A pharmacist who prepares and dispenses radioactive drugs used in medical imaging scans and cancer treatments. BLS does not publish separate figures for pharmacists; it counts them within pharmacist (SOC 29-1051), whose median pay is $140,910 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 29-1051
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Nuclear Pharmacist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $140,910a year, or $67.75/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $99KTop 10% $174K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.2%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 12,500325,200 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 2025325.2K
- Projected 2035342.3K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 325.2K Projected 2035 342.3K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- High school1.8%
- Bachelor's11.5%
- Professional degree3.4%
- Doctorate78.4%
- Post-doctoral training5.1%
Highest education held by pharmacists Segment Value High school 1.8% Bachelor's 11.5% Professional degree 3.4% Doctorate 78.4% Post-doctoral training 5.1%
Also advertised as: Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacist, BCNP, Radiopharmacist, Radiopharmacy Pharmacist, Authorized Nuclear Pharmacist.
Pay
How much do Pharmacists make?
Every nuclear pharmacist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$140,910
Middle half earn $129,380 to $161,840
- 10th
- $99,290
- 25th
- $129,380
- 75th
- $161,840
- 90th
- $174,230
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $99,290 |
| 25th | $129,380 |
| Median | $140,910 |
| 75th | $161,840 |
| 90th | $174,230 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $140,910
- Median hourly wage
- $67.75/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $140,920
- People employed
- 321,970
Versus all US occupations
At $140,910, Pharmacists earn 176% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $89,930 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 37% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $174,230 or more while the bottom 10% earn $99,290, a gap of 1.8×. That is a narrow spread, so experience and employer move pay less than in most occupations.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 91% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Alaska posts the highest raw median ($167,310), but once local prices are taken into account South Dakota leads at $165,703 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Pharmacists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Alaska | $167,310 | $163,454 | 560 |
| 2Oregon | $165,960 | $160,563 | 3,250 |
| 3California | $164,610 | $148,672 | 34,030 |
| 4Hawaii | $163,220 | $148,448 | 1,190 |
| 5Washington | $160,610 | $150,085 | 7,350 |
| 6Minnesota | $159,740 | $161,974 | 6,310 |
| 7Colorado | $156,030 | $151,409 | 4,560 |
| 8District of Columbia | $153,400 | $139,580 | 850 |
| 9Delaware | $152,880 | $153,174 | 790 |
| 10Wisconsin | $148,740 | $158,074 | 5,730 |
Job outlook
Is Nuclear Pharmacist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.2% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Pharmacists | +5.2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Pharmacists to change 5.2% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 17,100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 12,500 openings are projected each year, 3.8% of the 325,200 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Nuclear Pharmacist
Nuclear pharmacists earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and a state pharmacist license, then complete specialized training in radiation physics, radiation biology, radiopharmaceutical chemistry, and handling of radioactive materials. To qualify as an Authorized Nuclear Pharmacist under Nuclear Regulatory Commission rules, they complete a set amount of didactic training and supervised work experience.
The Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) offers board certification in nuclear pharmacy (BCNP), which requires training, nuclear pharmacy practice experience, and an exam. Some pharmacy schools offer nuclear pharmacy electives or residencies.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Doctoral or professional degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as pharmacists.
- Doctoral Degree78.4%
- Bachelor's Degree11.5%
- Post-Doctoral Training5.1%
- First Professional Degree3.4%
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)1.8%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 78.4% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 11.5% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 5.1% |
| First Professional Degree | 3.4% |
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 1.8% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Nuclear Pharmacist do?
Nuclear pharmacists prepare, quality-test, and dispense radiopharmaceuticals, the radioactive drugs used in PET scans, bone scans, heart stress tests, and targeted cancer therapies. Because these drugs decay quickly, they work on tight early-morning schedules, calculating doses so each one has the right radioactivity at the time of injection.
They compound kits in shielded hoods using strict aseptic technique, run quality control tests, label and package doses for delivery to hospitals and imaging centers, and keep careful records required by radiation safety rules. They also advise physicians and technologists on drug selection, dosing, interactions, and handling, and they oversee radiation safety in the pharmacy.
Day-to-day tasks
- Compound radiopharmaceutical doses in shielded aseptic environments
- Calculate doses based on radioactive decay and scan times
- Perform quality control tests on radiopharmaceuticals
- Dispense and package doses for delivery to hospitals
- Monitor radiation exposure and enforce safety procedures
- Advise physicians on radiopharmaceutical selection and dosing
- Maintain records required by radiation regulators
- Supervise nuclear pharmacy technicians and drivers
Typical tasks, researched by NueCareer from the sources below.
Working conditions and hours
Most nuclear pharmacists work in centralized commercial radiopharmacies that serve many hospitals, while others work in hospital nuclear medicine departments and research centers. Shifts often start in the very early morning so doses are ready for the first scans. The work involves wearing radiation badges, working behind lead shielding, and following strict safety rules.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayHandling conflict situations at least monthly.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes carry very serious consequences.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Writing3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Monitoring3.9
- Active Learning3.6
- Mathematics3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Writing | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.9 |
| Active Learning | 3.6 |
| Mathematics | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.9
- Service Orientation3.9
- Complex Problem Solving3.9
- Judgment and Decision Making3.9
- Time Management3.9
- Coordination3.4
- Management of Personnel Resources3.1
- Instructing3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 |
| Service Orientation | 3.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 |
| Time Management | 3.9 |
| Coordination | 3.4 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.1 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Medical software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Accounting software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Computer based training software
- Data base user interface and query software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Nuclear Pharmacist?
NueCareer estimate (Holland code ICR) built on O*NET's Pharmacist profile, scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Nuclear Pharmacist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 3 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 5 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Investigative5.8
- Conventional4.8
- Social4.7
- Realistic3.4
- Enterprising2.6
- Artistic1.5
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Nuclear Pharmacist
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with pharmacists highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Nuclear Pharmacist$140,910
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Nuclear Pharmacist | $140,910 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Nuclear Pharmacist appears on
Questions
Nuclear Pharmacist: frequently asked questions
How much do Pharmacists make?
BLS does not publish a separate wage for pharmacists. It counts them within pharmacist, whose median pay is $140,910 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half of that occupation earn between $129,380 and $161,840, and the top 10% earn $174,230 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Nuclear Pharmacist?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Pharmacists. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 78.4% hold doctoral degree.
Is Nuclear Pharmacist a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.2% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 12,500 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Nuclear Pharmacist do?
Nuclear pharmacists prepare, quality-test, and dispense radiopharmaceuticals, the radioactive drugs used in PET scans, bone scans, heart stress tests, and targeted cancer therapies. A typical task: compound radiopharmaceutical doses in shielded aseptic environments. Employers most often ask for Document management software, Electronic mail software, Medical software.
Which states pay Pharmacists the most?
The highest state medians for Pharmacists are Alaska ($167,310), Oregon ($165,960), California ($164,610) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, South Dakota moves to the top at $165,703.
What personality type suits a Nuclear Pharmacist?
O*NET scores Pharmacists highest on the Investigative, Conventional and Social interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ISFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.