Pharmacy Technician Salary in Denver, CO
Pharmacy Technicians in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $50,970 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,600 take-home, or $3,467 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacy technician salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,936
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,160
- Medicare (1.45%)$739
- Colorado income tax$1,534
- Take-home pay$41,600
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.40% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Pharmacy Technician pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,390 | $20.38 | $35,084 | $2,924 |
| 25th percentile | $47,170 | $22.68 | $38,714 | $3,226 |
| Median (50th) | $50,970 | $24.50 | $41,600 | $3,467 |
| 75th percentile | $59,690 | $28.70 | $48,223 | $4,019 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $67,440 | $32.42 | $54,015 | $4,501 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,970 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacy technician's $41,600 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,326 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 less concentrated in Denver, CO than nationally (location quotient 0.67), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for pharmacy technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #14 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 |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $50,970 | $41,600 | $39,326 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacy technician make in Denver, CO?
The median pharmacy technician salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $50,970 a year, or about $24.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,170 and $59,690.
What is a pharmacy technician’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $50,970 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $41,600 a year ($3,467 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,534 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a pharmacy technician?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $45,750. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,326 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #14 of 41 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacy technician afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 51% of a median pharmacy technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Pharmacist — $157,890
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $112,090
- Physical Therapist — $102,340
- Registered Nurse — $101,130
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $75,810
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $70,050