Prevailing Wage for Pharmacists
Prevailing wage for Pharmacists is set by the DOL under SOC 29-1051 and applies to every H-1B, E-3, and green card sponsorship involving this occupation. Whether the position is a Clinical Pharmacist in a hospital system or a Hospital Pharmacist at a retail chain, DOL establishes four experience-based wage levels, and the required floor shifts significantly by city.
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Entry-level pharmacists with a Pharm D and limited post-graduation experience, typically under two years. Scope is routine dispensing with close supervision. Most new H-1B filings for recent pharmacy graduates fall here.
Pharmacists with two to five years of experience who work independently on standard cases. Level 2 is the most common filing level for sponsored pharmacists, covering roles in retail, hospital, and specialty pharmacy settings.
Experienced pharmacists with five or more years who lead clinical programs, manage complex medication therapies, or hold a Pharmacist in Charge designation. Some supervisory responsibility over technicians or interns is typical.
Fully competent senior pharmacists, including Pharmacy Coordinators and Informatics Pharmacists, who set department policy, lead cross-functional teams, or direct clinical quality programs. Filings at this level are less common and require strong documentation.
Prevailing Wage for Pharmacists by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for Pharmacists and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
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Confirm your filing level matches your Pharm D year
Pharmacy employers sometimes file new Pharm D graduates at Level 2 to avoid wage scrutiny, but DOL ties the level to actual experience, not degree recency. A mismatch creates LCA compliance risk when the position description lists routine dispensing duties.
Watch for signing bonus exclusions in pharmacy offers
Retail pharmacy chains frequently structure offers with one-time signing bonuses that do not count toward the required prevailing wage calculation. Verify your base or hourly annualized rate alone clears the applicable DOL floor before accepting.
Compare metro wages before choosing between hospital systems
Pharmacy prevailing wages in California metros significantly exceed wages in Puerto Rico and parts of the South. A Hospital Pharmacist role in a lower-wage metro may offer a lower DOL floor, reducing the minimum the employer must pay regardless of market demand.
Use Migrate Mate to find employers sponsoring pharmacists
Migrate Mate shows which employers have sponsored pharmacist roles in the past and lets you filter by visa type and location, so you can prioritize outreach to health systems and pharmacy chains with a documented H-1B or green card sponsorship history.
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Find Jobs for PharmacistsPrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 29-1051.00 alongside Pharmacists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Clinical Pharmacist Prevailing Wage
Clinical Pharmacist Prevailing Wage
Clinical Pharmacist positions fall under SOC 29-1051.00 (Pharmacists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Hospital Pharmacist Prevailing Wage
Hospital Pharmacist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Hospital Pharmacist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1051.00 (Pharmacists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Informatics Pharmacist Prevailing Wage
Informatics Pharmacist Prevailing Wage
Informatics Pharmacist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1051.00 (Pharmacists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Pharm D (Pharmacy Doctor) Prevailing Wage
Pharm D (Pharmacy Doctor) Prevailing Wage
Pharm D (Pharmacy Doctor) positions fall under SOC 29-1051.00 (Pharmacists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Pharmacist in Charge (PIC) Prevailing Wage
Pharmacist in Charge (PIC) Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Pharmacist in Charge (PIC) for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1051.00 (Pharmacists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Pharmacy Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Pharmacy Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Pharmacy Coordinator is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1051.00 (Pharmacists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Pharmacy Informaticist Prevailing Wage
Pharmacy Informaticist Prevailing Wage
Pharmacy Informaticist positions fall under SOC 29-1051.00 (Pharmacists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Pharmacy Services Clinical Coordinator Prevailing Wage
Pharmacy Services Clinical Coordinator Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Pharmacy Services Clinical Coordinator for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 29-1051.00 (Pharmacists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Registered Pharmacist Prevailing Wage
Registered Pharmacist Prevailing Wage
Registered Pharmacist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 29-1051.00 (Pharmacists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Retail Pharmacist Prevailing Wage
Retail Pharmacist Prevailing Wage
Retail Pharmacist positions fall under SOC 29-1051.00 (Pharmacists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Pharmacists?
DOL sets the prevailing wage for pharmacists using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For each metro area, DOL calculates four wage levels tied to experience and complexity. Employers filing an LCA through OFLC must pay at least the wage level that matches the position's actual duties and the worker's experience.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to me?
The four levels reflect increasing experience and independence. Level 1 covers entry-level pharmacists under close supervision. Level 2 applies to those working independently on standard cases. Level 3 covers experienced pharmacists with clinical or supervisory responsibilities. Level 4 applies to senior roles setting policy or leading programs. Your level should match your actual duties and years of post-licensure experience, not just your job title.
Why does pharmacist pay vary so much from city to city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages separately for each metropolitan area using regional OES survey data, which captures local labor market conditions. The worksite address on the LCA determines which metro's wage applies, not the employer's headquarters. Dense healthcare markets like San Jose and San Francisco produce higher wage floors, while smaller or lower-cost metros produce lower ones. Moving between worksites may require a new LCA.
What happens if a job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored pharmacist role?
If the offered wage falls below the DOL prevailing wage for the applicable level and metro, the LCA cannot be certified by OFLC, and USCIS will not approve the H-1B or other sponsored visa petition. The employer must either raise the offered wage to meet the floor or reclassify the position. Accepting a below-floor offer does not waive the requirement; the shortfall creates compliance liability for the employer.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific pharmacist role and location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search to look up the current DOL prevailing wage by SOC code 29-1051, wage level, and target metro area. You can also review recent LCA disclosure data published by OFLC to see what wages employers have actually certified for pharmacist positions. Migrate Mate can help you identify employers with a sponsorship history for this occupation, narrowed by location and visa type.
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