Pharmacy Technician Salary in San Francisco, CA
Pharmacy Technicians in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median $60,550 a year — 32% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,362 take-home, or $4,030 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacy technician salary in San Francisco, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,086
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,754
- Medicare (1.45%)$878
- California income tax$1,682
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$787
- Take-home pay$48,362
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% state
Pharmacy Technician pay by experience in San Francisco, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $46,790 | $22.50 | $38,307 | $3,192 |
| 25th percentile | $51,030 | $24.53 | $41,408 | $3,451 |
| Median (50th) | $60,550 | $29.11 | $48,362 | $4,030 |
| 75th percentile | $81,440 | $39.15 | $61,720 | $5,143 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $94,310 | $45.34 | $69,410 | $5,784 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $60,550 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 technician's $48,362 take-home pay has the buying power of $41,831 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 less concentrated in San Francisco, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.56), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for pharmacy technicians, adjusted for cost of living
San Francisco, CA ranks #16 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 |
| 16 | San Francisco, CA | $60,550 | $48,362 | $41,831 |
*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
- Fresno, CA — $52,210
- Stockton, CA — $52,160
- Modesto, CA — $50,540
- San Diego, CA — $54,500
- Bakersfield, CA — $48,110
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacy technician make in San Francisco, CA?
The median pharmacy technician salary in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $60,550 a year, or about $29.11 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $51,030 and $81,440.
What is a pharmacy technician’s take-home pay in San Francisco, CA?
On the median $60,550 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $48,362 a year ($4,030 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,470 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Francisco, CA a good place to work as a pharmacy technician?
Pay here is 32% above the national median of $45,750. Local prices are 15.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $41,831 would in a typical U.S. city. San Francisco, CA ranks #16 of 167 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacy technician 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) — 65% of a median pharmacy technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Francisco, CA
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $219,080
- Veterinarian — $208,080
- Pediatricians, General — $207,450
- Dentists, General — $202,060
- Registered Nurse — $186,610
- Physician Assistant — $184,380
- Pharmacist — $177,410
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $160,270
- Dental Hygienist — $146,760