Pharmacist in Roseville, CA

The Salary Picture: Where Roseville Stands

If you're a pharmacist considering a move to Roseville, you're looking at a market that pays above the national average but is firmly anchored in the competitive landscape of California. The median salary for pharmacists in the Roseville, CA metro area is $139,662 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $67.15. This places you comfortably above the national average of $136,030, but it’s crucial to understand the local cost of living context. Roseville’s cost of living index is 108.9, meaning it's nearly 9% more expensive than the national average, primarily driven by housing.

Here’s a realistic breakdown of what you can expect to earn based on your experience level. These figures are estimates based on local job postings, industry reports, and the provided median data.

Experience Level	Estimated Annual Salary	Key Factors in Roseville
Entry-Level (0-2 years)	$125,000 - $135,000	Often starts in retail chains (CVS, Walgreens) or hospital staff roles. Saturated market for new grads.
Mid-Career (3-8 years)	$139,000 - $150,000	This is the sweet spot. Pharmacists with clinical experience or specialty knowledge can command the median or higher.
Senior (9-15 years)	$150,000 - $165,000	Moves into management, clinical specialist roles (e.g., oncology, cardiology at Kaiser), or independent pharmacy ownership.
Expert (15+ years)	$165,000+	Regional directors, clinical pharmacy managers, or highly specialized consultants. Top earners often have niche certifications.

How Roseville Compares to Other CA Cities:

• Sacramento Metro (including Roseville): $139,662. The broader metro area has a similar cost of living but more varied opportunities in state government and large hospital systems.
• San Francisco Bay Area: $150,000 - $170,000+. Significantly higher pay, but offset by an astronomical cost of living (often 40-50% higher than Roseville).
• Los Angeles: $140,000 - $160,000. Similar base pay to Roseville, but with a more congested commute and higher taxes.
• San Diego: $138,000 - $155,000. Slightly lower pay than Roseville, but with a premium for coastal living.

Insider Tip: Roseville's job market is heavily influenced by its role as a healthcare hub for the greater Sacramento region. While the overall 10-year job growth for pharmacists is projected at -3% (a national trend due to automation and retail consolidation), there is still steady demand. The key is to look in the right places. The metro area has 318 pharmacist jobs at any given time, which indicates a stable, if not booming, market.

The Real Take-Home: After Taxes and Rent

Let's get real about the numbers. A median salary of $139,662 sounds great, but after California's high state taxes and the cost of housing, your take-home pay shrinks. Here’s a monthly budget breakdown for a single pharmacist earning the median salary, living in a standard 1BR apartment.

Assumptions: Single filer, no dependents, standard deduction, CA state tax (9.3% marginal), federal tax (22% marginal), FICA (7.65%). This is an estimate; consult a CPA for your exact situation.

• Gross Monthly Income: $11,638
• Estimated Monthly Taxes & Deductions (Federal, State, FICA): ~$3,200 - $3,600
• Estimated Take-Home Pay: $8,000 - $8,400

Monthly Budget Breakdown:

• 1BR Apartment Rent (Average): $1,666
• Utilities (Electric, Gas, Internet): $200 - $250
• Car Payment/Gas/Insurance (Roseville is a car-centric city): $500 - $700
• Groceries & Household: $400 - $500
• Health Insurance (Employer-Sponsored): $150 - $300
• Discretionary Spending (Dining, Entertainment, Savings): $1,000 - $2,000

Can You Afford to Buy a Home?
The median home price in Roseville is approximately $575,000. With a 20% down payment ($115,000), a 30-year mortgage at 6.5% would have a monthly payment of around $3,300 (including property tax and insurance). This is roughly double your rent budget. It's a stretch on a single income but achievable if you have a second income, significant savings, or are willing to live in a smaller condo or a less expensive neighborhood like West Roseville or Palmdale (south of I-80). Many pharmacists here buy homes in Rocklin or Lincoln for more space and better value.

