Pharmacy Technician Salary in 2024 (In-Depth Details)

Pharmacy TechnicianHow much you will make as a Pharmacy Technician depends on multiple factors, including experience, place of employment, educational background, PTCB certification, the industry you are placed in and your specific job duties. So whether you are a high school student contemplating becoming a pharmacy technician or a hardworking pharmacy tech on job, anticipating your next salary hike, you will find valuable information (January 2024 updated) on this page that will give you an in-depth insight about a Pharmacy Technician's latest salary, factoring the location of work, type of employer and employment outlook, giving you some food for thought and helping you learn all that you need to know about how much a Pharmacy Technician makes.


Table Of Contents




Number of Pharmacy Technicians Currently Employed in the US

According to BLS as on May 2021 there were 436,630 pharmacy technicians working across the nation, out of which 283,000 were PTCB certified. As PTCB certified pharmacy technicians are being preferred by employers, each year more number of pharmacy technicians are getting themselves PTCB certified.

436,630



Starting Salary

When you start your career as a pharmacy technician, you can expect to earn a starting salary of $28,740. You can expect to start with a higher salary if you get your training at an accredited pharmacy technician school. Entry level pharmacy technicians are in demand in hospital and retail pharmacies. Although the starting salary of a pharmacy technician is lower than that of any other health care careers, you can use the experience you get as an entry level pharmacy technician to pursue pharmacy or an advance specialization in pharmacy technology.

Starting Salary
$28,740


Average Salary

According to U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics on an average a Pharmacy technician, makes $37,970 annually and the average wage per hour was estimated to be $18.25. While the best paid earned $49,990 the lowest earned $32,230 annually.

Hourly: A pharmacy technician earns an average hourly wage of $18.25. Most pharmacy technicians earning this wage are on part-time jobs and with not many years of experience. You may earn slightly more, working in a Mail Order Pharmacy and Long-Term Care. While working in California can get you the highest hourly wage of $24.04, working in West Virginia you will get only a meagre $15.49 paid per hour.

Monthly: As a pharmacy technician in the U.S., you can expect to earn a monthly average salary of $3,160. While the highest is at $4,170 in California, the lowest is at $2,690 in West Virginia.

Annual: At $37,970, the average annual salary a pharmacy technician earns is lower than that of other health care careers. If you are employed full-time your annual salary will be higher than a pharmacy tech who is working part-time, the reason being, benefits and allowances will add up to your annual salary, which a part-time employee may not enjoy. Working full time in the federal government or outpatient care center in San Francisco or even in the state of California, well, you could be earning the highest pharmacy technician salary, annually!

Type Salary
Hourly Wage $18.25
Monthly Salary $3,160
Annual Salary $37,970
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022


Certified Pharmacy Technician

Some states in the nation require Pharmacy technicians to be certified. Even in states that do not mandate certification, employment opportunities get better with certification. If you get yourself a PTCB certification not only will you better your job prospects, you can even expect to earn a higher salary than the national annual average. There are currently 281,914 PTCB certified pharmacy technicians active across the country. As a Certified pharmacy technician you can expect to earn an average annual salary of $47,480.



Your Salary Will Grow With Experience

In May 2020, BLS listed yearly salaries for pharmacy technicians based on the number of years of experience they possessed. This source reported that starting level pharmacy technicians made yearly earnings of $28,740. Salaries rose to $29,460 with 1-4 years of experience, $36,740 with 5-9 years of experience, $45,850 with 10-19 years of experience and $47,580 with over 20 years of experience.

Level of Experience Hourly Monthly Annual
Less than 1 year (Starting)$13.82 $2,400$28,740
1-4 years$14.16 $2,460$29,460
5-9 years$17.66 $3,060$36,740
10-19 years$22.04 $3,820$45,850
20 years or more$22.88 $3,970$47,580
Average Salary$13.82 $2,400$28,740



Other Employee Benefits

As a pharmacy tech, you will enjoy employee benefits such as health insurance, paid leave and pension plan. However the extent of benefits you enjoy will depend upon your employer. The largest salary benefit that an average Pharmacy Technician receives is in the form of insurance benefits at 11.70% for state and government employees and 8% for pharmacy techs working in the private sector. Working for the state, you can expect to enjoy a high Savings and Retirement benefit at 12.40% as compared to a meagre 3.40 % for pharmacy technicians placed in the private sector. State and Local Government employees get 61.90% ($44,930) as Wages and another 38.1% ($27,655) as benefits on total earnings. Working in the private sector, you can get 70.30%( $37,590) as wages and 29.7%( $15,881) as benefits on total earnings.

