Pharmacy Technician Salary in Boston, MA
Pharmacy Technicians in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $46,890 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $37,732 take-home, or $3,144 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacy technician salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,447
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,907
- Medicare (1.45%)$680
- Massachusetts income tax$2,125
- Take-home pay$37,732
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Pharmacy Technician pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,460 | $18.49 | $31,380 | $2,615 |
| 25th percentile | $39,610 | $19.04 | $32,246 | $2,687 |
| Median (50th) | $46,890 | $22.54 | $37,732 | $3,144 |
| 75th percentile | $61,670 | $29.65 | $48,868 | $4,072 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $75,190 | $36.15 | $58,187 | $4,849 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,890 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacy technician's $37,732 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,851 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 Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.90).
Best-paying cities for pharmacy technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #38 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 |
| 38 | Boston, MA | $46,890 | $37,732 | $34,851 |
*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.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacy technician make in Boston, MA?
The median pharmacy technician salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $46,890 a year, or about $22.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,610 and $61,670.
What is a pharmacy technician’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $46,890 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $37,732 a year ($3,144 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,125 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a pharmacy technician?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $45,750. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,851 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #38 of 41 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacy technician afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 for two bedrooms) — 72% of a median pharmacy technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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