Pharmacist Salary in Iowa: $126K Median

The average Pharmacist salary in Iowa is $126,482 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $96,600 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $151,800 (90th percentile). State income tax applies.

Pharmacists in Iowa earn approximately 8% less than the US national median ($137,480 nationally vs $126,482 in Iowa). Iowa's cost-of-living index of 90 amplifies the real purchasing power.

Yes — Pharmacist salaries in Iowa grew approximately 560.0% year-over-year, from $19,164 in 2025 to $126,482 in 2026. This reflects the broader Healthcare sector's wage growth, driven by Clinical pharmacy and Specialty drugs demand.

Iowa has no major metros in our database — fallback to the closest tracked city for detailed breakdowns.

Pharmacist employment relatively stable. Clinical pharmacist roles growing fastest as retail consolidates. Iowa's top industries include Agriculture, Insurance, Manufacturing, and the state's unemployment rate is 3% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.

Yes, Iowa has state income tax. This affects take-home pay — at $126,482, expect 4-7% effective state tax depending on filing status. See city pages for detailed take-home calculations.

Hottest 2026 skills: Clinical pharmacy, Specialty drugs, MTM, Telepharmacy, PharmGenomics. ATS systems specifically scan for these. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — improves your match rate with Iowa employers.

Given the current shortage in this specialty and my certifications, I'm looking for $X base plus shift differential and a sign-on bonus. What flexibility do you have on those line items? Beyond base, negotiate: Sign-on bonus ($10K-$30K, often $50K+ for hard-to-fill roles), Tuition reimbursement and certification stipends, Loan repayment programs (especially federal/HRSA-eligible), Shift differentials (nights +15%, weekends +10%). Walk-away anchor for Iowa: $114,984.