Where the Jobs Are: Roseville's Major Employers

Roseville is a healthcare powerhouse in the Sacramento region. The job market is dominated by large health systems, retail chains, and a growing specialty pharmacy sector. Here are the key players:

1. Sutter Health (Sutter Roseville Medical Center): The city's largest hospital and a major employer. They have a robust clinical pharmacy program, including oncology, critical care, and infectious disease. Hiring trends favor pharmacists with a Pharm.D. and PGY-1 residency. This is your best bet for a hospital-based career.
2. Kaiser Permanente (Roseville & Sacramento): While the main Kaiser facility is in Sacramento, Kaiser Roseville is a massive outpatient medical center. They are a top employer for ambulatory care and specialty pharmacists. Kaiser offers excellent benefits and pay, but competition is fierce. They have a strong focus on value-based care and population health.
3. Adventist Health (Rideout & Main Hospitals): A growing system with facilities in nearby Marysville and Yuba City. They provide opportunities for pharmacists looking to work in a community hospital setting with a slightly lower cost of living nearby.
4. Retail Giants (CVS Pharmacy & Walgreens): With dozens of locations in Roseville and surrounding cities, these are the most common employers for new graduates. The market is saturated, but turnover exists. Look for stores in higher-volume locations (e.g., near The Fountains or Westfield Galleria) for more hours and potential for management roles.
5. Specialty & Compounding Pharmacies: Roseville has a niche but growing market. Employers like CVS Specialty (which has a major mail-order hub in the region) and independent compounding pharmacies (e.g., Avalon Pharmacy) seek pharmacists with specialized knowledge in areas like oncology, fertility, or pain management.
6. Raley's Pharmacy: A regional grocery chain with a strong local presence. Their pharmacies often offer a better work-life balance than national chains and are deeply embedded in the community.
7. State of California (CalPERS & Medi-Cal): While not in Roseville proper, a 20-minute drive to Sacramento opens up state government roles in pharmacy benefits management, regulatory affairs, and policy. These are stable, 9-to-5 jobs with excellent pensions.

Insider Tip: The most sustainable career path in Roseville is to start in retail to get your foot in the door, then pivot to a hospital or clinical role. Sutter and Kaiser are the primary targets. Network at local CPhA (California Pharmacists Association) chapter meetings in Sacramento.

Getting Licensed in CA

California has one of the most stringent licensing processes in the country. It is not a walk in the park.

1. Education: You must graduate from a CA-accredited Pharm.D. program.
2. NAPLEX & MPJE: Pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the California Multi-State Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE). Cost: ~$800 for both exams.
3. California Law Exam: You must also pass the California-specific law exam. Cost: ~$200.
4. Live Scan Fingerprinting: A mandatory background check. Cost: ~$70.
5. Total Estimated Cost for Licensing: $1,000 - $1,500 (excluding study materials).
6. Timeline: From graduation to full licensure, expect a 6-9 month process. The California Board of Pharmacy is known for being slow. Start your application early.

Key California-Specific Requirement: California requires 1,500 hours of clinical experience (often completed during your Pharm.D. rotations) and a certificate of immunization administration. Ensure your program meets these requirements. For already licensed pharmacists from another state, you must apply for licensure by endorsement, which can take several months.

Best Neighborhoods for Pharmacists

Roseville is a sprawling suburb, and your commute will depend on where you work. Most pharmacist jobs are clustered near Sutter, Kaiser, and the retail corridors along I-80 and Eureka Road.

Neighborhood	Vibe & Commute	1BR Rent Estimate	Best For
Downtown Roseville (Old Town)	Walkable, historic, charming. 5-10 min drive to Sutter/Kaiser.	$1,750 - $2,000	Pharmacists who want character and a short commute.
West Roseville / Woodcreek	Family-oriented, great schools, newer homes. 10-15 min to hospitals.	$1,600 - $1,750	Those planning to start a family or wanting more space.
East Roseville (Near I-80)	Convenient, close to shopping (Galleria, Fountains), busy. 10-20 min commute.	$1,550 - $1,700	Pharmacists who value retail access and an easy drive.
Rocklin (Adjacent City)	Slightly more affordable, excellent schools, suburban feel. 15-25 min commute.	$1,450 - $1,650	Budget-conscious professionals seeking a quieter home base.
Lincoln (Farther North)	Growing, very affordable, small-town feel. 25-35 min commute.	$1,300 - $1,500	Pharmacists prioritizing home ownership and affordability over commute.

Personal Insight: If you're single and value a social life, Downtown Roseville is the place to be. You can walk to coffee shops, breweries, and the Tuesday night farmers' market. If you have a family or want to save aggressively, Rocklin offers a fantastic quality of life with manageable rents and a quicker path to buying a home.

