Key takeaway: The 10 best pharmacy staffing agencies for 2026 are: Rx relief, RPh on the Go, Soliant, CPS Solutions, Pharmacy Systems Inc., ShiftRx, Supplemental Health Care, Aya Healthcare, AMN Healthcare, and CareerStaff Unlimited. Rx relief and RPh on the Go are the leading pharmacy-only staffing agencies; CPS and Pharmacy Systems provide outsourced hospital pharmacy management; ShiftRx is an on-demand app for pharmacist and technician shifts; Soliant, Supplemental, Aya, AMN, and CareerStaff cover travel and contract pharmacy roles within broader healthcare staffing.
Pharmacy staffing agencies supply pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to hospitals, health systems, retail and community pharmacies, long-term care pharmacies, and specialty and mail-order operations for per diem shifts, travel contracts, temp-to-hire, and permanent placement. A related group of firms manages hospital pharmacy departments outright, supplying the director, staff, and systems under an outsourcing contract.
Technician shortages drive most of the demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 47,400 openings a year for pharmacy technicians and roughly 13,400 for pharmacists through 2033, and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists surveys in 2022 and 2023 found that most hospital pharmacy departments were carrying technician vacancies, with many reporting annual technician turnover above 20 percent. Retail chains have closed or cut hours at thousands of stores partly because of staffing, which has pushed more pharmacists into contract and travel work.
This list ranks agencies by pharmacy specialization, licensing and credentialing support, coverage across hospital, retail, and long-term care settings, and pricing clarity. For nursing and allied coverage, see our healthcare staffing agencies list; for travel nursing specifically, see travel nurse agencies.
How did we evaluate pharmacy staffing agencies?
| Criterion | Weight | What we assessed |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy specialization | 30% | Share of work in pharmacist and technician placement and depth across hospital, retail, and specialty settings |
| Licensing and credentialing | 20% | Multi-state license support, board of pharmacy compliance, immunization and sterile compounding certifications |
| Coverage and speed | 20% | Per diem, travel, and permanent options and time to fill |
| Clinician experience | 15% | Pay transparency, recruiter quality, and reviews from pharmacists and technicians |
| Pricing transparency | 15% | Clear hourly rates, travel packages, and conversion fees |
The 10 agencies at a glance
| # | Firm | Headquarters | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rx relief | Fresno, CA | Hospitals, retail chains, and specialty pharmacies that want the largest pharmacy-only... |
| 2 | RPh on the Go | Alpharetta, GA | Health systems and pharmacies that want a pharmacy specialist backed by one of the largest... |
| 3 | Soliant | Peachtree Corners, GA | Hospitals and health systems that want travel and contract pharmacists and technicians from a... |
| 4 | CPS Solutions (Comprehensive Pharmacy Services) | Memphis, TN | Hospitals and health systems that want to outsource pharmacy department leadership, staffing... |
| 5 | Pharmacy Systems Inc. | Dublin, OH | Community and rural hospitals that want outsourced or co-managed pharmacy departments and... |
| 6 | ShiftRx | Austin, TX | Independent and chain pharmacies that need pharmacists and technicians for individual shifts... |
| 7 | Supplemental Health Care | Park City, UT | Health systems that want pharmacists and technicians alongside nursing and allied travelers... |
| 8 | Aya Healthcare | San Diego, CA | Health systems that run Aya as their MSP and want pharmacy travelers in the same program |
| 9 | AMN Healthcare | Dallas, TX | Large health systems that want pharmacy travel and interim pharmacy leadership integrated with... |
| 10 | CareerStaff Unlimited | Irving, TX | Long-term care pharmacies and hospitals that want pharmacy travelers and per diem staff from... |
The 10 best pharmacy staffing agencies
1. Rx relief
Type: Pharmacy-only staffing Headquarters: Fresno, CA Best for: Hospitals, retail chains, and specialty pharmacies that want the largest pharmacy-only staffing agency for per diem, travel, and permanent roles
Rx relief is the largest pharmacy-only staffing company in the United States, placing pharmacists and pharmacy technicians nationwide in hospital, retail, long-term care, specialty, and mail-order settings on per diem, contract, travel, and permanent terms. It is Joint Commission certified and handles multi-state licensing support.
Strengths:
- Largest pharmacy-specific candidate pool
- All settings and all placement types
- Joint Commission certified
Limitations:
- Pharmacy only; no other disciplines
- Rates at the higher end for travel pharmacists
2. RPh on the Go
Type: Pharmacy staffing (Jackson Healthcare) Headquarters: Alpharetta, GA Best for: Health systems and pharmacies that want a pharmacy specialist backed by one of the largest healthcare staffing groups
RPh on the Go is the pharmacy staffing division of Jackson Healthcare and places pharmacists and technicians on travel, contract, per diem, and permanent assignments in hospital, retail, and specialty pharmacy. It benefits from Jackson Healthcare's credentialing infrastructure and national reach.