Compensation Component Private Industry State & Local Government Private Industry Salary State & Local Government Salary
Wages and Salaries 70.30% 61.90% $37,590 $44,930
Paid Leave 7.40% 7.60% $3,957 $5,516
Supplemental Pay 3.50% 1% $1,871 $726
Insurance (Health Benefits) 8% 11.70% $4,171 $8,492
Retirement and Savings (Defined Benefit & Defined Contribution) 3.40% 12.40% $1,818 $9,001
Legally Required 7.60% 5.50% $4,064 $3,992
Total $53,471 $72,585
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022



Factors That Will Affect My Salary

Apart from experience there are other factors that will play a role in deciding How much you will make as a Pharmacy Technician. Let us look at all the factors that play a role:

Place of Employment: The place of employment or geographical location can have an impact on the salary. Higher the cost of living of a place, higher the salary and vice-versa. Large metros usually pay higher pay packages as compared to non-metros as the cost of things such as rent, utilities, groceries, etc. is steeper over there. E.g. Pharmacy technician working in California earns the highest average salary $49,990 a year. The second highest average salary is in Washington at $46,830 a year. West Virginia and Alabama rank the lowest in terms of average salary i.e. $32,230 and $32,620 respectively. San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($59,340) and Napa, CA ($58,620) are the top two earning cities for a Pharmacy technician.

Job Sector: The industry you work in plays an important role in how much you earn. A pharmacy technician placed in a hospital setting commands a higher pay as compared to a retail pharmacy. The average annual wages for pharmacy technicians working at Outpatient Care Centers and hospitals were $57,100 and $42,380 respectively. Grocery Stores paid a lower average wage of $34,300.

Education: As a pharmacy technician, you can land up your first job right after high school. However the starting wages will be a meagre low. On the other hand after graduating from an ASHP accredited pharmacy technician program, you can command a much higher salary. Similarly those of you who go on to do the associate degree program have an added advantage in the ever-competitive job market, and can easily demand a higher pay package. Alternatively if you are already working, you can continue with your job and get yourself enrolled in an online accredited pharmacy technician school which will consequently give you a salary hike. Moreover getting educated will open up niche job prospects in terms of being a compounding or a nuclear pharmacy technician that pay higher.

Certification: As a certified pharmacy technician, you will be preferred by employers as certification validates your subject knowledge and skills. The requirement for certified pharmacy technicians is set to rise with the expansion of the pharmaceutical industry. A rise in demand will eventually mean higher salaries for certified pharmacy technicians. Keeping this in mind it is highly recommended you get PTCB certified.

Experience: As in any industry, increasing years of experience equals to increasing salaries. A pharmacy technician who has been working for a long period of time gains hands on experience and skill, is, therefore a more efficient and productive employee as compared to a fresher who is still learning on the job. The starting salary of a pharmacy technician is around $25,400 - $29,090. The earnings of a pharmacy technician who has had 20 plus years of experience are estimated to be $41,660 - $50,430. With years of experience a pharmacy technician can also expect perks such as medical benefits and an insurance cover as part of the annual salary package.

Specialization: There are specializations which you can do as a pharmacy tech that will help you earn a higher pay package. Since, formal training in a school is not a pre-requisite to start a career in this field, hardly any consider specialization. This invariably creates a demand for pharmacy technicians specialized in Nuclear, Compounding and Oncology Pharmacy. Getting yourself specialized can therefore fetch you a fat pay check as compared to those who haven't advanced their education in Pharmacy Technology.

Type of the Employer: Your salary also depends on the type of employer you are working for. At times large retail pharmacies are not great payers as they compensate the experience and exposure they provide with a low wage. Smaller pharmacies on the other hand pay well in order to pool in talent, in a bid to scale up their sales. Conversely at times there are difference of wages between employers of the same cadre due to different company policies and status of the company's financial health. The salaries at two largest retail pharmacy employers: working for CVS Pharmacy, a pharmacy tech earns $24,620 - $44,730 whereas pharmacy technicians working for Walgreen's Pharmacy earns $23,490 - $42,690



10 Year (2008-2021) Historical Salary Growth

The current annual wage of pharmacy technicians in the United States is about $37,970. In 2008, the average annual salary was about $28,500, which shows a 37.77% increase in the average salary from 2008 to 2021.

2021: In the last decade the hike in the salary has been the highest from 2007 to 2008, increasing by a rate of 4.17%. However the hike has come down to 0.81% from 2013 to 2014.

2020: The growth rate from 2019 to 2020 has been a meager 3.40%, which has been the second highest in the last decade.

2019: The salary growth rate has bounced back from 2018 to 2019 at 3.62%.

2018: The next consecutive year it has stayed pretty much the same, indicating a growth rate of 2.90%.

2017: The good news is in the last five years pharmacy technician salary has grown the highest from 2016 to 2017 at the rate of 2.77%.

Year Annual Salary Growth
2008 $28,500 3.41%
2009 $28,940 1.54%
2010 $29,330 1.35%
2011 $30,020 2.35%
2012 $30,430 1.37%
2013 $30,840 1.35%
2014 $31,090 0.81%
2015 $31,680 1.90%
2016 $32,170 1.55%
2017 $33,060 2.77%
2018 $34,020 2.90%
2019 $35,250 3.62%
2020 $36,450 3.40%
2021 $37,970 4.17%
Total $10,410 37.77%
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022



How Many Pharmacy Technician Jobs (New + Replacement) Are Being Created Annually?

