Pharmacy Technician Salary in Columbus, OH
Pharmacy Technicians in the Columbus, OH metro area earn a median $45,240 a year — 1% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,069 take-home, or $3,172 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacy technician salary in Columbus, OH. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,249
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,805
- Medicare (1.45%)$656
- Ohio income tax$462
- Take-home pay$38,069
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 2.75% state
Living in Columbus? City residents also pay Columbus’s city income tax — about $1,131 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $36,938 ($3,078 a month). Choose “Columbus” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Pharmacy Technician pay by experience in Columbus, OH
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,100 | $17.36 | $30,976 | $2,581 |
| 25th percentile | $37,150 | $17.86 | $31,791 | $2,649 |
| Median (50th) | $45,240 | $21.75 | $38,069 | $3,172 |
| 75th percentile | $49,100 | $23.61 | $41,064 | $3,422 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,760 | $29.69 | $50,888 | $4,241 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Ohio resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $45,240 buys in Columbus, OH
Prices in Columbus, OH are 4.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 12% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacy technician's $38,069 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,875 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Pharmacy Technician jobs are about as common in Columbus, OH as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.04).
Best-paying cities for pharmacy technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Columbus, OH ranks #13 of 41 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $61,320 | $51,451 | $46,296 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $58,470 | $46,843 | $43,914 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $58,590 | $44,960 | $42,648 |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | $47,050 | $39,985 | $42,215 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $60,550 | $48,362 | $41,831 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $47,010 | $39,953 | $40,740 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $45,950 | $39,101 | $40,587 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $45,360 | $37,432 | $40,448 |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $45,240 | $38,069 | $39,875 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 41 metros →
About the job: pharmacy technicians
Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.4% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Pharmacy Technician salaries elsewhere in Ohio
- Cincinnati, OH — $40,490
- Cleveland, OH — $39,310
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacy technician make in Columbus, OH?
The median pharmacy technician salary in the Columbus, OH metro area is $45,240 a year, or about $21.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,150 and $49,100.
What is a pharmacy technician’s take-home pay in Columbus, OH?
On the median $45,240 salary, a single filer living in Ohio takes home about $38,069 a year ($3,172 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $462 in Ohio taxes in 2026.
Is Columbus, OH a good place to work as a pharmacy technician?
Pay here is 1% below the national median of $45,750. Local prices are 4.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,875 would in a typical U.S. city. Columbus, OH ranks #13 of 41 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacy technician afford rent in Columbus, OH?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Columbus, OH is $1,179 a month ($1,416 for two bedrooms) — 37% of a median pharmacy technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Columbus, OH
- Physicians, All Other — $214,760
- Pharmacist — $133,960
- Nurse Practitioner — $124,580
- Registered Nurse — $83,900
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $62,240
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $61,910