Strengths:
- Pharmacy specialization with Jackson Healthcare backing
- Travel and permanent options
- Strong hospital pharmacy relationships
Limitations:
- Hospital and travel focus; less retail per diem
- Smaller technician pool than Rx relief
3. Soliant
Type: Healthcare and education staffing with pharmacy division Headquarters: Peachtree Corners, GA Best for: Hospitals and health systems that want travel and contract pharmacists and technicians from a large allied health staffing company
Soliant is a large healthcare and education staffing company whose pharmacy division places travel and contract pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in hospitals, health systems, and specialty pharmacies nationwide, with strong recruiter reviews and Joint Commission certification.
Strengths:
- Dedicated pharmacy division within a large allied staffing company
- Travel pharmacist depth
- Joint Commission certified
Limitations:
- Pharmacy is one of many divisions
- Less retail pharmacy coverage
4. CPS Solutions (Comprehensive Pharmacy Services)
Type: Outsourced hospital pharmacy management and staffing Headquarters: Memphis, TN Best for: Hospitals and health systems that want to outsource pharmacy department leadership, staffing, and compliance
CPS Solutions, formerly Comprehensive Pharmacy Services, is the largest provider of outsourced hospital pharmacy management in the United States, running pharmacy departments for hundreds of hospitals with its own directors, pharmacists, and technicians, plus 340B, telepharmacy, and supply chain services. It also provides interim pharmacy leadership and supplemental staffing.
Strengths:
- Full pharmacy department outsourcing
- 340B, telepharmacy, and compliance expertise
- Interim director and leadership placement
Limitations:
- Outsourcing model, not per diem staffing
- Best for hospitals and systems
5. Pharmacy Systems Inc.
Type: Hospital pharmacy management and staffing Headquarters: Dublin, OH Best for: Community and rural hospitals that want outsourced or co-managed pharmacy departments and interim pharmacists
Pharmacy Systems Inc. provides outsourced and co-managed hospital pharmacy services, interim pharmacy directors, and supplemental pharmacists to community, critical access, and rural hospitals, with a focus on regulatory compliance, medication safety, and cost management.
Strengths:
- Community and critical access hospital expertise
- Interim leadership and supplemental staffing
- Compliance and medication safety focus
Limitations:
- Hospital focus only
- Regional concentration in the Midwest and East
6. ShiftRx
Type: On-demand pharmacy staffing app Headquarters: Austin, TX Best for: Independent and chain pharmacies that need pharmacists and technicians for individual shifts on short notice
ShiftRx is a venture-backed on-demand staffing platform where pharmacies post pharmacist and technician shifts and licensed professionals accept them through an app, with ShiftRx handling credential verification, payment, and reliability ratings. It is a fast way to cover vacations, callouts, and short-term gaps.
Strengths:
- Same-week and same-day shift coverage
- Transparent per-shift pricing
- Credential verification built in
Limitations:
- Coverage concentrated in launch markets
- Not suited to long travel contracts or permanent hires
7. Supplemental Health Care
Type: Healthcare staffing with pharmacy and allied division Headquarters: Park City, UT Best for: Health systems that want pharmacists and technicians alongside nursing and allied travelers from one agency
Supplemental Health Care is a large healthcare staffing company that places travel and contract pharmacists and pharmacy technicians through its allied division, in addition to nurses, therapists, and school-based clinicians, and offers MSP services for health systems.
Strengths:
- Pharmacy within a broad allied practice
- MSP capability
- Joint Commission certified
Limitations:
- Pharmacy is a small share of its business
- Less retail coverage
8. Aya Healthcare
Type: Healthcare staffing and MSP with allied and pharmacy coverage Headquarters: San Diego, CA Best for: Health systems that run Aya as their MSP and want pharmacy travelers in the same program
Aya Healthcare, the largest healthcare staffing company in the US, places travel pharmacists and pharmacy technicians through its allied division and includes pharmacy in its MSP and VMS programs, which lets systems manage pharmacy contract labor alongside nursing.
