Demand for pharmacists surged in the final months of 2025, with year-end data showing the strongest quarterly growth in the reporting period, according to the Pharmacy Workforce Center’s fourth-quarter 2025 Pharmacy Demand Report.
Here are six things to know:
- There were 26,952 pharmacist job postings in the fourth quarter of 2025, up from 16,537 in the fourth quarter of 2024, a 63% year-over-year increase.
- Retail pharmacists accounted for the highest share of postings at 12,923, followed by hospital pharmacists at 5,384, clinical pharmacists at 5,065, other pharmacist occupations at 2,314 and pharmacy directors at 1,266.
- The South recorded the most postings by region, followed by the Midwest, West and Northeast.
- California led all states with 2,508 postings, followed by Texas at 2,136 and Florida at 1,712. Puerto Rico, Wyoming and the District of Columbia had the fewest.
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, Los Angeles and Chicago had the highest posting volumes among metro areas.
- Pharmacy technician demand also rose, with 43,880 postings in the fourth quarter of 2025, up from 41,055 in the same period in 2024. Total technician postings for all of 2025 reached 173,824.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
