CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for pharmacies and drug stores in Houston, TX
Pharmacies and drug stores in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area: 880 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 16-person team.
- Establishments
- 880CBP 2023
- Employees
- 14,003mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 11.3U.S. 12.3
- Rank
- 6th of 840areas by count
The pharmacy market in Houston, TX
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 880 establishments classified as Pharmacies and Drug Stores (NAICS 446110) in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area. They employed 14,003 people in mid-March and paid $616.9 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 6th out of 840 areas with published figures for pharmacies and drug stores.
Measured against its 7.8 million residents (2024 estimate), the area has 11.3 pharmacies and drug stores per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 12.3, so Houston, TX is 8.1% below the national figure. The average establishment here has 15.9 employees, compared with 16.5 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $44,056, in line with the national $44,477.
| Measure | Houston, TX | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 880 | 3,146 | 41,792 |
| Mid-March employees | 14,003 | 52,381 | 691,152 |
| Annual payroll | $616,913,000 | $2,358,281,000 | $30,740,561,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 15.9 | 16.7 | 16.5 |
| Payroll per employee | $44,056 | $45,022 | $44,477 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 11.3 | 10.1 | 12.3 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at pharmacies and drug stores in Houston, TX
Of the pharmacies and drug stores in Houston, TX that had employees in March 2023, 30.9% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 18.4%). 43.6% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 272 | 30.9% | 18.4% |
| 5–9 employees | 112 | 12.7% | 20.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 50 | 5.7% | 16.4% |
| 20–49 employees | 439 | 49.9% | 43.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 7 | 0.8% | 1.6% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
What pharmacies and drug stores in Houston, TX use the phone for
Independent pharmacies take refill requests, prescriber calls and insurance questions throughout the day, often while pharmacists are filling prescriptions. Sorting calls by purpose keeps prescribers and patients from waiting in the same queue.
Calls a pharmacy in Houston, TX might handle in a typical week include:
- A customer calls to ask whether a prescription is ready.
- A customer calls to request a refill.
- A customer calls to ask about vaccine availability.
Business texting for pharmacies and drug stores
Independent pharmacies text customers when a prescription is ready for pickup and when a refill needs attention.
Because carriers require registration for business texting from local numbers, Callata files a 10DLC registration for a one-time $49; after approval, anyone on the team can reply from the business number.
What a phone system costs a pharmacy in Houston, TX
The average pharmacy in Houston, TX has 15.9 employees, so a 16-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 16 users would run $480.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $399.20 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $319.00 a month for 16 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $1,932 less than RingCentral for a pharmacy in Houston, TX of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $319.00 | $3,828.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $304.00 | $3,648.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $368.00 | $4,416.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $399.20 | $4,790.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $432.00 | $5,184.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $480.00 | $5,760.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Which area code to use in Houston, TX
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 8 area codes. 713 has the most, with 747 of 2,385 exchanges (31%). A local number lets customers in Houston, TX call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 713 | 747 | Central | 1947 | 281, 346, 621, 832 |
| 832 | 547 | Central | 1999 | 281, 346, 713 |
| 281 | 393 | Central | 1996 | 346, 621, 713, 832 |
| 346 | 382 | Central | 2014 | 281, 621, 713, 832 |
| 936 | 144 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 979 | 100 | Central | 2000 | none |
| 409 | 71 | Central | 1982 | none |
| 806 | 1 | Central | 1957 | none |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
Setting up Callata for a pharmacy in Houston, TX
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
Porting a number you already use in Houston, TX is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Practices that handle protected health information should review their own privacy obligations before recording calls, enabling AI summaries or texting appointment details, and keep clinical conversations out of text messages unless their policies allow it.
Frequently asked questions
How many pharmacies and drug stores are there in Houston, TX?
Census County Business Patterns counted 880 pharmacies and drug stores in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area in 2023. They employed 14,003 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 16-person pharmacy?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 16 users cost $480.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $399.20 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $319.00.
What area code should a pharmacy in Houston, TX use?
Area code 713 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 832 and 281. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a pharmacy?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute. Practices that handle protected health information should review their own privacy obligations before recording calls, enabling AI summaries or texting appointment details, and keep clinical conversations out of text messages unless their policies allow it.