Pharmacy Technician Salary in Sacramento, CA
Pharmacy Technicians in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area earn a median $58,470 a year — 28% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $46,843 take-home, or $3,904 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacy technician salary in Sacramento, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,836
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,625
- Medicare (1.45%)$848
- California income tax$1,558
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$760
- Take-home pay$46,843
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 Sacramento, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $44,480 | $21.38 | $36,573 | $3,048 |
| 25th percentile | $48,280 | $23.21 | $39,399 | $3,283 |
| Median (50th) | $58,470 | $28.11 | $46,843 | $3,904 |
| 75th percentile | $77,340 | $37.18 | $59,258 | $4,938 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,120 | $39.96 | $62,724 | $5,227 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $58,470 buys in Sacramento, CA
Prices in Sacramento, CA are 6.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.30× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacy technician's $46,843 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,914 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 Sacramento, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for pharmacy technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Sacramento, CA ranks #2 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 |
*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
- San Francisco, CA — $60,550
- San Diego, CA — $54,500
- Riverside, CA — $50,270
- Los Angeles, CA — $50,760
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacy technician make in Sacramento, CA?
The median pharmacy technician salary in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area is $58,470 a year, or about $28.11 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $48,280 and $77,340.
What is a pharmacy technician’s take-home pay in Sacramento, CA?
On the median $58,470 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $46,843 a year ($3,904 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,318 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Sacramento, CA a good place to work as a pharmacy technician?
Pay here is 28% above the national median of $45,750. Local prices are 6.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,914 would in a typical U.S. city. Sacramento, CA ranks #2 of 41 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacy technician afford rent in Sacramento, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Sacramento, CA is $1,812 a month ($2,241 for two bedrooms) — 46% of a median pharmacy technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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