Pharmacy Aide Salary in Riverside, CA
Pharmacy Aides in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $41,600 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $34,411 take-home, or $2,868 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacy aide salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,812
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,579
- Medicare (1.45%)$603
- California income tax$653
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$541
- Take-home pay$34,411
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Pharmacy Aide pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,240 | $17.42 | $30,389 | $2,532 |
| 25th percentile | $37,910 | $18.23 | $31,642 | $2,637 |
| Median (50th) | $41,600 | $20.00 | $34,411 | $2,868 |
| 75th percentile | $62,880 | $30.23 | $50,064 | $4,172 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $73,910 | $35.53 | $57,164 | $4,764 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $41,600 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 aide's $34,411 take-home pay has the buying power of $32,329 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Riverside, CA has 1.4× the national concentration of pharmacy aide jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for pharmacy aides, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #7 of 15 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix, AZ | $43,360 | $36,145 | $34,984 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $45,400 | $38,659 | $34,786 |
| 3 | Philadelphia, PA | $42,640 | $35,132 | $34,257 |
| 4 | Houston, TX | $39,140 | $33,629 | $34,096 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $46,830 | $38,337 | $33,159 |
| 6 | San Diego, CA | $44,810 | $36,821 | $32,909 |
| 7 | Riverside, CA | $41,600 | $34,411 | $32,329 |
| 8 | Atlanta, GA | $39,160 | $32,235 | $32,217 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 15 metros →
Pharmacy Aide salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $46,830
- San Diego, CA — $44,810
- Los Angeles, CA — $39,770
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacy aide make in Riverside, CA?
The median pharmacy aide salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $41,600 a year, or about $20.00 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,910 and $62,880.
What is a pharmacy aide’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $41,600 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $34,411 a year ($2,868 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,194 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a pharmacy aide?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $37,680. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $32,329 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #7 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacy aide 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) — 62% of a median pharmacy aide’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
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- Healthcare Support Workers, All Other — $56,660
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- Nursing Assistant — $46,430
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