Pharmacy Chains and Pharmacist Distribution in the United States

Data Sources: NPPES (National Plan and Provider Enumeration System), Healthporta API by Pharmacy Near Me Locator updated Tue, 12 Aug 2025 05:26 GMT.

The pharmacy landscape in the United States is constantly evolving, shaped by both large national chains and smaller regional or independent players. Below is a snapshot of major pharmacy chains, followed by an analysis of the number of pharmacists working in pharmacies across the nation.

1. Major Pharmacy Chains

The table below highlights select large and mid-sized pharmacy chains, their headquarters, the number of pharmacies they operate (as reported to NPPES), and the approximate number of pharmacists working for each chain. While these figures do not encompass every pharmacy in the United States, they offer insight into the dominant players and their staffing scales.

*Refers to the data points available in our database; some pharmacy counts may include specialized or closed-door operations.

Observations and Ratios

• Walgreens leads in both the total number of pharmacies (11,054) and total pharmacists employed (44,750). This suggests an average of around 4 pharmacists per store, indicating relatively robust staffing.
• CVS follows with 8,957 pharmacies and 28,680 pharmacists—about 3 pharmacists per store on average.
• Walmart and Rite Aid also maintain large footprints, with thousands of pharmacies (4,831 for Walmart and 1,512 for Rite Aid) and significant numbers of pharmacists (13,147 and 5,485, respectively).
• Some chains, such as Cardinal Health (52 pharmacies with 16 pharmacists), appear to have lower average staffing ratios. This may reflect a different business model (e.g., distribution centers or specialty services) rather than traditional retail pharmacies.
• Regional grocers like Kroger, Publix, and Hy-Vee have mid-sized pharmacy networks with average staffing levels hovering between 2 and 3 pharmacists per location (1,902 / 5,043, 1,400 / 3,459, and 310 / 949, respectively).

2. Number of Pharmacists per Pharmacy Across the U.S.

In addition to chain-specific data, a broader national snapshot helps illustrate how many pharmacists staff each pharmacy. The table below groups pharmacies by the total number of pharmacists working in them. (For instance, “1” means a pharmacy has exactly 1 pharmacist, “2” means a pharmacy has 2 pharmacists, etc., while the ranges like “21–25” and “25+” indicate the size of the pharmacy team.)

Key Takeaways

1. Single-Pharmacist Pharmacies: Over 20,000 pharmacies in the U.S. employ only one pharmacist. These are often smaller community pharmacies or independent outlets.
2. Small Teams (2–3 Pharmacists): Pharmacies with 2 or 3 pharmacists are also quite common (over 26,700 locations combined).
3. Larger Staffs (4–10 Pharmacists): These midsize teams account for thousands of pharmacies, often found in mid-to-large retail stores, grocery chains, or independent pharmacies with moderate prescription volume.
4. Very Large Staffs (25+ Pharmacists): A minority—158 pharmacies—employ more than 25 pharmacists, which typically includes large hospital systems, long-term care hubs, mail-order facilities, or other specialized settings.

3. Industry Trends and Conclusions

1. Consolidation of Major Chains
   The data shows that a handful of chains (Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, and Rite Aid) dominate in terms of sheer store count and total pharmacists employed. This concentration of market power can influence medication pricing, prescription fulfillment options, and patient access to pharmacy services.
2. Regional Grocery Pharmacies
   Grocery chains like Kroger, Publix, and Safeway maintain significant pharmacy operations. These in-store pharmacies often focus on convenience for shoppers, providing clinical services (immunizations, health screenings) and personalized customer care. Despite having fewer locations than the largest chains, they remain important access points in their communities.
3. Independent and Small-Chain Footprint
   The presence of over 20,000 single-pharmacist operations underscores the importance of small, often independently owned pharmacies. These pharmacies may specialize in serving niche patient populations, offering compounding services, or catering to local healthcare needs that large chains might not fully address.
4. Evolving Roles of Pharmacists
   With more pharmacists in certain settings (hospital, specialty, or mail-order pharmacies), the role of the pharmacist continues to evolve beyond dispensing medication to include clinical and consultative services, medication therapy management, and extended patient counseling.
5. Potential Workforce Pressures
   In the coming years, as demand for healthcare services grows (driven by an aging population and chronic disease prevalence), there may be pressure to increase staffing in both retail and clinical settings. However, pharmacy consolidation and advancements in automation could shape staffing levels in competing ways.

4. Outlook for the U.S. Pharmacy Sector

• Increased Clinical Services: Pharmacies of all sizes are likely to expand services such as vaccinations, point-of-care testing, and chronic disease management. This shift could lead to changes in staffing models, potentially boosting the need for pharmacists with enhanced clinical skills.
• Technology Integration: The rise of e-prescriptions, telepharmacy, and automation (such as automated dispensing machines) may allow pharmacies to operate with fewer on-site pharmacists for purely dispensing tasks. However, it could also free pharmacists to spend more time providing clinical care.
• Competition & Market Pressures: Large chains will continue to compete on convenience, leveraging robust technology and broad store networks, while smaller pharmacies can differentiate with individualized service and specialized offerings.

Overall, the U.S. pharmacy industry remains a complex mosaic of national chains, regional grocers, and independent outlets. The data suggests that while a significant portion of pharmacies still operate with small teams, large chains continue to account for a substantial share of both pharmacy locations and pharmacist employment. As healthcare needs evolve, the sector is poised for further innovation, consolidation, and diversification in how services are delivered to patients.

Disclaimer: The data above represents only the pharmacies and pharmacists listed in the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) as of February 18, 2025, and may not reflect all active pharmacists or pharmacy practices across the country. If you refer to this document, please check the latest version (updated weekly) of pharmacy chains data is available at https://pharmacy-near-me.com/#pharmacy-networks

Nick Alexson

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Nick Alexson spent many years working in the field of healthcare, especially in its technical part. Gained much experience in Open Data and Machine Readable Formats used in the industry. Also, built several IT projects that were designed to help people with their healthcare decisions. Now he is an editor and author of Pharmacy Near Me