Pharmacy Technician Salary: How Much They Make Hourly & Annually

Being a pharmacy technician is a great job for people who want to work in the medical field. Pharmacy technicians learn how different medications work, help people stay healthy, and earn decent pay. 

Pharmacy technicians often go back to school to become pharmacists or other more advanced healthcare providers. They are able to earn a living wage while preparing themselves for a well-respected and in-demand career. 

So, how much do pharmacy techs make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacy technicians earned a median annual salary of $40,300 or $19.37 per hour in 2023 nationwide. 

Of course, experience, certifications, and location can make a big difference in a pharmacy technician's salary. 

This guide goes over over average pharmacy technician salaries by state and in major cities, how to earn more as a pharmacy technician, and more. 

Pharmacy Technician Salary Overview

As of May 2023, the median salary for a pharmacy technician working full-time in the United States was $40,300 per year, which comes out to $19.37 per hour. This salary varied from as low as $32,720 for the lowest 10% to as high as $57,130 per year for the highest 10%.

Here are some things that affect how much pharmacy technicians make:

  • Level & type. There are three main levels of pharmacy technicians and many different types. Level III pharmacy techs make the most, while level II makes more than level I. In addition, certain types of pharmacy techs make more, such as informaticists and benefits managers.
  • Years of Experience. While entry level-pharmacy technician salaries are lower, your pay should increase as you gain more experience. Pharmacy technicians with 5 to 9 years of experience earn up to $9,000 more per year than brand-new employees. 
  • Type of Facility. Pay varies based on the type of facility you choose to work in. Pharmacy technicians in hospitals earn an average of $49,810 per year. Those working in food and beverage stores earn about $38,730, and drugstore pharmacy technicians earn about $40,170. You can see average salaries of pharmacy technicians in common places they work here.
  • Location. For all healthcare workers, location is one of the things that will impact pay the most. For example, pharmacy technicians working in California earn much more than those working in Utah. 
  • Certifications. Most states require a certification or license for pharmacy technicians. In those that do not require it, certified pharmacy technicians may be paid more than those who are not certified. 
  • Type of Job. There are different kinds of jobs you can work as a pharmacy technician, such as a retail pharmacy technician, informaticist, program director, and instructor. You can learn about the highest-paying pharmacy technician jobs here.

Pharmacy Technician Salary by State

State Hourly Median Annual Median
Alabama $17.40 $36,190
Alaska $23.47 $48,820
Arizona $21.76 $45,260
Arkansas $17.42 $36,240
California $23.98 $49,880
Colorado $22.52 $46,840
Connecticut $18.81 $39,130
Delaware $19.01 $39,530
Washington D.C. $22.36 $46,520
Florida $18.54 $38,560
Georgia $18.23 $37,920
Hawaii $21.44 $44,600
Idaho $21.14 $43,980
Illinois $19.20 $39,940
Indiana $18.60 $38,690
Iowa $18.89 $39,290
Kansas $18.25 $37,960
Kentucky $17.84 $37,100
Louisiana $18.11 $37,670
Maine $18.05 $37,550
Maryland $18.75 $38,990
Massachusetts $21.74 $45,220
Michigan $18.85 $39,210
Minnesota $22.64 $47,100
Mississippi $18.09 $37,630
Missouri $17.93 $37,300
Montana $20.70 $43,050
Nebraska $18.46 $38,400
Nevada $21.57 $44,860
New Hampshire $18.83 $39,160
New Jersey $18.45 $38,380
New Mexico $20.20 $42,010
New York $20.19 $42,000
North Carolina $18.61 $38,710
North Dakota $22.86 $47,540
Ohio $18.41 $38,290
Oklahoma $17.47 $36,330
Oregon $23.39 $48,650
Pennsylvania $17.75 $36,910
Rhode Island $17.54 $36,480
South Carolina $18.25 $37,960
South Dakota $18.98 $39,480
Tennessee $17.97 $37,380
Texas $20.19 $41,990
Utah $22.12 $46,010
Vermont $18.19 $37,830
Virginia $19.14 $39,800
Washington $25.52 $53,070
West Virginia $17.83 $37,090
Wisconsin $18.92 $39,360
Wyoming $21.39 $44,490
Guam $14.49 $30,130
Puerto Rico $12.65 $26,310
Virgin Islands $20.43 $42,500

