Pharmacy Technician Salary in Riverside, CA
Pharmacy Technicians in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn a median $50,270 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,853 take-home, or $3,404 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacy technician salary in Riverside, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,852
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,117
- Medicare (1.45%)$729
- California income tax$1,066
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$654
- Take-home pay$40,853
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Pharmacy Technician pay by experience in Riverside, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,290 | $18.89 | $32,678 | $2,723 |
| 25th percentile | $45,470 | $21.86 | $37,316 | $3,110 |
| Median (50th) | $50,270 | $24.17 | $40,853 | $3,404 |
| 75th percentile | $59,740 | $28.72 | $47,771 | $3,981 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $76,830 | $36.94 | $58,947 | $4,912 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,270 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 technician's $40,853 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,380 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 Riverside, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.89).
Best-paying cities for pharmacy technicians, adjusted for cost of living
Riverside, CA ranks #85 of 167 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $75,490 | $58,129 | $52,642 |
| 2 | Spokane, WA | $57,830 | $48,646 | $48,479 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $61,320 | $51,451 | $46,296 |
| 4 | Killeen, TX | $47,400 | $40,266 | $44,184 |
| 5 | Shreveport, LA | $44,890 | $37,289 | $43,990 |
| 6 | Sacramento, CA | $58,470 | $46,843 | $43,914 |
| 7 | Vallejo, CA | $58,670 | $46,989 | $43,316 |
| 8 | Sioux Falls, SD | $45,610 | $38,828 | $42,841 |
| 85 | Riverside, CA | $50,270 | $40,853 | $38,380 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 167 metros →
Pharmacy Technician salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $75,490
- Sacramento, CA — $58,470
- Vallejo, CA — $58,670
- San Francisco, CA — $60,550
- Fresno, CA — $52,210
- Stockton, CA — $52,160
- Modesto, CA — $50,540
- San Diego, CA — $54,500
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacy technician make in Riverside, CA?
The median pharmacy technician salary in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $50,270 a year, or about $24.17 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,470 and $59,740.
What is a pharmacy technician’s take-home pay in Riverside, CA?
On the median $50,270 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $40,853 a year ($3,404 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,719 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Riverside, CA a good place to work as a pharmacy technician?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $45,750. Local prices are 6.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,380 would in a typical U.S. city. Riverside, CA ranks #85 of 167 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacy technician 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) — 52% of a median pharmacy technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Riverside, CA
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $169,920
- Physician Assistant — $165,490
- Pharmacist — $161,870
- Veterinarian — $160,860
- Registered Nurse — $133,940
- Optometrist — $129,990
- Dentists, General — $125,230
- Physical Therapist — $120,110
- Occupational Therapist — $119,530
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $118,560