A pharmacy technician's career is ever growing due to the rising expansion of medical sciences. Diseases and conditions that had no cure a decade back, today have prescription medications treating them. The advancement in the pharmaceutical world means a growing demand in pharmacy technicians. These days requirement of pharmacy technicians goes beyond a pharmacy. Qualified pharmacy techs are filling up positions in a wide range of work environments, including hospitals, emergency clinics, community centers and even in pharmaceutical companies. Pharmacy techs with years of experience prefer moving up the career ladder, taking up either management positions or go on to pursue pharmacy. This further creates job openings for pharmacy techs. With the availability and dependency on prescription medication going up in the recent years, job market for pharmacy techs is bound to get better, and just in the last one year of 2021, number of jobs created for pharmacy techs were 43,500.

43,500



Industries Hiring the Most

Pharmacy technicians work in varied work environments including retail pharmacies, hospitals, grocery stores, general merchandise stores, department stores, outpatient care centers and federal government. Retail pharmacies, either independently owned or part of a drug store chain or a mass retailer are the highest employers of pharmacy techs, having 217,820 i.e. almost 61% percent of pharmacy techs actively working. CVS hires the highest number, followed by Walgreens, Wal-Mart and Rite Aid Corp. About 67,180 pharmacy techs i.e. 19 percent work in hospitals. Specialty hospital and federal government hire the least number of pharmacy technicians.

Rank Industry Employment
1 Retail Pharmacies217,820
2 Hospitals67,180
3 Grocery Stores41,780
4 Wholesale Druggists10,770
5 Federal Government6,740
6 Outpatient Care Centers7,820
7Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals2,700
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022



Highest Paying Industries

As a pharmacy tech your salary will depend on your work environment. Pharmacy Technicians working for the Outpatient Care Centers take home the highest salaries at, $57,100, the reason being federal government work settings are stringent when it comes to their quality of recruitment. Federal Government and Specialty Hospital come next as they require pharmacy technicians who are educated and skilled to handle the rigors of their work environment. The lowest payers for pharmacy technicians are retail pharmacies and grocery stores, paying an annual wage of $35,230 and $34,300 annually.

Rank Industry Hourly Annual
1 Outpatient Care Centers$27.45$57,100
2 Federal Government$23.28$48,420
3Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals$20.37$42,380
4 Hospitals$20.37$42,380
5E-commerce and Mail-Order Houses$18.73$38,950
6Wholesale Druggists$18.44$38,350
7Retail Pharmacies$16.94$35,230
8Grocery Stores$16.49$34,300
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022



Retail Pharmacies Hire the Highest Number of Pharmacy Technicians - A Look at What They Pay

Retail pharmacies are the top pharmacy technician hirers. A pharmacy technician at a retail pharmacy is responsible for dispensing medication, sorting pills, affixing labels and boosting sales. The following information will let you know more about the employment of pharmacy technicians in the top pharmacies of the country.

Costco Pharmacies: Costco Pharmacy or Costco Wholesale Corporation is an American multinational which operates a chain of membership only warehouse clubs. Its headquarters are located in Issaquah, Washington. As of 2015 it was the world's second largest retailer. They pay their pharmacy technicians salaries ranging from $30,430 - $55,290. The company is known to give great benefits in terms of bonus and competitive wages. To get yourself a job at Costco you can apply here.

CVS Pharmacy: Originally called Consumer Value Store, CVS Pharmacy is a subsidiary of CVS Health. It is headquartered in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. At present CVS Pharmacy is the largest pharmacy chain in the country having stores in 9,600 (as of 2016) locations. Working at CVS can bring you a paycheck ranging from $24,620 - $44,730. As a pharmacy technician at CVS you will dispense medication as well as ring in the cash register. They have part-time work options as well for pharmacy technicians. You can check their job openings here.

Giant Eagle Pharmacy: Giant Eagle is a chain of supermarket stores having branches in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana and Maryland. The company also operates 168 fuel stations under the GetGo banner. Since the 1980's the supermarket chain has been adding pharmacies to their stores. As a pharmacy tech at Giant, you can expect to earn a salary ranging from $27,780 - $50,500, annually. To know about their job openings you can check here.

Hy-Vee Pharmacy: Hy-Vee is a chain of supermarkets, having 245 stores across Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin. In 1969 the company opened its first drug store in Iowa. It has expanded its operations by bringing in the online shopping option to all its stores. Your annual income here will range from $28,540 - $51,890. The company offers flexible part-time job options, which you can learn about here.

Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy: Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy is a healthcare facility operating in the states of Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Maryland, Virginia and Georgia. It has its headquarters in Oakland. This healthcare magnet employs a large number of medical professionals and pharmacy technicians, who are paid from $30,840 - $54,500, annually and are part of this holistic healthcare team. To know if they have job openings you can check in here.

Kmart Pharmacy: Kmart is an American department store chain headquartered in Illinois. Kmart Pharmacy has now gone online to fulfill the needs to the ever-evolving retail space. As a pharmacy tech here expect to earn from $24,490 - $44,500, annually. You can find if they have any placements on their career page.

Meijer Pharmacy: Meijer Pharmacy is part of the hypermarket chain of the American retailer, Meijer Inc. The chain headquarters in Michigan, having more than half of its 240 stores located in the state. Most of their stores have pharmacies and are open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. If this is the company you would like to work for, where you will earn an annual income of $28,790 - $50,890, then learn about their placements here.

