Learn about a pharmacy tech salary before you decide to become a technician. Here, a pharmacy technician provides important statistics you need to know. All figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 wage survey, the most recent available, and were compiled in September 2026.
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 hours 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. In the latest BLS figures, technicians in general medical and surgical hospitals earn a mean of $54,270 a year ($26.09 an hour), against $42,610 ($20.48 an hour) in health and personal care retailers, the drugstore chains that employ more than half of all technicians. That is a difference of roughly 27%. General merchandise retailers, which include the big-box pharmacies, sit in between at $48,390. There are many other 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 $22.41. This translates to a mean annual wage of $46,620. The median, the point where half of technicians earn more and half earn less, is $22.00 an hour or $45,750 a year. All in all, 471,680 people work as pharmacy technicians in the United States.
The spread is wide. The lowest-paid 10% of technicians earn $17.32 an hour or less ($36,020 a year), while the top 10% earn $29.35 an hour or more ($61,040 a year). Pay has risen quickly: the national mean was $37,970 in the May 2021 survey, so technician wages have grown by about 23% in four years.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
Highest and Lowest Paying States
The five states with the highest mean annual wage for pharmacy technicians are Washington ($61,140), California ($58,330), Oregon ($55,180), Alaska ($54,230), District of Columbia ($53,700). The five lowest are West Virginia ($40,250), Arkansas ($41,160), Mississippi ($41,330), Alabama ($41,360), Kentucky ($41,660). Keep the cost of living in mind when you compare: a wage that looks modest in one state can go further than a higher one elsewhere.
The biggest employers are Texas (41,740 technicians), California (39,860), Florida (38,460), New York (24,400) and Illinois (21,340). Among metropolitan areas, New York-Newark-Jersey City leads with 25,420, followed by Chicago (15,830), Los Angeles (13,130), Dallas-Fort Worth (12,000) and Houston (10,610).
State by State Salary
Here is a state-by-state breakdown. Employment is the estimated number of pharmacy technicians working in the state. The mean is the average wage; the median is the midpoint.
| State | Employment | Mean hourly wage | Mean annual wage | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 8,510 | $19.89 | $41,360 | $39,030 |
| Alaska | 800 | $26.07 | $54,230 | $52,640 |
| Arizona | 12,970 | $23.92 | $49,760 | $47,640 |
| Arkansas | 4,560 | $19.79 | $41,160 | $38,680 |
| California | 39,860 | $28.04 | $58,330 | $55,110 |
| Colorado | 6,010 | $25.10 | $52,210 | $49,970 |
| Connecticut | 5,200 | $23.13 | $48,120 | $47,050 |
| Delaware | 1,480 | $22.25 | $46,280 | $46,430 |
| District of Columbia | 1,130 | $25.82 | $53,700 | $47,410 |
| Florida | 38,460 | $21.21 | $44,120 | $43,590 |
| Georgia | 14,680 | $21.14 | $43,960 | $41,910 |
| Hawaii | 1,540 | $23.51 | $48,910 | $46,760 |
| Idaho | 2,950 | $22.66 | $47,120 | $46,420 |
| Illinois | 21,340 | $22.08 | $45,930 | $46,650 |
| Indiana | 10,790 | $21.17 | $44,020 | $44,560 |
| Iowa | 4,630 | $21.32 | $44,340 | $44,860 |
| Kansas | 4,270 | $21.08 | $43,850 | $43,310 |
| Kentucky | 8,870 | $20.03 | $41,660 | $39,200 |
| Louisiana | 6,700 | $20.98 | $43,650 | $44,410 |
| Maine | 2,070 | $22.05 | $45,850 | $45,400 |
| Maryland | 7,990 | $21.96 | $45,670 | $45,120 |
| Massachusetts | 10,150 | $24.37 | $50,680 | $46,470 |
| Michigan | 14,240 | $21.27 | $44,250 | $44,340 |
| Minnesota | 7,340 | $23.68 | $49,250 | $48,300 |
| Mississippi | 4,040 | $19.87 | $41,330 | $39,040 |
| Missouri | 12,610 | $20.47 | $42,590 | $40,100 |
| Montana | 1,340 | $24.15 | $50,230 | $49,400 |
| Nebraska | 2,660 | $21.96 | $45,670 | $46,610 |
| Nevada | 4,070 | $23.51 | $48,900 | $47,980 |
| New Hampshire | 1,970 | $23.09 | $48,020 | $47,360 |
| New Jersey | 14,020 | $21.49 | $44,690 | $39,610 |
| New Mexico | 2,550 | $22.99 | $47,810 | $46,630 |
| New York | 24,400 | $22.50 | $46,800 | $43,930 |
| North Carolina | 17,260 | $21.39 | $44,500 | $44,530 |
| North Dakota | 890 | $23.71 | $49,310 | $47,560 |
| Ohio | 17,820 | $20.88 | $43,440 | $40,650 |
| Oklahoma | 5,500 | $20.52 | $42,690 | $40,500 |
| Oregon | 4,320 | $26.53 | $55,180 | $54,900 |
| Pennsylvania | 18,880 | $20.34 | $42,300 | $40,040 |
| Rhode Island | 1,540 | $22.17 | $46,120 | $44,380 |
| South Carolina | 8,070 | $20.73 | $43,120 | $42,120 |
| South Dakota | 1,230 | $21.99 | $45,750 | $46,170 |
| Tennessee | 11,870 | $20.96 | $43,590 | $41,920 |
| Texas | 41,740 | $21.96 | $45,670 | $45,900 |
| Utah | 5,030 | $23.50 | $48,870 | $48,140 |
| Vermont | 760 | $23.89 | $49,680 | $47,940 |
| Virginia | 10,720 | $21.79 | $45,330 | $44,610 |
| Washington | 8,150 | $29.39 | $61,140 | $58,900 |
| West Virginia | 3,560 | $19.35 | $40,250 | $38,210 |
| Wisconsin | 9,540 | $21.99 | $45,750 | $45,970 |
| Wyoming | 600 | $23.81 | $49,520 | $48,260 |
| National | 471,680 | $22.41 | $46,620 | $45,750 |
These pharmacy tech salary figures cover 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.
