Pharmacy Degree in Washington, DC — Salary & ROI 2026
Pharmacy degree analysis for Washington, DC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$73K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$183K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.3 yrs
in Washington
Cost of Living
146
index (100 = avg)
Pharmacy in Washington, DC Overview
Washington is one of District of Columbia's top college towns, with 42 institutions and a student population of 55,233. Public tuition averages $12,276/year here — near the national average for public universities. 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 Washington is approximately $73,000, growing to $182,500 by mid-career.
Category
Healthcare
Local Colleges
42
Public Tuition
$12,276/yr
Private Tuition
$51,262/yr
Room & Board
$22,009/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,537/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
60%
Pharmacy Salary in Washington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Washington's cost of living index of 146 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Pharmacy salary: $50,000 starting, $125,000 mid-career, $140,000 senior level.Washington adjustment factor: 1.46x based on the local cost of living index.
Pharmacy ROI Calculator for Washington
Estimate your return on investment for a Pharmacy degree using local Washington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,276 | Private avg: $51,262
Washington avg aid: $8,537/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$137,140
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,900
vs HS diploma in Washington
ROI Payback Period
6.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Washington
$1,249,860
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,387,000) minus total education cost ($137,140)
Student Loan Payoff for Pharmacy in Washington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Washington for Pharmacy
Georgetown University
private
$62,052/yr
$248,208 total
George Washington University
private
$60,770/yr
$243,080 total
Howard University
private
$30,964/yr
$123,856 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
University of the District of Columbia Community College
$3,120/yr
Top Employers for Pharmacy in Washington
Washington offers opportunities in Hospitals, Medical centers, Private practices for Pharmacy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Washington Hiring Sectors for Healthcare
Hospitals
Medical centers
Private practices
Health systems
Pharma companies
Common Pharmacy Job Titles
Other Healthcare Majors in Washington
Health Informatics
$73K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Nursing
$99K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Healthcare Administration
$73K starting · 4 yr ROI
Occupational Therapy
$73K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Dental Hygiene
$73K starting · 3 yr ROI
Speech-Language Pathology
$73K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Public Health
$73K starting · 5.2 yr ROI
Radiologic Technology
$73K starting · 3 yr ROI
Pharmacy Degree in Washington — 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 Washington.