Pharmacy Degree in Durham, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Pharmacy degree analysis for Durham, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$136K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5 yrs
in Durham
Cost of Living
109
index (100 = avg)
Pharmacy in Durham, NC Overview
Durham is one of North Carolina's top college towns, with 25 institutions and a student population of 56,021. Public tuition averages $6,477/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Although national enrollment in Pharmacy has been declining, graduates with skills in Pharmacology and Drug Interactions remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Durham is approximately $54,500, growing to $136,250 by mid-career.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
25
Public Tuition
$6,477/yr
Private Tuition
$62,688/yr
Room & Board
$14,101/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,850/yr
Unemployment
5.9%
Graduation Rate
54%
Pharmacy Salary in Durham (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Durham's cost of living index of 109 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Pharmacy salary: $50,000 starting, $125,000 mid-career, $140,000 senior level.Durham adjustment factor: 1.09x based on the local cost of living index.
Pharmacy ROI Calculator for Durham
Estimate your return on investment for a Pharmacy degree using local Durham tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $6,477 | Private avg: $62,688
Durham avg aid: $13,850/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$82,312
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$16,350
vs HS diploma in Durham
ROI Payback Period
5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Durham
$953,188
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,035,500) minus total education cost ($82,312)
Student Loan Payoff for Pharmacy in Durham
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Durham for Pharmacy
Duke University
private
$62,688/yr
$250,752 total
North Carolina Central University
public
$6,477/yr
$25,908 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Durham Technical Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Pharmacy in Durham
Durham offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Pharmacy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Durham Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Pharmacy Job Titles
Pharmacy in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$45K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$42K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$46K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$53K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$45K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Cary, NC
$54K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Wilmington, NC
$48K starting · COL 95
5 colleges
High Point, NC
$42K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Healthcare Majors in Durham
Health Informatics
$55K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$74K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$55K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$55K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$55K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$55K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$55K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$55K starting · 3 yr ROI
Pharmacy Degree in Durham — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Pharmacy ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Durham.