Pharmacy Technician Salary
Pharmacy Technicians earn a median $45,750 a year nationally. Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
U.S. median
$45,750
$22.00 per hour
Range
$36,020 – $61,040
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
471,680
across the U.S.
▲5.3%
Pay trend: The median for pharmacy technicians in the U.S. rose from $43,460 (May 2024) to $45,750 (May 2025). That beat inflation (2.4%), a real raise of about 2.9%.
What pharmacy technicians do
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)
- Openings per year
- 44,700
Employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 6.4% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 44,700 openings are expected each year, on average, including jobs left by workers who retire or switch careers.
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Pharmacy Technician take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$38,940
per year · effective tax rate 14.9%
$3,245Monthly
$1,623Twice a month
$1,498Every 2 weeks
$18.72Hourly
- Federal income tax$3,310
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,837
- Medicare (1.45%)$663
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$38,940
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,020 | $17.32 | $31,122 |
| 25th percentile | $37,850 | $18.20 | $32,592 |
| Median (50th) | $45,750 | $22.00 | $38,940 |
| 75th percentile | $49,990 | $24.03 | $42,347 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $61,040 | $29.35 | $51,226 |
Best cities for pharmacy technicians (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $61,320 | $51,451 | $46,296 | 4,630 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $58,470 | $46,843 | $43,914 | 2,820 |
| 3 | Portland, OR | $58,590 | $44,960 | $42,648 | 2,460 |
| 4 | San Antonio, TX | $47,050 | $39,985 | $42,215 | 3,600 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $60,550 | $48,362 | $41,831 | 4,040 |
| 6 | Austin, TX | $47,010 | $39,953 | $40,740 | 3,130 |
| 7 | Nashville, TN | $45,950 | $39,101 | $40,587 | 3,340 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $45,360 | $37,432 | $40,448 | 3,550 |
| 9 | Las Vegas, NV | $47,590 | $40,419 | $40,332 | 3,040 |
| 10 | Salt Lake City, UT | $49,250 | $40,502 | $40,154 | 2,570 |
| 11 | Milwaukee, WI | $47,300 | $38,885 | $40,114 | 3,170 |
| 12 | Houston, TX | $46,400 | $39,462 | $40,011 | 10,610 |
| 13 | Columbus, OH | $45,240 | $38,069 | $39,875 | 3,480 |
| 14 | Denver, CO | $50,970 | $41,600 | $39,326 | 3,260 |
| 15 | San Diego, CA | $54,500 | $43,943 | $39,274 | 3,600 |
| 16 | St. Louis, MO | $45,220 | $37,326 | $39,254 | 4,980 |
| 17 | Indianapolis, IN | $45,540 | $37,457 | $39,142 | 3,650 |
| 18 | Charlotte, NC | $46,220 | $37,982 | $39,017 | 3,970 |
| 19 | Jacksonville, FL | $45,180 | $38,482 | $38,682 | 2,480 |
| 20 | Raleigh, NC | $46,130 | $37,914 | $38,625 | 2,430 |
| 21 | Riverside, CA | $50,270 | $40,853 | $38,380 | 4,630 |
| 22 | Phoenix, AZ | $47,760 | $39,570 | $38,300 | 9,780 |
| 23 | Dallas, TX | $46,260 | $39,350 | $38,170 | 12,000 |
| 24 | Louisville, KY | $42,880 | $35,251 | $37,874 | 2,750 |
| 25 | Minneapolis, MN | $48,520 | $39,389 | $37,577 | 4,670 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Seattle, WA — $61,320
- San Francisco, CA — $60,550
- Portland, OR — $58,590
- Sacramento, CA — $58,470
- San Diego, CA — $54,500
- Denver, CO — $50,970
- Los Angeles, CA — $50,760
- Riverside, CA — $50,270
- Salt Lake City, UT — $49,250
- Minneapolis, MN — $48,520
- Phoenix, AZ — $47,760
- Las Vegas, NV — $47,590
- Milwaukee, WI — $47,300
- San Antonio, TX — $47,050
- Austin, TX — $47,010
Pharmacy Technician salary by state
| State | Median | 1-yr change | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $58,900 | +4.9% | $49,506 | $47,270 – $79,090 | 8,150 |
| California | $55,110 | +11.0% | $44,388 | $42,850 – $81,190 | 39,860 |
| Oregon | $54,900 | +7.2% | $42,318 | $44,530 – $68,000 | 4,320 |
| Alaska | $52,640 | +4.4% | $44,476 | $40,820 – $70,720 | 800 |
| Colorado | $49,970 | +4.0% | $40,841 | $39,810 – $64,760 | 6,010 |
| Montana | $49,400 | +5.2% | $40,308 | $38,330 – $60,780 | 1,340 |
| Minnesota | $48,300 | −0.5% | $39,224 | $38,110 – $62,080 | 7,340 |
| Wyoming | $48,260 | +3.8% | $40,957 | $37,360 – $63,950 | 600 |
| Utah | $48,140 | +3.0% | $39,660 | $37,860 – $63,130 | 5,030 |
| Nevada | $47,980 | +2.8% | $40,732 | $37,350 – $62,500 | 4,070 |
| Vermont | $47,940 | +4.1% | $39,528 | $37,610 – $65,060 | 760 |
| Arizona | $47,640 | +0.0% | $39,476 | $39,040 – $60,820 | 12,970 |
| North Dakota | $47,560 | −0.1% | $40,394 | $38,370 – $63,850 | 890 |
| District of Columbia | $47,410 | +3.8% | $38,595 | $41,300 – $74,100 | 1,130 |