Strengths:
- Pharmacy inside the largest MSP footprint
- Large allied traveler pool
- Workforce technology
Limitations:
- Pharmacy is a small specialty for Aya
- Less retail and independent pharmacy work
9. AMN Healthcare
Type: Healthcare workforce solutions with pharmacy staffing Headquarters: Dallas, TX Best for: Large health systems that want pharmacy travel and interim pharmacy leadership integrated with AMN workforce programs
AMN Healthcare places travel pharmacists and pharmacy technicians and interim pharmacy leaders through its allied and leadership divisions and includes pharmacy in its MSP programs, giving large systems a single vendor for pharmacy and all other clinical contract labor.
Strengths:
- Interim pharmacy leadership plus travel staffing
- MSP integration
- Enterprise scale
Limitations:
- Enterprise orientation
- Pharmacy is a small share of AMN's business
10. CareerStaff Unlimited
Type: Healthcare staffing with pharmacy and allied coverage Headquarters: Irving, TX Best for: Long-term care pharmacies and hospitals that want pharmacy travelers and per diem staff from an allied-focused agency
CareerStaff Unlimited is a healthcare staffing company that places travel, contract, and per diem pharmacists and pharmacy technicians along with nurses and therapists, with particular experience in long-term care and post-acute settings and Joint Commission certification.
Strengths:
- Long-term care and post-acute pharmacy experience
- Per diem and travel options
- Joint Commission certified
Limitations:
- Smaller pharmacy pool than specialists
- Less hospital leadership placement
How to choose a pharmacy staffing agency
Start with the setting and the gap. Hospitals with a few open pharmacist or technician shifts should look first at pharmacy specialists Rx relief and RPh on the Go or at their existing MSP (Aya, AMN, Supplemental). Independent and chain pharmacies that need single shifts covered can use ShiftRx where it operates. Hospitals whose problem is leadership and compliance rather than shifts should evaluate CPS or Pharmacy Systems for outsourced or co-managed departments.
Then confirm licensing and certification handling. Ask whether the agency supports multi-state licensing, verifies immunization and sterile compounding certifications, and manages board of pharmacy requirements for technicians, which vary widely by state. Per diem pharmacist bill rates in 2025 typically ran $75 to $110 per hour and travel pharmacist contracts $90 to $130 per hour including housing stipends, with technician rates roughly a third of that. Conversion fees for hiring a traveler permanently usually run 15 to 25 percent of salary unless waived after a set number of hours.
For life sciences and pharmaceutical industry roles rather than pharmacy practice, see our life sciences recruiting firms list, and for software used to recruit providers, see healthcare recruiting software.
How Noon fits alongside pharmacy staffing agencies
Agencies cover shifts and travel contracts, but every pharmacy operation needs permanent pharmacists and technicians, and agency conversion fees across many sites add up. Noon is an AI recruiter that helps health systems and pharmacy chains fill permanent roles: it sources licensed pharmacists and certified technicians across the open web and licensing registries, screens them against role requirements, and runs personalized email and SMS outreach so recruiters spend their time on interviews.
Noon offers one flat plan with unlimited roles and seats, which fits chains and systems recruiting across many locations. See pricing or read how an AI agent compares with a recruiting agency.
FAQ
What does a pharmacy staffing agency do? A pharmacy staffing agency recruits, credentials, and places licensed pharmacists and certified pharmacy technicians with hospitals, retail and community pharmacies, long-term care pharmacies, and specialty operations on per diem, travel, contract, or permanent terms, handling licensing support, payroll, and compliance.
Which is the largest pharmacy staffing agency? Rx relief is generally considered the largest pharmacy-only staffing company in the United States. RPh on the Go (Jackson Healthcare) is the other major pharmacy specialist, and large healthcare staffing companies such as Aya, AMN, Soliant, and Supplemental Health Care place pharmacists through their allied divisions.
How much do pharmacy staffing agencies charge? Per diem pharmacist bill rates typically run $75 to $110 per hour and travel pharmacist contracts $90 to $130 per hour including housing stipends. Pharmacy technician rates run roughly $25 to $40 per hour. Permanent placement or conversion fees usually run 15 to 25 percent of first-year salary.
What is outsourced pharmacy management? Outsourced pharmacy management is an arrangement in which a company such as CPS Solutions or Pharmacy Systems Inc. runs a hospital's pharmacy department, supplying the director, pharmacists, technicians, and systems under a management contract rather than filling individual shifts.
How quickly can a pharmacy staffing agency fill a shift? On-demand apps such as ShiftRx can fill shifts within days or the same day in covered markets. Agencies typically place per diem pharmacists within one to two weeks and travel pharmacists in two to four weeks, depending on licensing.
About the author
Rey Sivji works on growth at Noon AI and researched and compiled this list. Have a correction, a firm that belongs on it, or a question about choosing an agency? Email rey@noon.ai.