Pharmacy Tech Salary Info

Learn about a pharmacy tech salary before you decide to become a technician. Here, a pharmacy technician provides important statistics you need to know. We’ve gone through all these figures in 2022 to make sure they are up to date.

Do Your Research First

Before you decide to become a pharmacy technician, make sure to do your research. One thing you definitely want to look into is what kind of pay you can expect.

A pharmacy tech’s salary varies from state to state and from one employer to another. Throw your training and experience into the equation and you are looking at a very broad range of pay.

The best ways to increase your earning potential are by education and certification. National certification requires you to pass an exam, as well as to earn 20 units of continuing education every 2 years.

You can also become certified in compounding, IV sterile products, and chemotherapy. Most hospitals require a technician to be certified in one or all of these areas.

A pharmacy tech’s salary will also depend on your employer. Expect your annual earnings to be around 20% to 25% higher in a hospital than in a retail or chain pharmacy. There are many types of companies that hire pharmacy technicians such as pharmaceutical companies, long-term care facilities, and government institutions.

Make sure to research the companies and types of jobs that interest you. Find out about benefits such as health insurance, sick leave, and retirement. Also check on their promotion policy and if they will assist you in continuing your education. All of these things contribute to your earning potential. Make sure you know as much about the company as possible.

Experience will also play a major role in where you can work and how much you will make. Most hospitals require 1 to 2 years of experience as a technician. A retail or chain pharmacy will hire new technicians. This is a good place to gain experience and move up to a better-paying position. Some retail pharmacies will even pay for your certification and provide promotion opportunities.

National Pharmacy Technician Salary

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, the national mean pharmacy tech salary (hourly wage) is $18.25. This translates to a mean annual wage of $37,970. All in all, 436,630 people work as pharmacy technicians in the United States.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2021

State by State Salary

Here is a state-by-state breakdown.

StateEmployment numberMean hourly wageMean annual wage
Alabama8,080$15.68$32,620
Alaska650$22.19$46,160
Arizona10,330$18.86$39,240
Arkansas4,200$15.72$32,690
California38,220$24.04$49,990
Colorado6,130$19.50$40,550
Connecticut4,430$18.29$38,050
Delaware1,320$16.81$34,960
District of Columbia770$21.65$45,030
Florida33,730$17.33$36,040
Georgia13,260$16.45$34,220
Hawaii1,470$19.57$40,710
Idaho2,240$18.37$38,210
Illinois21,660$17.83$37,090
Indiana10,080$16.93$35,220
Iowa4,170$17.15$35,660
Kansas4,540$17.50$36,390
Kentucky9,320$16.05$33,390
Louisiana6,240$16.75$34,840
Maine2,400$16.93$35,220
Maryland6,430$18.19$37,840
Massachusetts8,880$19.42$40,390
Michigan15,520$17.16$35,690
Minnesota7,430$20.30$42,220
Mississippi3,980$16.57$34,460
Missouri10,090$16.31$33,920
Montana1,200$18.62$38,730
Nebraska2,390$17.36$36,100
Nevada4,450$19.16$39,850
New Hampshire1,860$17.89$37,200
New Jersey10,960$17.87$37,160
New Mexico2,660$18.12$37,690
New York20,650$18.71$38,920
North Carolina15,360$16.72$34,780
North Dakota790$20.08$41,760
Ohio16,320$16.53$34,390
Oklahoma5,280$16.71$34,750
Oregon4,360$21.75$45,240
Pennsylvania21,900$16.71$34,760
Rhode Island1,520$18.47$38,420
South Carolina7,050$17.26$35,890
South Dakota1,220$17.90$37,240
Tennessee12,080$16.76$34,850
Texas35,290$18.43$38,330
Utah4,440$19.28$40,110
Vermont730$17.55$36,500
Virginia10,340$17.47$36,340
Washington7,680$22.52$46,830
West Virginia3,130$15.49$32,230
Wisconsin8,840$17.83$37,080
Wyoming590$19.27$40,090
National436,630$18.25$37,970
Data taken in April, 2022 from the latest published BLS figures [May 2021]

These pharmacy tech salary figures are the median hourly wages across all types of technician positions and will also vary by city and metropolitan area. Remember that your earning potential is based on many factors. Subscribe to pharmacy technician newsletters and join forums so you can stay updated on the industry and read about other technicians’ experiences. It also helps to be affiliated with organizations such as the PTCB, NPTA, and ASHP. Get involved and stay informed.

Photo by Alexander Mils on Unsplash.

Leave a Comment