Publix Pharmacy: Publix is an employee owned super market chain, headquartered in Florida. The first in store pharmacy opened in 1986. 90% of Publix stores include a pharmacy and their pharmacies consistently rank number one for customer satisfaction. Pharmacy techs here earn an annual average income from $29,530 - $53,690. You can find job placements for pharmacy technicians here.

Rite Aid Pharmacy: A Fortune 500 company Rite Aid Corporation is a drugstore chain which is headquartered in Pennsylvania. It is the third largest drug-store in the nation and the largest on the East Coast. Its biggest competitors are CVS and Walgreens. As a pharmacy tech at Rite Aid you are expected to multitask without any breaks. You can expect to earn an annual salary from $25,290 - $45,970. If this is the place for you to work then you can learn about their job openings here.

Safeway Pharmacy: Safeway Inc is an American supermarket chain founded in 1915. The pharmacy is part of most of their supermarket stores. As of 2014 Safeway had a total of 1,335 stores across the country, the maximum number of its branches in Washington. It is an equal opportunity employer welcoming diverse talent and backgrounds. They pay their pharmacy techs an annual average of $30,140 - $54,780. Here's where you can look if they have any openings for pharmacy techs.

The Kroger Co: Kroger Co is an American retailing company founded in 1883. As of 2016, it was the country's largest general retailer by revenue. It is also the world's third largest retailer, having its headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company operates more than 1,948 pharmacies, most of which are inside their supermarkets. If Kroger's is your kind of work place and an annual salary of $27,990 - $50,880 is what you looking at, then go ahead learn about the job openings they have.

Walgreen's Pharmacy: Walgreens is an American company which operates the second largest pharmacy chain in the country, after CVS. Its pharmacies specialize in dispensing prescription medication, health and wellness products, health information and photo services. Operating 8175 stores in all 50 states, it pays its pharmacy techs a salary of $23,490 - $42,690, annually. Check out their job openings here.

Walmart Pharmacy: Walmart is an American multinational retail corporation. It operates hypermarkets, department and grocery stores. Since is inception in 1962, the company has made its presence felt in 28 countries, operating under different names. In the U.S. the company operates over 500 Walmart and Sam's Club Pharmacies. As a pharmacy tech here you can expect to earn anywhere from $24,810 - $45,110. Find out about their placements here.

Winn-Dixie Pharmacies: Winn-Dixie is an American supermarket chain having stores in 500 locations. Its headquarters are in Jacksonville, Florida. Their pharmacies are part of the supermarket and they are open 7 days a week. Learn about their job openings here. You can expect to earn an annual income from $27,080 - $49,220



View Salaries at the Top Retail Pharmacies in a Snapshot

Retail Pharmacy Salary Range
Costco Pharmacies $30,430 - $55,290
CVS Pharmacy $24,620 - $44,730
Giant Eagle Pharmacy $27,780 - $50,500
Hy-Vee Pharmacy $28,540 - $51,890
Kaiser Permanente Pharmacy $30,840 - $54,500
Kmart Pharmacy $24,490 - $44,500
Meijer Pharmacy $28,790 - $50,890
Publix Pharmacy $29,530 - $53,690
Rite Aid Pharmacy $25,290 - $45,970
Safeway Pharmacy $30,140 - $54,780
The Kroger Co $27,990 - $50,880
Walgreen's Pharmacy $23,490 - $42,690
Walmart Pharmacy $24,810 - $45,110
Winn-Dixie Pharmacies $27,080 - $49,220



Employers Prefer to Hire Pharmacy Technicians with a PTCB Certification

PTCB is the most preferred certification across the country. Most states require their pharmacy technicians to be certified before they can work alongside a pharmacist. Even in states where certification is not required, employers prefer to hire certified pharmacy techs. At 37,852, Texas has the highest number of PTCB certified pharmacy technicians. California and Florida come next, having 19,846 and 17,307 certified pharmacy techs employed. Puerto Rico has only 117 PTCB certified pharmacy techs, which is the lowest in the country.

State # of Certified
Pharmacy Techs
Alabama 4,417
Alaska 433
Arizona 12,152
Arkansas 1,505
California 19,846
Colorado 5,990
Connecticut 2,191
Delaware 909
District of Columbia 194
Florida 17,307
Georgia 9,035
Hawaii 978
Idaho 1,956
Illinois 11,638
Indiana 4,786
Iowa 3,489
Kansas 2,484
Kentucky 4,771
Louisiana 4,790
Maine 975
Maryland 4,120
Massachusetts 5,258
Michigan 8,011
Minnesota 5,304
Mississippi 2,548
Missouri 4,464
Montana 1,262
Nebraska 1,928
Nevada 2,481
New Hampshire 1,466
New Jersey 4,818
New Mexico 2,678
New York 8,852
North Carolina 11,419
North Dakota 818
Ohio 11,793
Oklahoma 2,139
Oregon 3,517
Pennsylvania 7,036
Puerto Rico 117
Rhode Island 1,117
South Carolina 5,054
South Dakota 1,164
Tennessee 9,988
Texas 37,852
Utah 4,120
Vermont 466
Virginia 8,794
Washington 5,251
West Virginia 2,075
Wisconsin 5,521
Wyoming 637
Total 281,914



State Wise Salary Figures

States that are top paying are expensive to live in, with higher rentals and steeper cost of utilities and groceries and even a higher cost of education. So, living in California or Washington may help you bring home a bigger pay, however you will end up spending more and saving less. Conversely states like Alabama or West Virginia, where wages are lower can be good options to start with, with cheaper housing, groceries and utilities. A pharmacy technician working in California will earn an average salary of $49,990 per year. If the same moves to West Virginia, salary will come down to $32,230 per year. In the Arkansas area, a pharmacy technician can earn $32,690 compared to the same making $32,620 in the Alabama area and $33,390 around in Kentucky. A move to Hawaii means a pay cut down to $40,710 per year.

