego | $124,910 | $60.05 |
| 12 | Baystate Health | $124,211 | $59.72 |
| 13 | Billings Clinic | $124,120 | $59.67 |
| 14 | Cleveland Clinic | $124,025 | $59.63 |
| 15 | Mayo Clinic | $123,595 | $59.42 |
| 16 | University Health | $123,584 | $59.42 |
| 17 | Nicklaus Children's Hospital | $123,200 | $59.23 |
| 18 | Nebraska Medicine | $122,594 | $58.94 |
| 19 | Lompoc Valley Medical Center | $122,451 | $58.87 |
| 20 | Maxim Integrated | $121,981 | $58.64 |
The average pharmacy internship salary has risen by $9,536 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average pharmacy internship earned $70,580 annually, but today, they earn $80,116 a year. That works out to a 5% change in pay for pharmacy interns over the last decade.
Compare pharmacy internship salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare pharmacy internship salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $80,100 | $38.52 | +0.5% |
| 2025 | $79,700 | $38.33 | +1.5% |
| 2024 | $78,500 | $37.74 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $77,300 | $37.16 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $76,100 | $36.58 | +0.6% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guardian Pharmacy | Pharmacist Pre-Grad Intern | Seattle, WA | 06/30/2025 | $41,740 |
| Essentia Health | Pharmacist Intern-Specialty Pharmacy (Casual, As Needed) | Superior, WI | 06/29/2025 | $41,740 |
| KPH Healthcare Services, Inc. | Pharmacy Intern P1 | Ithaca, NY | 06/29/2025 | $37,566 |
| Baptist Health | Pharmacy Intern 1, South Miami Hospital, Per Diem, Varies | South Miami, FL | 06/29/2025 | $34,477 |
| CVS Health | Pharmacy Intern | Georgetown, KY | 06/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| CVS Health | Pharmacy Intern | Cedar Rapids, IA | 06/28/2025 | $37,566 |
| ECMC | Intern Pharmacy--Varied Shift | Buffalo, NY | 06/28/2025 | $39,653 |
| Essentia Health | Intern-Pharmacist FTE | Duluth, MN | 06/28/2025 | $41,740 |
| Walgreens | Pharmacy Intern Year | Phoenix, AZ | 06/28/2025 | $34,436 |
| Wal-Mart | Pharmacy Pre-Grad Intern-WM | Sheboygan, WI | 06/28/2025 | $37,566 |
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