A pharmacist (químico farmacéutico) in Chile earns on average between 2.2 million and 2.4 million pesos gross a month in the fourth year after graduating, depending on the university, according to the Mi Futuro employability and income search tool, run by the Undersecretariat of Higher Education. Four of the seven universities with data (Pontifical Catholic University, University of Chile, University of Concepción and Austral University) reach the band of 2.3 to 2.4 million.
Pharmacy also has one of the highest employability rates in the system: on average, 98.6% of graduates earn more than the minimum wage in their first year. This guide shows how much a pharmacist earns in Chile by university, what the state pays in public hospitals, how the degree compares with other health careers and what moves pay over the years.
How much does a pharmacist earn in Chile by university
| University | Gross monthly income, year 4 | Employability, year 1 | Employability, year 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pontifical Catholic University of Chile | 2.3 to 2.4 million | 98.1% | 97.8% |
| University of Chile | 2.3 to 2.4 million | 99.3% | 98.2% |
| University of Concepción | 2.3 to 2.4 million | 97.7% | 99.3% |
| Austral University of Chile | 2.3 to 2.4 million | 100.0% | 95.2% |
| Andrés Bello University | 2.2 to 2.3 million | 97.5% | 100.0% |
| University of Valparaíso | 2.2 to 2.3 million | 99.3% | 99.1% |
| San Sebastián University | 2.2 to 2.3 million | 98.2% | 98.4% |
| University of Santiago de Chile | No data | 99.3% | 98.9% |
| Autónoma, Católica del Norte and La Frontera universities | No data | 99.2%, 97.1% and 98.7% | No data |
Source: Mi Futuro, Pharmacy degree, accessed on November 3, 2026. Of 11 programs listed, 7 have income data; the rest show "no data" because they do not reach the minimum number of cases. According to the methodology, the figure is the average gross monthly income of 2018, 2019 and 2020 graduates in their fourth year, calculated with Internal Revenue Service (SII) data, in September 2025 pesos.
The gap between universities is minimal: a single 100,000-peso band separates the best and worst paid with data. In other degrees the gap is much wider; in Mining Engineering, for example, it exceeds one million pesos. What weighs most on a pharmacist's pay is not the university but where they work.
Employability and length of the Pharmacy degree
| Indicator | Range across universities | Simple average |
|---|---|---|
| Employability, year 1 | 97.1% (Católica del Norte) to 100% (Austral) | 98.6% |
| Employability, year 2 | 95.2% (Austral) to 100% (Andrés Bello) | 98.4% |
| Actual length of the degree | 11.1 (Autónoma) to 16.4 semesters (Concepción) | 14.1 semesters |
| First-year retention | 82.6% (La Frontera) to 96.7% (Concepción) | 91.5% |
Source: Mi Futuro; simple averages calculated by VIVARAE NEWS over the 11 programs. "Employability" is the share of graduates earning above the minimum wage according to the SII. Almost no one is left out in Pharmacy: the 98.6% average comfortably beats Nursing (79.3%) and Nutrition and Dietetics (45.2%). The downside is length: in practice the degree takes about 14 semesters, or seven years.
How much does a pharmacist earn in a public hospital
Pharmacists working in public health service hospitals are governed by Law 19,664, the same law that sets pay for doctors and dentists. Health services hold competitions for these professionals under that law, as shown by resolution 2802 of 2024 of the Tarapacá Health Service. The scale depends on contracted hours and years of service:
| Weekly hours | On entry | Senior grade (from year 6) | With 39 years of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44 hours | 2,502,413 pesos | 4,745,256 pesos | 5,976,085 pesos |
| 33 hours | 1,876,810 pesos | 3,558,942 pesos | 4,482,063 pesos |
| 22 hours | 1,251,208 pesos | 2,372,631 pesos | 2,988,046 pesos |
| 11 hours | 523,036 pesos | 1,083,748 pesos | 1,391,455 pesos |
Source: Ministry of Health, public health sector pay scale, in force since June 2026 with the Law 21,806 adjustment, total fixed gross pay. It does not include shifts, overtime or special allowances. The year-6 jump is not automatic: from then on the professional may compete for the senior grade. In municipal primary care (Cesfam), the Primary Care Statute applies instead and pay depends on each municipality.
Pharmacy compared with other health degrees
| Degree | Gross income in year 4 (Mi Futuro) | Programs with data |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | 3 million to over 3.5 million | 21 of 22 |
| Dentistry | 1.5 to 2.4 million | 17 of 20 |
| Pharmacy | 2.2 to 2.4 million | 7 of 11 |
| Nursing | 1.5 to 2.2 million | 39 of 43 |
| Medical Technology | 1.4 to 2.1 million | 15 of 21 |
| Biochemistry | 1.4 to 1.5 million | 2 of 7 |
| Nutrition and Dietetics | 900,000 to 1.4 million | 22 of 28 |
| Pharmacy Technician | 900,000 to 1.1 million | 2 of 6 |
Source: Mi Futuro, accessed on November 3, 2026 (amounts in Chilean pesos). Pharmacy ranks second among health degrees, behind Medicine, and its floor (2.2 million) is the highest after that degree. Its ceiling is similar to Dentistry's, but with much less spread between universities. More details in how much a doctor earns, how much a dentist earns and how much a nurse earns in Chile.
Pay with years of experience
Mi Futuro only measures the fourth year. For a career-long reference, the WageIndicator foundation publishes 2026 salary ranges for pharmacists in Chile, built from its salary survey and other sources. It is not an official record, but it shows the trend:
| Stage (WageIndicator, 2026) | Net monthly salary | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Starting in the job | 1,219,090 to 2,001,781 pesos | 42 hours |
| After five years of service | 1,611,751 to 2,724,881 pesos | 42 hours |
| Full range for the occupation | 1,219,090 to 3,443,842 pesos | — |
Source: WageIndicator, pharmacists in Chile, accessed on November 3, 2026. These are estimated net amounts, so they do not compare directly with Mi Futuro's gross figures. For reference, the monthly minimum wage has been 553,553 pesos since May 1, 2026, as detailed in the history of Chile's minimum wage.
What makes a pharmacist's salary vary in Chile
- The type of employer: pharmacy chains, public hospitals and clinics, the pharmaceutical industry and laboratories pay differently. In industry, regulatory affairs, quality assurance and technical director roles tend to be among the best paid.
- Technical direction: every pharmacy must have a pharmacist in charge, which sustains demand for these professionals across the country.
- Hours and shifts: in hospitals and on-duty pharmacies, overtime and night shifts change the final paycheck.
- Specialization: clinical pharmacy, oncology pharmacy or toxicology open better-paid roles in both the public and private sectors.
To compare with other university careers, see how much a business engineer earns, how much a physiotherapist earns and how much a veterinarian earns.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacist earn in Chile per month?
In the fourth year after graduating, between 2.2 and 2.4 million pesos gross a month, depending on the university, according to Mi Futuro. In a public hospital with 44 hours, pay starts at 2,502,413 pesos gross under the Law 19,664 scale.
Which university has the best-paid pharmacists?
The Catholic University, the University of Chile, the University of Concepción and Austral University share the top band, 2.3 to 2.4 million in year 4.
Is it easy to find work as a pharmacist?
Yes. First-year employability averages 98.6% across universities, one of the highest in Mi Futuro.
How much does a pharmacy technician earn?
Between 900,000 and 1.1 million pesos gross a month in year 4, according to the two programs with data in Mi Futuro.