The following table provides data on Pharmacy Technician salaries for all states in the U.S.A with a quick reference for hourly wages and average annual salary on a state-by-state basis.

State Hourly Wage Monthly Salary Annual Salary Salary Range
Alabama $15.68 $2,720 $32,620 $23,020 - $38,830
Alaska $22.19 $3,850 $46,160 $36,650 - $59,280
Arizona $18.86 $3,270 $39,240 $29,280 - $47,150
Arkansas $15.72 $2,720 $32,690 $23,450 - $45,470
California $24.04 $4,170 $49,990 $36,340 - $74,910
Colorado $19.50 $3,380 $40,550 $29,310 - $47,790
Connecticut $18.29 $3,170 $38,050 $29,060 - $47,790
Delaware $16.81 $2,910 $34,960 $23,190 - $46,890
District of Columbia $21.65 $3,750 $45,030 $36,990 - $59,630
Florida $17.33 $3,000 $36,040 $28,840 - $46,330
Georgia $16.45 $2,850 $34,220 $23,370 - $46,190
Hawaii $19.57 $3,390 $40,710 $28,610 - $58,540
Idaho $18.37 $3,180 $38,210 $28,990 - $47,120
Illinois $17.83 $3,090 $37,090 $29,040 - $46,790
Indiana $16.93 $2,940 $35,220 $28,750 - $46,150
Iowa $17.15 $2,970 $35,660 $28,590 - $46,210
Kansas $17.50 $3,030 $36,390 $28,270 - $46,470
Kentucky $16.05 $2,780 $33,390 $23,450 - $45,620
Louisiana $16.75 $2,900 $34,840 $28,280 - $45,850
Maine $16.93 $2,940 $35,220 $28,600 - $46,250
Maryland $18.19 $3,150 $37,840 $29,030 - $47,790
Massachusetts $19.42 $3,370 $40,390 $29,560 - $55,850
Michigan $17.16 $2,970 $35,690 $28,170 - $46,860
Minnesota $20.30 $3,520 $42,220 $29,490 - $58,250
Mississippi $16.57 $2,870 $34,460 $28,360 - $45,640
Missouri $16.31 $2,830 $33,920 $26,330 - $46,170
Montana $18.62 $3,230 $38,730 $29,430 - $47,150
Nebraska $17.36 $3,010 $36,100 $28,770 - $46,700
Nevada $19.16 $3,320 $39,850 $29,230 - $47,130
New Hampshire $17.89 $3,100 $37,200 $28,910 - $47,160
New Jersey $17.87 $3,100 $37,160 $29,100 - $46,920
New Mexico $18.12 $3,140 $37,690 $28,980 - $47,830
New York $18.71 $3,240 $38,920 $29,130 - $56,850
North Carolina $16.72 $2,900 $34,780 $27,260 - $46,470
North Dakota $20.08 $3,480 $41,760 $29,070 - $51,080
Ohio $16.53 $2,870 $34,390 $23,250 - $46,460
Oklahoma $16.71 $2,900 $34,750 $27,930 - $46,620
Oregon $21.75 $3,770 $45,240 $35,690 - $59,390
Pennsylvania $16.71 $2,900 $34,760 $23,170 - $46,470
Rhode Island $18.47 $3,200 $38,420 $29,360 - $47,110
South Carolina $17.26 $2,990 $35,890 $28,420 - $46,450
South Dakota $17.90 $3,100 $37,240 $29,080 - $46,190
Tennessee $16.76 $2,900 $34,850 $28,110 - $46,010
Texas $18.43 $3,190 $38,330 $29,080 - $47,150
Utah $19.28 $3,340 $40,110 $29,280 - $47,460
Vermont $17.55 $3,040 $36,500 $28,930 - $46,470
Virginia $17.47 $3,030 $36,340 $28,790 - $47,030
Washington $22.52 $3,900 $46,830 $36,590 - $59,540
West Virginia $15.49 $2,690 $32,230 $22,970 - $45,550
Wisconsin $17.83 $3,090 $37,080 $28,850 - $47,000
Wyoming $19.27 $3,340 $40,090 $29,270 - $47,790
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022



State Wise Employment, Employment Growth & Annual Job Openings

As the demand for healthcare professionals keeps rising, each year more number of pharmacy technicians join the workforce across the country. States like Texas, California and Florida have projected to have the highest job openings. Annually, while Texas has 3,660 job openings, California and Florida have 3,360 and 2,720 respectively. When it comes to employment growth Texas projects the highest at 22.82%, through 2020 to 2030. A state's population and presence of the number of pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies are key factors which affect the employment rate of a state.

