Pharmacy Aide Salary
Pharmacy Aides earn a median $37,680 a year nationally. Healthcare Support Occupations
U.S. median
$37,680
$18.12 per hour
Range
$29,820 – $56,010
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
39,530
across the U.S.
▲1.8%
Pay trend: The median for pharmacy aides in the U.S. rose from $37,000 (May 2024) to $37,680 (May 2025). That trailed inflation (2.4%), so buying power slipped about 0.6%.
What pharmacy aides do
Record drugs delivered to the pharmacy, store incoming merchandise, and inform the supervisor of stock needs. May operate cash register and accept prescriptions for filling.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.7% (slower than average)
- Openings per year
- 5,100
Employment of pharmacy aides is projected to shrink 0.7% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 5,100 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Pharmacy Aide take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$32,456
per year · effective tax rate 13.9%
$2,705Monthly
$1,352Twice a month
$1,248Every 2 weeks
$15.60Hourly
- Federal income tax$2,342
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,336
- Medicare (1.45%)$546
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$32,456
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,820 | $14.34 | $26,140 |
| 25th percentile | $34,980 | $16.82 | $30,286 |
| Median (50th) | $37,680 | $18.12 | $32,456 |
| 75th percentile | $43,640 | $20.98 | $37,245 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $56,010 | $26.93 | $47,184 |
Best cities for pharmacy aides (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles, CA | $39,770 | $33,038 | $29,092 | 4,010 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Los Angeles, CA — $39,770
Pharmacy Aide salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $59,960 | +7.9% | $47,907 | $38,430 – $62,360 | 120 |
| Utah | $51,600 | +32.4% | $42,285 | $36,050 – $61,770 | 250 |
| Hawaii | $46,250 | +10.3% | $37,328 | $38,650 – $60,390 | 110 |
| Washington | $45,110 | +4.1% | $38,426 | $36,400 – $60,390 | 1,990 |
| Arizona | $43,360 | +11.8% | $36,145 | $38,930 – $56,770 | 810 |
| California | $42,200 | −4.2% | $34,862 | $36,240 – $71,320 | 8,440 |
| Oregon | $40,250 | +4.2% | $31,829 | $35,330 – $62,150 | 450 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,470 | +3.1% | $32,682 | $28,910 – $43,360 | 1,210 |
| Nevada | $39,080 | +3.5% | $33,581 | $30,250 – $52,570 | 410 |
| Texas | $38,630 | +3.3% | $33,219 | $31,540 – $48,010 | 2,900 |
| Delaware | $38,500 | +5.6% | $31,655 | $31,200 – $47,560 | 130 |
| Maine | $38,060 | +1.6% | $31,345 | $35,870 – $45,590 | 150 |
| New York | $38,040 | +2.4% | $31,288 | $34,270 – $51,150 | 2,360 |
| Rhode Island | $38,020 | +2.9% | $31,920 | $33,460 – $62,360 | — |
| Missouri | $37,820 | +1.9% | $31,728 | $33,980 – $49,510 | 650 |
| Idaho | $37,690 | −0.7% | $31,575 | $34,250 – $55,500 | 110 |
| Colorado | $37,580 | +5.3% | $31,430 | $34,610 – $58,040 | 370 |
| Ohio | $37,500 | +1.4% | $32,062 | $29,970 – $53,670 | 690 |
| Minnesota | $37,430 | −0.5% | $31,071 | $31,530 – $47,380 | 550 |
| Massachusetts | $37,390 | +0.4% | $30,573 | $33,700 – $43,160 | 340 |
| New Hampshire | $37,350 | +16.5% | $32,191 | $33,270 – $42,710 | 50 |
| Vermont | $37,310 | +3.9% | $31,343 | $33,210 – $40,730 | 90 |
| Montana | $37,140 | +4.8% | $31,033 | $31,360 – $53,380 | 210 |
| Wyoming | $37,030 | +9.8% | $31,934 | $28,270 – $41,120 | 60 |
| Illinois | $37,010 | −0.2% | $30,230 | $34,640 – $39,420 | 1,180 |
| Arkansas | $36,860 | +9.4% | $30,572 | $31,540 – $45,730 | 120 |
| Wisconsin | $36,660 | −1.0% | $30,804 | $30,410 – $44,250 | 550 |
| New Jersey | $36,590 | +4.8% | $31,017 | $33,020 – $50,280 | 1,020 |
| New Mexico | $36,390 | −0.8% | $30,822 | $28,620 – $55,540 | 180 |
| Virginia | $36,390 | +1.5% | $30,141 | $30,190 – $49,590 | 510 |
| Connecticut | $36,350 | +1.1% | $30,676 | $34,130 – $57,760 | 490 |
| Alabama | $36,260 | +5.9% | $29,767 | $32,870 – $41,950 | 460 |
| South Carolina | $36,140 | +0.9% | $30,207 | $33,820 – $48,640 | 360 |
| Michigan | $36,130 | +4.0% | $29,926 | $31,480 – $40,490 | 880 |
| South Dakota | $36,130 | −1.2% | $31,210 | $33,400 – $44,040 | 150 |
| Indiana | $35,890 | +1.2% | $29,988 | $33,280 – $43,550 | 610 |
| North Carolina | $35,530 | +2.5% | $29,819 | $25,710 – $43,660 | 1,180 |
| Maryland | $35,170 | −1.2% | $29,132 | $31,200 – $48,340 | 420 |
| Florida | $35,160 | −1.8% | $30,431 | $31,540 – $45,890 | 1,590 |
| Georgia | $34,630 | +3.6% | $28,831 | $23,180 – $46,370 | 1,410 |
| Kentucky | $34,610 | −1.5% | $28,895 | $30,000 – $40,940 | 600 |
| Louisiana | $33,450 | +8.1% | $28,440 | $22,270 – $38,740 | 730 |
| Iowa | $33,270 | −0.2% | $28,300 | $22,260 – $44,360 | 1,070 |
| Kansas | $32,070 | +11.4% | $26,944 | $24,100 – $41,980 | 470 |
| Nebraska | $31,610 | +2.3% | $26,999 | $28,080 – $38,590 | 400 |
| Oklahoma | $30,360 | −1.8% | $25,754 | $22,460 – $40,880 | 700 |
| Tennessee | $30,170 | −16.0% | $26,422 | $25,230 – $39,360 | 1,150 |
| Mississippi | $28,380 | +0.4% | $24,578 | $23,130 – $41,200 | 660 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veterinary Assistant and Laboratory Animal Caretaker | $38,150 | High school diploma or equivalent | +9.1% |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $40,410 | Postsecondary nondegree award | -4.4% |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +6.8% |
| Medical Assistant | $45,690 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +12.9% |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $47,700 | High school diploma or equivalent | +10.8% |
| Dental Assistant | $48,070 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +7.4% |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $48,430 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.8% |
| Massage Therapist | $58,450 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +15.3% |
| Orderly | $38,290 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.0% |
| Occupational Therapy Aide | $39,160 | High school diploma or equivalent | +3.6% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacy aide make?
The national median salary for pharmacy aides is $37,680 a year ($18.12 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $29,820 and the top 10% earn over $56,010. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays pharmacy aides the most?
District of Columbia has the highest median pay at $59,960. After taxes and local prices, Los Angeles, CA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many pharmacy aides are there in the U.S.?
About 39,530 people work as pharmacy aides nationwide.