Pharmacy Technician Salary in San Jose, CA
Pharmacy Technicians in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median $75,490 a year — 65% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $58,129 take-home, or $4,844 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median pharmacy technician salary in San Jose, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$7,778
- Social Security (6.2%)$4,680
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,095
- California income tax$2,827
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$981
- Take-home pay$58,129
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 8.00% state
Pharmacy Technician pay by experience in San Jose, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,770 | $22.97 | $39,026 | $3,252 |
| 25th percentile | $56,310 | $27.07 | $45,265 | $3,772 |
| Median (50th) | $75,490 | $36.29 | $58,129 | $4,844 |
| 75th percentile | $88,820 | $42.70 | $66,130 | $5,511 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $99,470 | $47.82 | $72,493 | $6,041 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $75,490 buys in San Jose, CA
Prices in San Jose, CA are 10.4% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 2.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median pharmacy technician's $58,129 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,642 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 Jose, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.52), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for pharmacy technicians, adjusted for cost of living
San Jose, CA ranks #1 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 |
*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
- 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
- Bakersfield, CA — $48,110
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacy technician make in San Jose, CA?
The median pharmacy technician salary in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $75,490 a year, or about $36.29 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $56,310 and $88,820.
What is a pharmacy technician’s take-home pay in San Jose, CA?
On the median $75,490 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $58,129 a year ($4,844 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $3,808 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Jose, CA a good place to work as a pharmacy technician?
Pay here is 65% above the national median of $45,750. Local prices are 10.4% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,642 would in a typical U.S. city. San Jose, CA ranks #1 of 167 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a pharmacy technician afford rent in San Jose, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Jose, CA is $2,957 a month ($3,464 for two bedrooms) — 61% of a median pharmacy technician’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in San Jose, CA
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Nurse Practitioner — $231,560
- Physician Assistant — $223,640
- Registered Nurse — $216,740
- Dentists, General — $207,910
- Pharmacist — $199,040
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer — $173,150
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $154,850
- Respiratory Therapist — $149,680
- Dental Hygienist — $139,990
- Physical Therapist — $139,000
- Occupational Therapist — $136,870