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Pharmacist Salary in Alaska: Is It a Good Career?

Alaska · 2026 BLS salary data

a Pharmacist pay in Alaska

The median wage is $167,310/yr — 19% above the national median. Among U.S. states, Alaskais one of the highest-paying states (#1 of 51).

The numbers in Alaska

Real BLS state-level figures for Pharmacist.

Median salary
$167,310/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$158,000 – $173,600
National median
$140,910/yr
Employed in Alaska
560

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS), state estimates, May 2025 release.

What that pay is really worth in Alaska

Salary alone can mislead — Alaska costs 2% more than the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).

Cost of living (US=100)
102.4
Nominal median
$167,310
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $163,389
State income tax
None

Alaska levies no state income tax, so more of that pay stays in your pocket than in high-tax states.

Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, US=100), 2024. Adjusted pay = nominal median ÷ (RPP/100) — purchasing power vs the U.S. average. State income tax = top marginal rate on wage income (Tax Foundation, 2025); your effective rate is lower and depends on income and deductions.

FAQ

How much do pharmacist professionals make in Alaska?

The median annual wage is $167,310 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $158,000 and $173,600. That's 19% above the national median.

Is Alaska a good state for pharmacist?

By raw pay, Alaska is one of the highest-paying states (#1 of 51). Adjusted for cost of living (Alaska costs 2% more than the U.S. average), that median is worth about $163,389. And with no state income tax, more of that pay stays in your pocket.

Are pharmacist professionals in demand in Alaska?

About 560 people work in this field in Alaska (BLS OEWS). Nationally, BLS projects +4.6% employment growth for this field from 2024 to 2034.

The verdict, pros, and cons below apply to Pharmacist nationally — Alaska pay is 19% above the national median. See the full a Pharmacist career guide →

The verdict

Mixed — pharmacists earn high pay, but the PharmD costs a lot, retail conditions have deteriorated, and job growth is only average with saturation in many areas. Worth it if you land hospital/clinical roles; riskier if retail is your only option.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • High pay
  • Trusted, stable health-care role
  • Clinical and hospital paths beyond retail
  • Broad demand across settings
  • Respected expertise in medications

Cons

  • High PharmD debt for only-average growth
  • Retail conditions and workloads have worsened
  • Market saturation in many regions
  • Repetitive tasks in high-volume retail
  • Limited advancement without specialization

Who it's for

✓ A good fit if…

  • People targeting hospital/clinical pharmacy
  • Those who can manage PharmD debt
  • Anyone drawn to medication expertise

✗ Probably not if…

  • People whose only option is saturated retail
  • Those expecting fast growth for the debt

What people are actually asking

Real Reddit discussions on whether Pharmacist is worth it — titles link to the original threads.