Pharmacy Technician Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Pharmacy Technicians in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $50,760 a year — 11% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,211 take-home, or $3,434 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacy technician salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,911
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,147
- Medicare (1.45%)$736
- California income tax$1,095
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$660
- Take-home pay$41,211
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Pharmacy Technician pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,820 | $19.14 | $33,076 | $2,756 |
| 25th percentile | $45,180 | $21.72 | $37,098 | $3,092 |
| Median (50th) | $50,760 | $24.40 | $41,211 | $3,434 |
| 75th percentile | $62,910 | $30.25 | $50,086 | $4,174 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $78,850 | $37.91 | $60,172 | $5,014 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,760 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacy technician's $41,211 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,288 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 Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.69), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for pharmacy technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #30 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 |
| 30 | Los Angeles, CA | $50,760 | $41,211 | $36,288 |
*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 California
- Sacramento, CA — $58,470
- San Francisco, CA — $60,550
- San Diego, CA — $54,500
- Riverside, CA — $50,270
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacy technician make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median pharmacy technician salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $50,760 a year, or about $24.40 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,180 and $62,910.
What is a pharmacy technician’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $50,760 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $41,211 a year ($3,434 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,755 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a pharmacy technician?
Pay here is 11% above the national median of $45,750. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,288 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #30 of 41 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacy technician afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 65% of a median pharmacy technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
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- Physician Assistant — $161,890
- Nurse Practitioner — $161,470
- Veterinarian — $160,080
- Pharmacist — $157,440
- Dentists, General — $139,990
- Optometrist — $138,940
- Registered Nurse — $135,560
- Dental Hygienist — $122,980
- Occupational Therapist — $122,040
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $119,430