Pharmacy Technician Salary by City

Metro Area Primary State Hourly Median Annual Median
Birmingham-Hoover, AL AL $17.40 $36,180
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ AZ $22.11 $45,980
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA CA $23.64 $49,180
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA CA $23.10 $48,050
Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA CA $26.31 $54,730
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA CA $23.64 $49,180
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA CA $29.56 $61,480
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA CA $29.01 $60,340
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO CO $22.77 $47,360
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV DC $21.46 $44,650
Jacksonville, FL FL $18.94 $39,400
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL FL $19.67 $40,910
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL FL $18.20 $37,850
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL FL $18.15 $37,740
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA GA $18.75 $39,000
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI IL $20.81 $43,280
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN IN $18.59 $38,660
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN KY $18.85 $39,200
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH MA $22.05 $45,870
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MD $18.25 $37,950
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI MI $18.65 $38,790
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI MN $23.10 $48,050
Kansas City, MO-KS MO $20.06 $41,720
St. Louis, MO-IL MO $18.48 $38,450
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC NC $19.16 $39,840
Raleigh, NC NC $18.85 $39,200
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV NV $20.97 $43,620
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA NY $20.31 $42,240
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN OH $18.60 $38,680
Cleveland-Elyria, OH OH $19.26 $40,060
Columbus, OH OH $19.03 $39,570
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA OR $24.77 $51,530
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD PA $18.46 $38,390
Pittsburgh, PA PA $18.30 $38,070
San Juan-Carolina-Caguas, PR PR $12.94 $26,910
Memphis, TN-MS-AR TN $18.71 $38,920
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN TN $18.70 $38,900
Austin-Round Rock, TX TX $22.01 $45,780
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX TX $20.96 $43,590
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX TX $20.96 $43,590
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX TX $21.50 $44,720
Salt Lake City, UT UT $22.50 $46,800
Richmond, VA VA $19.61 $40,790
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC VA $18.92 $39,350
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA WA $27.56 $57,320
Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI WI $20.22 $42,050

Do Pharmacy Technicians Make Good Money?

For the amount of training required, pharmacy technicians earn a decent wage. While their salary is lower than the national average, pharmacy technician pay is comparable to other entry-level healthcare jobs

For example, medical assistants earn $42,000 per year, nursing assistants earn $38,130 per year, phlebotomists earn $43,130 per year, and dental assistants earn $47,350 per year. 

All of these comparable jobs require a high school diploma and either a certificate or on-the-job training. Accepting a job at a hospital in a high-paying city, earning a certificate, and getting some years of experience can all help you earn good money as a pharmacy technician. 

It's also worth noting that the job outlook of pharmacy technicians is double that of the national average—a good sign that pharmacy technician salaries should continue to grow.

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting a Better Pharmacy Technician Salary

The highest-paid pharmacy technicians earn nearly $20,000 more per year than the lowest-paid ones. There are several things you can do to improve your chances of earning a higher salary as a pharmacy technician, including:

Get more certifications

Not all states require pharmacy technicians to receive special training or earn a certification. However, almost all employers will pay more for a certified pharmacy technician. You can learn how to become a certified pharmacy technician here.

In addition to earning a pharmacy technician certification, you can make yourself more valuable by taking a course on vaccine administration or even phlebotomy. 

Stay on top of the industry & learn about new technologies

In addition to earning more certifications, you can impress your boss and give yourself a better chance of getting a raise by keeping up with the latest technology and advancements in pharmacology and improving your pharmacy technician skills.

Rather than doing the bare minimum at work, help your team come up with ideas to be safer, more efficient, and save money. All of these things are sure to earn you some respect from your employer and hopefully a larger paycheck. 

Ask your manager about opportunities for advancement

As you gain experience and knowledge, you may be able to ask your manager about opportunities for advancement. 

Many pharmacy technicians who do a good job can become shift managers or even manage the entire pharmacy staff. Management positions usually come with a significant pay raise.

Work the odd hours

While pharmacies are usually open during regular business hours, there are those that stay open all night, on weekends, and on holidays. Volunteering to work the night shifts, weekends, and holidays will usually come with some sort of pay differential. 

Stick with your job

As you gain more experience, you will almost certainly start to earn more money. Sticking with the same career for several years can help you earn thousands more each year. 

Advance your education

Many pharmacy technicians advance their education to eventually become pharmacists. While a doctor of pharmacy earns a lot more than a pharmacy technician, they have to complete about 6 years' worth of schooling, rather than a certificate. 

Weigh your options carefully to decide which choice is right for you. 

>> Read More: How to Become a Pharmacy Technician

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