State Employment Change Annual
Job Openings
2020 2030 Number Percent
Alabama 6,840 7,590 750 10.96% 580
Alaska 460 520 60 13.04% 40
Arizona 9,330 11,450 2,120 22.72% 940
Arkansas 4,600 5,050 450 9.78% 390
California 37,300 42,800 5,500 14.75% 3,360
Colorado 5,540 6,690 1,150 20.76% 570
Connecticut 3,820 4,360 540 14.14% 340
Delaware 1,270 1,430 160 12.60% 110
District of Columbia 630 720 90 14.29% 60
Florida 30,160 34,620 4,460 14.79% 2,720
Georgia 11,240 13,950 2,710 24.11% 1,160
Hawaii 1,850 1,950 100 5.41% 150
Idaho 2,040 2,280 240 11.76% 180
Illinois 20,520 22,800 2,280 11.11% 1,750
Indiana 9,750 10,090 340 3.49% 730
Iowa 3,910 4,510 600 15.35% 360
Kansas 4,430 4,920 490 11.06% 380
Kentucky 9,210 10,190 980 10.64% 780
Louisiana 5,840 6,430 590 10.10% 490
Maine 2,070 2,200 130 6.28% 160
Maryland 8,130 9,090 960 11.81% 700
Massachusetts 8,690 10,110 1,420 16.34% 800
Michigan 14,280 15,490 1,210 8.47% 1,170
Minnesota 8,220 8,360 140 1.70% 600
Mississippi 3,600 4,200 600 16.67% 330
Missouri 10,200 10,610 410 4.02% 770
Montana 1,170 1,340 170 14.53% 110
Nebraska 2,730 2,980 250 9.16% 230
Nevada 4,200 5,200 1,000 23.81% 430
New Hampshire 1,900 2,070 170 8.95% 160
New Jersey 10,660 11,690 1,030 9.66% 890
New Mexico 2,610 2,830 220 8.43% 210
New York 19,480 24,850 5,370 27.57% 2,100
North Carolina 13,170 14,530 1,360 10.33% 1,110
North Dakota 810 930 120 14.81% 70
Ohio 17,080 17,500 420 2.46% 1,260
Oklahoma 5,070 5,840 770 15.19% 460
Oregon 5,170 5,720 550 10.64% 460
Pennsylvania 19,460 20,990 1,530 7.86% 1,570
Puerto Rico 5,430 7,190 1,760 32.41% 620
Rhode Island 1,840 2,090 250 13.59% 160
South Carolina 6,520 7,690 1,170 17.94% 620
South Dakota 1,330 1,450 120 9.02% 110
Tennessee 10,100 11,350 1,250 12.38% 880
Texas 35,690 44,190 8,500 23.82% 3,660
Utah 4,360 5,310 950 21.79% 430
Vermont 700 770 70 10.00% 60
Virgin Islands 50 60 10 20.00% 0
Virginia 9,670 11,740 2,070 21.41% 960
Washington 8,090 9,440 1,350 16.69% 890
West Virginia 3,270 3,550 280 8.56% 270
Wisconsin 8,370 9,030 660 7.89% 680
Wyoming 570 690 120 21.05% 60
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022



Top 100 Best Paying Metros for Pharmacy Technicians In 2019

As a pharmacy technician the salary you earn will depend on various factors, namely; location, type of employer, work experience, certification and your educational background. It is always good to know how much pharmacy techs in other metros make while doing the same work as yours. Pharmacy technicians working in San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA earn the highest salaries at at $59,340, annually and $28.53, hourly. While Napa, CA and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA are other high paying metros in California, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue and Olympia-Tumwater are the highest paying metros in Washington. The table below gives you the list of the 100 best paying metros in terms of hourly and annual salary.

