Pharmacist Salary in Canada | Breakdown by Province

In Canada, the median salary for pharmacists is $55.49/hr.

Pharmacists in Canada: job prospects, employment requirements, licensing.

Pharmacists in Canada, classified under NOC 31120, compound and dispense prescribed medications, provide consultative services on drug therapies, advise patients on medication use and side effects, and offer health promotion and disease prevention services in community pharmacies, hospitals, and other healthcare settings. Approximately 47,700 people worked in this occupation in 2023, with 26 percent aged 50 and over and a median retirement age of 63. Job prospects show a strong risk of labour shortage nationally through 2033, with about 23,000 projected job openings roughly similar to the expected number of job seekers, driven by healthcare demands, an aging population, expanded scopes of practice, and replacement needs.

Median hourly wages stand at about 55.49 Canadian dollars nationally, with typical ranges from 40.00 to 67.00 dollars per hour depending on experience, location, province, and practice setting such as community versus hospital. Most positions require a bachelor’s or doctoral degree in pharmacy, successful completion of the national licensing examination, and provincial or territorial registration, with work conditions generally involving full-time or part-time shifts in retail or clinical environments that may include evenings, weekends, standing for long periods, high patient volumes, and a strong focus on accuracy, patient counseling, and collaboration with other healthcare professionals.

Licensing

Registration with a regulatory body is required in all provinces and territories for this occupation.

PHARMACIST (NOC 31120)
2025	Wages/hr
Community/Area	Low	Median	High
Canada	40.00	55.49	67.00
Newfoundland and Labrador	33.00	51.00	59.00
Prince Edward Island	46.88	55.50	62.50
Nova Scotia	41.25	51.00	58.97
New Brunswick	46.15	52.00	65.00
Quebec	41.03	63.00	75.00
Ontario	37.00	53.85	65.00
Manitoba	50.00	56.00	69.23
Saskatchewan	35.18	55.33	62.00
Alberta	41.24	55.00	62.00
British Columbia	40.87	52.00	64.00
Yukon Territory	43.61	64.71	82.88
Northwest Territories	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. 2026

In 2023, pharmacists reported higher salaries in Quebec

PHARMACIST (NOC 31120)
2023	Wages ($/hour)
Province/Territory	Low	Median	High
Canada	40	52.88	65
Newfoundland and Labrador	39.58	44.8	55
Prince Edward Island	43	50	61.93
Nova Scotia	27	42.8	51
New Brunswick	39	50	63.75
Quebec	47.78	60	70
Ontario	40	51.5	65
Manitoba	43	51	59
Saskatchewan	43	52	56
Alberta	37.4	50	62.99
British Columbia	32.85	46.5	60
Yukon Territory	N/A	65.38	N/A
Northwest Territories	N/A	65.93	N/A
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. 2024

In 2021, pharmacists reported higher wages in Quebec

PHARMACISTS (NOC 3131)
Community/Area	Wages ($/year)
	Low	Median	High
Canada	54,112	104,646	144,300
Newfoundland and Labrador	72,744	97,557	130,905
Prince Edward Island	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nova Scotia	64,830	93,743	123,079
New Brunswick	75,256	98,894	135,958
Quebec	63,924	112,199	161,891
Ontario	40,188	101,646	143,978
Manitoba	75,699	110,436	141,059
Saskatchewan	72,847	109,108	145,484
Alberta	60,529	111,536	138,040
British Columbia	68,708	98,725	127,387
Yukon Territory	N/A	N/A	N/A
Northwest Territories	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. November 2021

In 2019, pharmacists in reported higher salaries in Quebec.

PHARMACISTS (NOC 3131)
2019	Wages ($/year)
Province/Territory	Low	Median	High
Canada	54,112	104,646	144,300
Newfoundland	72,744	97,557	130,905
Nova Scotia	64,830	93,743	123,079
New Brunswick	75,256	98,894	135,958
Quebec	63,924	112,199	161,891
Ontario	40,188	101,646	143,978
Manitoba	75,699	110,436	141,059
Saskatchewan	72,847	109,108	145,484
Alberta	60,529	111,536	138,040
British Columbia	68,708	98,725	127,387
Prince Edward Island	N/A	N/A	N/A
Yukon Territory	N/A	N/A	N/A
NWT	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. April 2019

In 2017, pharmacists reported higher salaries in Quebec.

PHARMACISTS (NOC 3131-A)
2017	Wages ($/yr)
Province/Territory	Low	Median	High
Canada	49,975	97,487	140,977
Québec	40,205	95,482	156,139
Ontario	48,361	99,374	148,365
Manitoba	62,440	104,579	145,053
New Brunswick	55,912	93,834	138,403
Prince Edward Island	57,782	85,692	134,954
Saskatchewan	49,443	96,435	131,052
Alberta	50,586	99,308	129,457
British Columbia	60,129	95,455	128,235
Nova Scotia	70,324	92,893	127,786
Newfoundland and Labrador	22,236	87,533	117,306
Northwest Territories	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Yukon	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. September 2017*

*Wages are reviewed and updated on the Job Bank Web site on an annual basis.

According to Canada’s Job Bank, in 2016, the median wage for pharmacists in Canada was $97,487/year.
The salary for pharmacists varies by province. For example, in 2016, pharmacists reported the highest wages in Quebec.

PHARMACISTS (NOC 3131-A)
2016	Wages ($/yr)
Province/Territory	Low	Median	High
Canada	49,975	97,487	140,977
Québec	40,205	95,482	156,139
Ontario	48,361	99,374	148,365
Manitoba	62,440	104,579	145,053
New Brunswick	55,912	93,834	138,403
Prince Edward Island	57,782	85,692	134,954
Saskatchewan	49,443	96,435	131,052
Alberta	50,586	99,308	129,457
British Columbia	60,129	95,455	128,235
Nova Scotia	70,324	92,893	127,786
Newfoundland and Labrador	21,225	87,533	117,306
Northwest Territories	N/A	N/A	N/A
Nunavut	N/A	N/A	N/A
Yukon	N/A	N/A	N/A
Source: Job Bank. November 2016*

*Wages are reviewed and updated on the Job Bank Web site on an annual basis.

PHARMACIST SALARY IN CANADA 2019

PHARMACIST SALARY IN CANADA 2017

PHARMACIST SALARY IN CANADA 2016