| Weekly pay | Up to $3,300 on a 5x8 schedule of 40 hours per week |
|---|---|
| License | California pharmacist license required. California uniquely requires the CPJE in addition to the NAPLEX (see below). |
| Shifts | Day, Evening, and Night shifts available |
| What sets it apart | The highest-paying state in the country for pharmacists |
| Extras | Weekly pay and a dedicated recruiter. Stipend details vary by contract; your recruiter breaks down every package. Call (866) 680-2920. |
| Pay updated | June 2026 |
California is the highest-paying state for pharmacists in the nation, with a state median well above the national median of about $137,480 a year per BLS data. Hospital systems, health-system specialty pharmacies, and high-volume retail all compete for licensed pharmacists, and that competition shows up directly in travel rates. We Care Staffing's current California pharmacist contracts pay up to $3,300 a week on a 5x8 schedule across day, evening, and night shifts.
Hospital inpatient experience opens the most doors here, and sterile compounding and oncology backgrounds command premiums. If you have those, California is one of the strongest markets in the country for a travel pharmacist.
California has the most involved pharmacist licensing in the country, and understanding it is the key to a California contract. Unlike most states, California does not recognize the MPJE and does not offer simple reciprocity. To be licensed, you must pass the California Practice Standards and Jurisprudence Examination (CPJE), California's own law-and-practice exam, in addition to holding a passed NAPLEX, then complete the Board of Pharmacy application and fingerprinting.
That extra exam is precisely why California pharmacists are paid the best in the country: the licensing bar limits how many pharmacists can practice here, which keeps the licensed pool smaller and better paid. Treat it as an investment rather than an obstacle. Plan for CPJE scheduling and processing time, start well before your contract search, and your recruiter can help you sequence the steps so the license is ready when the right assignment opens.
As a travel pharmacist with We Care Staffing, you verify and dispense medication orders, screen for interactions and dosing issues, counsel patients, collaborate with physicians and nurses on therapy decisions, and keep the pharmacy compliant with state and federal regulations. California hospital contracts may include order verification, sterile compounding oversight, and clinical rounding; retail and specialty settings focus on dispensing accuracy, immunizations, and patient counseling.
We Care Staffing places pharmacists across California's hospital inpatient pharmacies, retail and community settings, and specialty and infusion pharmacies. Demand concentrates around Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, and Sacramento, with hospital and specialty roles spread across the state.
"As a new grad, I was nervous, but We-Care supported me. They landed me my first job in a supportive environment. Thank you!"
Brandon Lee
RN
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