City Hourly Wage Annual Salary Annual Salary Range
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA $28.53 $59,340 $42,190 - $78,110
Napa, CA $28.18 $58,620 $36,820 - $73,380
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $28.07 $58,390 $42,870 - $76,400
Vallejo-Fairfield, CA $27.43 $57,060 $36,640 - $78,860
Santa Rosa, CA $27.21 $56,590 $37,340 - $76,810
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA $24.77 $51,520 $30,090 - $75,500
Stockton-Lodi, CA $24.45 $50,860 $36,630 - $74,910
Salinas, CA $23.83 $49,570 $35,990 - $73,730
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA $23.54 $48,960 $36,350 - $74,090
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $23.49 $48,850 $37,070 - $60,210
Hanford-Corcoran, CA $23.14 $48,130 $36,360 - $69,700
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA $23.11 $48,070 $34,280 - $64,700
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $23.08 $48,010 $36,590 - $65,910
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA $23.08 $48,000 $31,300 - $76,810
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $22.93 $47,700 $35,100 - $74,000
Redding, CA $22.91 $47,660 $35,660 - $70,570
Olympia-Tumwater, WA $22.83 $47,490 $36,880 - $60,650
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA $22.78 $47,370 $34,770 - $61,050
Modesto, CA $22.75 $47,330 $34,920 - $72,330
Madera, CA $22.72 $47,260 $36,090 - $58,670
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $22.68 $47,180 $36,810 - $59,800
Fresno, CA $22.62 $47,050 $29,910 - $62,900
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA $22.39 $46,580 $35,320 - $62,950
Yuba City, CA $22.17 $46,120 $36,360 - $60,320
Longview, WA $22.06 $45,890 $36,100 - $60,000
Fairbanks, AK $22.00 $45,760 $36,780 - $59,110
Anchorage, AK $21.92 $45,590 $36,590 - $59,280
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA $21.80 $45,350 $36,360 - $58,720
Bremerton-Silverdale, WA $21.67 $45,070 $36,290 - $57,180
Bend-Redmond, OR $21.56 $44,840 $36,590 - $58,120
Bellingham, WA $21.41 $44,530 $36,240 - $55,170
Visalia-Porterville, CA $21.40 $44,510 $34,560 - $60,160
Corvallis, OR $21.37 $44,450 $35,660 - $58,160
Bakersfield, CA $21.35 $44,410 $29,270 - $59,960
Bismarck, ND $21.24 $44,170 $29,810 - $59,390
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $21.23 $44,150 $31,050 - $59,370
Salem, OR $21.15 $43,990 $36,360 - $58,180
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA $21.14 $43,960 $36,070 - $58,640
Chico, CA $21.09 $43,870 $34,370 - $58,180
Walla Walla, WA $21.07 $43,830 $30,510 - $50,320
Wenatchee, WA $20.93 $43,520 $35,520 - $47,440
Medford, OR $20.73 $43,120 $35,530 - $57,570
Kennewick-Richland, WA $20.55 $42,740 $35,810 - $47,480
Eugene, OR $20.47 $42,570 $35,480 - $47,440
El Centro, CA $20.46 $42,550 $29,960 - $52,630
Yakima, WA $20.18 $41,970 $30,250 - $47,110
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO $20.12 $41,840 $29,630 - $54,180
Albany, OR $20.08 $41,760 $35,660 - $46,810
Flagstaff, AZ $20.04 $41,670 $29,650 - $49,950
Boulder, CO $20.01 $41,620 $30,370 - $53,120
Rochester, MN $19.98 $41,550 $31,680 - $49,780
Carson City, NV $19.97 $41,540 $29,650 - $58,120
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH $19.92 $41,430 $29,620 - $59,110
Salt Lake City, UT $19.86 $41,300 $29,680 - $47,840
Merced, CA $19.85 $41,290 $29,120 - $58,180
Fargo, ND-MN $19.82 $41,230 $29,130 - $48,460
Grants Pass, OR $19.79 $41,150 $29,180 - $58,180
St. Cloud, MN $19.73 $41,030 $29,440 - $49,000
Urban Honolulu, HI $19.69 $40,960 $28,610 - $58,540
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $19.67 $40,910 $29,490 - $56,240
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI $19.63 $40,830 $29,650 - $58,540
Grand Forks, ND-MN $19.61 $40,790 $28,710 - $46,190
Coeur d'Alene, ID $19.52 $40,600 $29,430 - $47,640
Midland, TX $19.46 $40,480 $29,380 - $47,790
Austin-Round Rock, TX $19.38 $40,310 $29,650 - $47,850
Cheyenne, WY $19.36 $40,260 $29,270 - $48,050
Reno, NV $19.35 $40,240 $29,340 - $47,440
Killeen-Temple, TX $19.30 $40,130 $29,150 - $47,440
Barnstable Town, MA $19.28 $40,100 $30,020 - $50,220
Ogden-Clearfield, UT $19.25 $40,040 $29,340 - $47,110
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX $19.23 $39,990 $29,300 - $47,270
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA $19.22 $39,970 $29,260 - $58,500
Billings, MT $19.20 $39,930 $29,310 - $47,440
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV $19.19 $39,920 $29,230 - $47,130
Farmington, NM $19.04 $39,610 $28,720 - $49,000
Provo-Orem, UT $19.03 $39,580 $29,280 - $46,740
Mankato-North Mankato, MN $19.02 $39,570 $29,280 - $47,340
Ann Arbor, MI $18.99 $39,510 $29,210 - $47,050
Lewiston, ID-WA $18.96 $39,440 $29,380 - $48,990
Casper, WY $18.95 $39,420 $29,270 - $47,790
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ $18.92 $39,350 $29,280 - $47,190
Boise City, ID $18.88 $39,280 $29,270 - $47,420
Odessa, TX $18.88 $39,260 $29,380 - $47,440
Prescott, AZ $18.87 $39,250 $29,270 - $46,820
Colorado Springs, CO $18.86 $39,230 $29,000 - $47,180
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $18.82 $39,150 $29,270 - $47,440
Tucson, AZ $18.81 $39,120 $29,270 - $46,170
New Haven, CT $18.80 $39,100 $28,940 - $54,500
Santa Fe, NM $18.78 $39,060 $29,440 - $47,280
Yuma, AZ $18.72 $38,940 $28,830 - $46,100
Iowa City, IA $18.71 $38,910 $29,280 - $52,420
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $18.69 $38,880 $29,270 - $47,550
Fort Collins, CO $18.63 $38,750 $29,000 - $47,180
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT $18.59 $38,660 $30,930 - $49,700
Rapid City, SD $18.48 $38,430 $29,080 - $46,810
Madison, WI $18.47 $38,410 $29,880 - $47,890
St. George, UT $18.42 $38,310 $28,790 - $47,110
Greeley, CO $18.40 $38,260 $29,140 - $46,490
Duluth, MN-WI $18.39 $38,250 $28,910 - $46,190
Waco, TX $18.35 $38,160 $28,640 - $49,420
Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022