The Long Game: Career Growth

The -3% job growth projection is a wake-up call: automation and retail consolidation are real. To thrive in Roseville, you must specialize and move into roles that require a human touch.

• Specialty Premiums: Pharmacists with board certification (e.g., BCPS, BCOP, BCGP) can command a 10-15% salary premium. Oncology (BCOP) is particularly lucrative due to Sutter's cancer center and Kaiser's oncology services. Infectious Disease (BCID) is also in high demand post-COVID.
• Advancement Paths:
  1. Clinical Pharmacy Specialist: Requires a PGY-1 and often a PGY-2 residency. This is the path to higher salary and intellectual fulfillment.
  2. Pharmacy Manager (Retail): Leads to district management. Pay can exceed $160,000 but comes with high stress and corporate targets.
  3. Ambulatory Care (Kaiser, Sutter): Managing chronic disease in a clinic setting. Growing field with great work-life balance.
  4. Industry/Pharma Sales: If you're willing to commute to Sacramento or the Bay Area, pharmaceutical companies often have regional medical science liaison (MSL) roles.
• 10-Year Outlook: The pharmacist who will be successful in Roseville in 2033 will not be filling pills. They will be a medication therapy management expert, a data analyst for population health, a specialist in a complex therapeutic area, or a leader in a clinical team. Continuous education and networking are non-negotiable.

The Verdict: Is Roseville Right for You?

Pros	Cons
Above-average salary ($139,662) for a relatively moderate cost of living.	Competitive job market for new grads; retail positions are saturated.
Excellent healthcare infrastructure with major employers (Sutter, Kaiser).	Car-dependent city; limited public transit.
Ideal location – 90 minutes to Tahoe, 2 hours to SF Bay, 1.5 hours to Sacramento.	-3% long-term job growth signals need for specialization.
Safe, family-friendly suburbs with top-rated schools in Rocklin/Woodcreek.	High California state taxes and strict licensing process.
Growing downtown scene with breweries, restaurants, and community events.	Housing market is competitive; buying a home requires significant savings.

Final Recommendation:
Roseville is an excellent choice for mid-career pharmacists (3-10 years experience) who are looking to pivot into a clinical or hospital role, value a balanced lifestyle with access to outdoor recreation, and are ready to specialize to stay relevant. It's a tougher sell for new graduates due to saturation, but not impossible if you're willing to start in retail and network aggressively.

If you're a pharmacist who thrives in a community setting, enjoys a suburban pace with big-city amenities a short drive away, and can handle California's regulatory landscape, Roseville offers a high-quality career and life. For those seeking the highest salaries and a bustling urban environment, the Bay Area or Los Angeles might be a better fit, but at a significant cost to your wallet and sanity.

FAQs

Q: Is the job market for pharmacists really declining in Roseville?
A: The -3% growth is a national trend, but Roseville's specific healthcare demand provides a buffer. The decline is primarily in traditional retail. Hospital, clinical, and specialty pharmacy roles are growing. Position yourself for these areas.

Q: How much do I need to save to move to Roseville?
A: For a single person, a safe minimum is $20,000. This covers first/last month's rent, security deposits, moving costs, licensing fees, and a 1-2 month living buffer while you search for a job. If you plan to buy a home, aim for $115,000+ for a down payment.

Q: What's the commute like from Rocklin to Sutter Roseville Medical Center?
A: It's a straightforward 15-25 minute drive via I-80 or Eureka Road. Traffic is predictable, with morning and evening rushes, but nothing like the Bay Area. Most pharmacists in the area are used to a 15-minute commute.

Q: Do I need a residency to get a good job in Roseville?
A: It's highly recommended. For a clinical pharmacy specialist role at Sutter or Kaiser, a PGY-1 residency is often a prerequisite. For retail, it's not required but gives you a competitive edge. For hospital staff positions, it's becoming standard.

Q: Are there opportunities for remote or telehealth pharmacy work?
A: Yes, but they're often based in larger metros. Some Roseville-based employers offer hybrid roles, especially in areas like prior authorization, MTM, or medication reconciliation. Check for jobs with "remote" or "work from home" options, but know that many "remote" roles still require you to be a CA-licensed pharmacist residing in the state.