| New Hampshire | $47,360 | +4.5% | $40,234 | $37,080 – $61,630 | 1,970 |
| Connecticut | $47,050 | +6.5% | $38,792 | $37,410 – $62,230 | 5,200 |
| Hawaii | $46,760 | +3.0% | $37,701 | $36,120 – $62,190 | 1,540 |
| Illinois | $46,650 | +4.6% | $37,499 | $36,550 – $58,260 | 21,340 |
| New Mexico | $46,630 | +3.7% | $38,609 | $37,470 – $58,780 | 2,550 |
| Nebraska | $46,610 | +12.6% | $38,390 | $36,710 – $57,110 | 2,660 |
| Massachusetts | $46,470 | +4.1% | $37,415 | $37,980 – $71,070 | 10,150 |
| Delaware | $46,430 | +6.8% | $37,587 | $35,460 – $57,400 | 1,480 |
| Idaho | $46,420 | +2.7% | $38,126 | $37,380 – $59,230 | 2,950 |
| South Dakota | $46,170 | +5.5% | $39,278 | $37,220 – $56,800 | 1,230 |
| Wisconsin | $45,970 | +5.4% | $37,875 | $36,080 – $58,700 | 9,540 |
| Texas | $45,900 | +4.5% | $39,061 | $35,920 – $59,260 | 41,740 |
| Maine | $45,400 | +10.9% | $36,776 | $37,060 – $57,360 | 2,070 |
| Maryland | $45,120 | +4.7% | $36,654 | $36,180 – $60,050 | 7,990 |
| Iowa | $44,860 | +8.4% | $37,172 | $36,140 – $52,150 | 4,630 |
| Virginia | $44,610 | +5.0% | $36,273 | $36,260 – $59,030 | 10,720 |
| Indiana | $44,560 | +11.3% | $36,699 | $36,610 – $54,800 | 10,790 |
| North Carolina | $44,530 | +11.7% | $36,692 | $35,820 – $57,360 | 17,260 |
| Louisiana | $44,410 | +14.8% | $36,917 | $36,100 – $52,920 | 6,700 |
| Rhode Island | $44,380 | +17.6% | $36,792 | $38,270 – $58,990 | 1,540 |
| Michigan | $44,340 | +10.7% | $36,173 | $35,430 – $54,740 | 14,240 |
| New York | $43,930 | +7.6% | $35,703 | $36,540 – $64,690 | 24,400 |
| Florida | $43,590 | +10.0% | $37,205 | $35,760 – $54,980 | 38,460 |
| Kansas | $43,310 | +10.5% | $35,363 | $33,800 – $56,160 | 4,270 |
| South Carolina | $42,120 | +8.1% | $34,653 | $35,500 – $51,060 | 8,070 |
| Tennessee | $41,920 | +9.9% | $35,863 | $35,550 – $55,430 | 11,870 |
| Georgia | $41,910 | +9.2% | $34,302 | $35,160 – $56,820 | 14,680 |
| Ohio | $40,650 | +7.4% | $34,507 | $34,980 – $56,520 | 17,820 |
| Oklahoma | $40,500 | +6.0% | $33,445 | $34,780 – $50,930 | 5,500 |
| Missouri | $40,100 | +5.6% | $33,453 | $33,830 – $54,600 | 12,610 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,040 | +6.6% | $33,123 | $35,140 – $51,290 | 18,880 |
| New Jersey | $39,610 | +1.9% | $33,338 | $36,170 – $59,700 | 14,020 |
| Kentucky | $39,200 | +4.2% | $32,423 | $31,760 – $52,640 | 8,870 |
| Mississippi | $39,040 | +2.2% | $32,719 | $33,340 – $49,250 | 4,040 |
| Alabama | $39,030 | +3.6% | $31,854 | $31,620 – $49,760 | 8,510 |
| Arkansas | $38,680 | +3.5% | $31,964 | $33,400 – $48,620 | 4,560 |
| West Virginia | $38,210 | +2.2% | $31,842 | $30,490 – $48,460 | 3,560 |
Related jobs
| Job | Median salary | Education | Growth 2025–35 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $45,570 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +21.4% |
| Psychiatric Technician | $45,130 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +22.3% |
| Veterinary Technologist and Technician | $47,380 | Associate's degree | +9.4% |
| Dietetic Technician | $37,640 | Associate's degree | +2.7% |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.0% |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $44,470 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.8% |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $47,260 | High school diploma or equivalent | +4.2% |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $50,290 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.9% |
| Medical Records Specialist | $51,140 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +7.8% |
| Paramedic | $60,600 | Postsecondary nondegree award | +5.7% |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacy technician make?
The national median salary for pharmacy technicians is $45,750 a year ($22.00 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,020 and the top 10% earn over $61,040. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays pharmacy technicians the most?
Washington has the highest median pay at $58,900. After taxes and local prices, Seattle, WA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many pharmacy technicians are there in the U.S.?
About 471,680 people work as pharmacy technicians nationwide.
All 41 cities
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Baltimore, MD
- Birmingham, AL
- Boston, MA
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Jacksonville, FL
- Kansas City, MO
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Louisville, KY
- Miami, FL
- Milwaukee, WI
- Minneapolis, MN
- Nashville, TN
- New York, NY
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Portland, OR
- Raleigh, NC
- Riverside, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Tampa, FL
- Washington, DC