Pharmacy Technician Compared to Similar Healthcare Occupations

When you compare a pharmacy technician's salary with other health care professionals you will realize that it is on the lower side. The educational requirements to join the workforce as a pharmacy technician is not as much when compared to that of other careers. With just a certificate or a diploma you can start working. When it comes to levels of stress, a pharmacy technician does not have to deal with emergency or life-threatening situations. The comparative ease of this career makes up for the lower salaries. With an average annual salary of $37,970 in 2021, a pharmacy technician does not earn as much as some other workers in the health care support field. Dental assistants, LPNs' and LVNs', medical assistants, registered nurses and medical transcriptionists are better paid than pharmacy technicians.

The table and information below will take through the employment projection and salaries of health care career professionals vis-a-vis a pharmacy technician:

Occupation Annual Salary 2020 Employment Employment Change (2020-30) Annual Job Openings
2020 2030 Number %
Dental Assistant $42,510 358,600 388,700 30,100 8.39% 56,400
LPN & LVN $51,850 657,200 698,500 41,300 6.28% 58,800
Medical Assistant $38,190 743,500 861,300 117,800 15.84% 123,000
Medical Transcriptionist $34,220 59,600 55,700 -3,900 -6.54% 9,300
Nursing Assistant $33,250 1,343,700 1,406,400 62,700 4.67% 212,700
Pharmacist $125,690 323,500 331,100 7,600 2.35% 13,600
Pharmacy Technician $37,970 447,300 469,700 22,400 5.01% 43,500
Phlebotomist $38,450 135,500 149,400 13,900 10.26% 21,500
Registered Nurse $82,750 3,130,600 3,326,000 195,400 6.24% 203,200

VS Dental Assistant: While a pharmacy technician makes $37,970 annually, a dental assistant earns $$42,510, which is $4,540, more than that of what a pharmacy tech makes. Annually there are 12,900 more job openings for dental assistants when we compare with that of pharmacy techs.

VS LPN: An LPN earns an annual average salary of $51,850, which is $13,880, more than what a pharmacy tech earns annually. With 58,800 annual job openings for LPNs' and LVNs', they are more in demand in the job market when compared to pharmacy technicians.

VS Medical Assistant: The salary of a medical assistant and a pharmacy tech are almost at par, with hardly a difference of $220. The job openings for medical assistants are much more with 79,500 jobs available annually.

VS Medical Transcriptionist: There is hardly any difference between the salary of a pharmacy technician and medical transcriptionist. While a pharmacy tech earns $37,970 annually, a medical transcriptionist earns $34,220. However the projected growth rate differs considerably through a period of 2020-30, with medical transcriptionist at dismal -6.54% and pharmacy tech at 5.01%

VS Nursing Assistant: Nursing assistants earn an annual income which is lower than that of a pharmacy tech by $4,720. However there 212,700 jobs created for nursing assistants annually which is 1,69,200 job openings more than that of pharmacy techs.

VS Pharmacist: A pharmacy technician and pharmacist work hand in hand in a pharmacy. However the level of education required for both these professions differs considerably. While a pharmacist makes $125,690 annually, a pharmacy technician earns $37,970. However the employment growth rate for a pharmacy tech is much higher at 5.01% whereas that of a pharmacist is just at 2.35%.

VS Phlebotomist: The annual salaries of a pharmacy technician and a phlebotomist are pretty close with a phlebotomist earning slightly higher at $38,450 and a pharmacy tech at $37,970. A phlebotomist however has a promising employment growth rate of 10.26% through a period of 2020-30.

VS Registered Nurse: Registered nurses are hugely in demand in the medical field and hence there are 203,200 annual job openings for them. They earn almost twice the salary of that of a pharmacy technician at $82,750.



Conclusion

Being a Pharmacy Technician, you will witness a promising growth in employment; however your personal career graph will depend on a host of factors. If you are living in Texas there will be no dearth of job openings, however your annual average salary will be in mid-range. If earning the highest is what you are looking at, consider living in San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA as pharmacy technicians working in this expensive metro earn the highest salaries. Working for a retail pharmacy can come across as the most achievable goal, however your income will be quite low when compared with that of a pharma tech working in a hospital or outpatient setting. As education and certification are the most important factors when it comes to the salary you will be able to command, we strongly recommend you take up a training program at a pharmacy technician school near you, get a PTCB certification and then make an entry into the job market.



Useful Resources

https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes292052.htm

BLS is the go-to trusted source of information where you will find all the relevant pharmacy technician salary information.

https://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/pharmacy-technician/salary

This resource is to give you an insight into a pharmacy technician's salary.

https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Pharmacy_Technician/Hourly_Rate

The information available on the website will take through a detailed analysis about the pay scale of a pharmacy technician.

http://www.projectionscentral.com/

This site is a useful resource for you to compare employment growth rate across all states and help you make an informed decision about your career.


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