CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for pharmacies and drug stores in St. Louis, MO-IL
Pharmacies and drug stores in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area: 301 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 22-person team.
- Establishments
- 301CBP 2023
- Employees
- 6,657mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 10.7U.S. 12.3
- Rank
- 21st of 840areas by count
How many pharmacies and drug stores are in St. Louis, MO-IL?
County Business Patterns counts 301 pharmacies and drug stores (NAICS 446110, Pharmacies and Drug Stores) in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area for 2023. They employed 6,657 people in mid-March and paid $257.1 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 21st out of 840 areas with published figures for pharmacies and drug stores.
Measured against its 2.8 million residents (2024 estimate), the area has 10.7 pharmacies and drug stores per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 12.3, so St. Louis, MO-IL is 12.9% below the national figure. The average establishment here has 22.1 employees, compared with 16.5 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $38,621, 13.2% below the national $44,477.
| Measure | St. Louis, MO-IL | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 301 | 718 | 41,792 |
| Mid-March employees | 6,657 (moderate noise) | 12,963 | 691,152 |
| Annual payroll | $257,099,000 | $537,791,000 | $30,740,561,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 22.1 | 18.1 | 16.5 |
| Payroll per employee | $38,621 | $41,487 | $44,477 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 10.7 | 11.5 | 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 St. Louis, MO-IL
Of the pharmacies and drug stores in St. Louis, MO-IL that had employees in March 2023, 13.6% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 18.4%). 25.9% 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 | 41 | 13.6% | 18.4% |
| 5–9 employees | 37 | 12.3% | 20.3% |
| 10–19 employees | 37 | 12.3% | 16.4% |
| 20–49 employees | 177 | 58.8% | 43.4% |
| 50 or more employees | 9 | 3.0% | 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.
Why the phone matters for pharmacies and drug stores in St. Louis, MO-IL
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.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for pharmacies and drug stores in St. Louis, MO-IL:
- A customer calls to request a refill.
- The pharmacy calls a prescriber for a refill authorization.
- A prescriber's office calls to clarify a prescription.
What pharmacies and drug stores text about
Independent pharmacies text customers when a prescription is ready for pickup and when a refill needs attention.
Team texting on Callata runs from your business number, so replies come from the practice or shop rather than someone's personal phone. It turns on after the one-time $49 carrier registration (10DLC) is approved.
What a phone system costs a pharmacy in St. Louis, MO-IL
The average pharmacy in St. Louis, MO-IL has 22.1 employees, so a 22-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 22 users would run $660.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $548.90 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $439.00 a month for 22 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $2,652 less than RingCentral for a pharmacy in St. Louis, MO-IL 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 | $439.00 | $5,268.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $418.00 | $5,016.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $506.00 | $6,072.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $548.90 | $6,586.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $594.00 | $7,128.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $660.00 | $7,920.00 |
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.
Getting a local number in St. Louis, MO-IL
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 8 area codes. 314 has the most, with 723 of 1,483 exchanges (49%). A local number lets customers in St. Louis, MO-IL 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 314 | 723 | Central | 1947 | 557 |
| 618 | 324 | Central | 1947 | 730 |
| 636 | 308 | Central | 1999 | none |
| 557 | 71 | Central | 2022 | 314 |
| 730 | 30 | Central | 2023 | 618 |
| 217 | 14 | Central | 1947 | 447 |
| 573 | 11 | Central | 1996 | 235 |
| 447 | 2 | Central | 2021 | 217 |
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.
What pharmacies and drug stores in St. Louis, MO-IL get with Callata
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in St. Louis, MO-IL 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 St. Louis, MO-IL?
Census County Business Patterns counted 301 pharmacies and drug stores in the St. Louis, MO-IL metro area in 2023. They employed 6,657 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 22-person pharmacy?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 22 users cost $660.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $548.90 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $439.00.
What area code should a pharmacy in St. Louis, MO-IL use?
Area code 314 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 618 and 636. 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.