Pharmacy Technician Salary in Riverside, CA
Pharmacy Technicians in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $50,270 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,853 take-home, or $3,404 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacy technician salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,852
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,117
- Medicare (1.45%)$729
- California income tax$1,066
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$654
- Take-home pay$40,853
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 Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,290 | $18.89 | $32,678 | $2,723 |
| 25th percentile | $45,470 | $21.86 | $37,316 | $3,110 |
| Median (50th) | $50,270 | $24.17 | $40,853 | $3,404 |
| 75th percentile | $59,740 | $28.72 | $47,771 | $3,981 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,830 | $36.94 | $58,947 | $4,912 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,270 buys in Riverside, CA
Prices in Riverside, CA are 6.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.29× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacy technician's $40,853 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,380 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 Riverside, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.89).
Best-paying cities for pharmacy technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #21 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 |
| 21 | Riverside, CA | $50,270 | $40,853 | $38,380 |
*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
- Los Angeles, CA — $50,760
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacy technician make in Riverside, CA?
The median pharmacy technician salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $50,270 a year, or about $24.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,470 and $59,740.
What is a pharmacy technician’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $50,270 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $40,853 a year ($3,404 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,719 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a pharmacy technician?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $45,750. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,380 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #21 of 41 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacy technician afford rent in Riverside, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Riverside, CA is $1,777 a month ($2,201 for two bedrooms) — 52% of a median pharmacy technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Pharmacist — $161,870
- Registered Nurse — $133,940
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurse — $76,970
- Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other — $57,030