Pharmacy Aide Salary in San Francisco, CA
Pharmacy Aides in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $46,830 a year — 24% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $38,337 take-home, or $3,195 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacy aide salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,440
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,903
- Medicare (1.45%)$679
- California income tax$863
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$609
- Take-home pay$38,337
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Pharmacy Aide pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,880 | $19.17 | $33,121 | $2,760 |
| 25th percentile | $44,710 | $21.50 | $36,746 | $3,062 |
| Median (50th) | $46,830 | $22.51 | $38,337 | $3,195 |
| 75th percentile | $76,010 | $36.54 | $58,446 | $4,871 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,520 | $39.19 | $61,768 | $5,147 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,830 buys in San Francisco, CA
Prices in San Francisco, CA are 15.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.95× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacy aide's $38,337 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,159 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 Aide jobs are about as common in San Francisco, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.14).
Best-paying cities for pharmacy aides, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #5 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 Diego, CA — $44,810
- Riverside, CA — $41,600
- Los Angeles, CA — $39,770
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacy aide make in San Francisco, CA?
The median pharmacy aide salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $46,830 a year, or about $22.51 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,710 and $76,010.
What is a pharmacy aide’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $46,830 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $38,337 a year ($3,195 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,471 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a pharmacy aide?
Pay here is 24% above the national median of $37,680. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,159 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #5 of 15 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacy aide afford rent in San Francisco, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Francisco, CA is $2,620 a month ($3,187 for two bedrooms) — 82% of a median pharmacy aide’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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