Pharmacy aides salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,820 | $14.34 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $37,680 | $18.12 |
| Mean (average) | $40,450 | $19.45 |
| 90th percentile | $56,010 | $26.93 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Pharmacy aides pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 49 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $36,260 | $32,870 | $41,950 | 460 | 0.85 |
| Arizona | $43,360 | $38,930 | $56,770 | 810 | 0.98 |
| Arkansas | $36,860 | $31,540 | $45,730 | 120 | 0.36 |
| California | $42,200 | $36,240 | $71,320 | 8,440 | 1.82 |
| Colorado | $37,580 | $34,610 | $58,040 | 370 | 0.5 |
| Connecticut | $36,350 | $34,130 | $57,760 | 490 | 1.15 |
| Delaware | $38,500 | $31,200 | $47,560 | 130 | 1.04 |
| District of Columbia | $59,960 | $38,430 | $62,360 | 120 | 0.68 |
| Florida | $35,160 | $31,540 | $45,890 | 1,590 | 0.63 |
| Georgia | $34,630 | $23,180 | $46,370 | 1,410 | 1.14 |
| Hawaii | $46,250 | $38,650 | $60,390 | 110 | 0.7 |
| Idaho | $37,690 | $34,250 | $55,500 | 110 | 0.52 |
| Illinois | $37,010 | $34,640 | $39,420 | 1,180 | 0.76 |
| Indiana | $35,890 | $33,280 | $43,550 | 610 | 0.75 |
| Iowa | $33,270 | $22,260 | $44,360 | 1,070 | 2.71 |
| Kansas | $32,070 | $24,100 | $41,980 | 470 | 1.28 |
| Kentucky | $34,610 | $30,000 | $40,940 | 600 | 1.18 |
| Louisiana | $33,450 | $22,270 | $38,740 | 730 | 1.49 |
| Maine | $38,060 | $35,870 | $45,590 | 150 | 0.92 |
| Maryland | $35,170 | $31,200 | $48,340 | 420 | 0.6 |
| Massachusetts | $37,390 | $33,700 | $43,160 | 340 | 0.37 |
| Michigan | $36,130 | $31,480 | $40,490 | 880 | 0.79 |
| Minnesota | $37,430 | $31,530 | $47,380 | 550 | 0.73 |
| Mississippi | $28,380 | $23,130 | $41,200 | 660 | 2.22 |
| Missouri | $37,820 | $33,980 | $49,510 | 650 | 0.87 |
| Montana | $37,140 | $31,360 | $53,380 | 210 | 1.61 |
| Nebraska | $31,610 | $28,080 | $38,590 | 400 | 1.55 |
| Nevada | $39,080 | $30,250 | $52,570 | 410 | 1.05 |
| New Hampshire | $37,350 | $33,270 | $42,710 | 50 | 0.26 |
| New Jersey | $36,590 | $33,020 | $50,280 | 1,020 | 0.93 |
| New Mexico | $36,390 | $28,620 | $55,540 | 180 | 0.82 |
| New York | $38,040 | $34,270 | $51,150 | 2,360 | 0.96 |
| North Carolina | $35,530 | $25,710 | $43,660 | 1,180 | 0.94 |
| Ohio | $37,500 | $29,970 | $53,670 | 690 | 0.49 |
| Oklahoma | $30,360 | $22,460 | $40,880 | 700 | 1.61 |
| Oregon | $40,250 | $35,330 | $62,150 | 450 | 0.91 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,470 | $28,910 | $43,360 | 1,210 | 0.78 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,100 | $21,990 | $35,420 | 1,090 | 4.57 |
| Rhode Island | $38,020 | $33,460 | $62,360 | ||
| South Carolina | $36,140 | $33,820 | $48,640 | 360 | 0.62 |
| South Dakota | $36,130 | $33,400 | $44,040 | 150 | 1.33 |
| Tennessee | $30,170 | $25,230 | $39,360 | 1,150 | 1.38 |
| Texas | $38,630 | $31,540 | $48,010 | 2,900 | 0.81 |
| Utah | $51,600 | $36,050 | $61,770 | 250 | 0.56 |
| Vermont | $37,310 | $33,210 | $40,730 | 90 | 1.15 |
| Virginia | $36,390 | $30,190 | $49,590 | 510 | 0.48 |
| Washington | $45,110 | $36,400 | $60,390 | 1,990 | 2.21 |
| Wisconsin | $36,660 | $30,410 | $44,250 | 550 | 0.73 |
| Wyoming | $37,030 | $28,270 | $41,120 | 60 | 0.84 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for pharmacy aides
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 5,100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for pharmacy aides
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Process medical insurance claims, posting bill amounts and calculating copayments.
- Answer telephone inquiries, referring callers to pharmacist when necessary.
- Prepare prescription labels by typing or operating a computer and printer.
- Operate cash register to process cash or credit sales.
- Prepare, maintain, and record records of inventories, receipts, purchases, or deliveries, using a variety of computer screen formats.
- Receive, store, and inventory pharmaceutical supplies or medications, check for out-of-date medications, and notify pharmacist when inventory levels are low.
- Accept prescriptions for filling, gathering and processing necessary information.
- Maintain and clean equipment, work areas, or shelves.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Database software
Transferable skills for career changers: Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Time Management.
Common job titles: Certified Pharmacist Assistant, Front Counter Clerk, Pharmacist Assistant, Pharmacy Ancillary, Pharmacy Assistant, Pharmacy Care Rep (Pharmacy Care Representative), Pharmacy Cashier, Pharmacy Clerk, Pharmacy Helper, Pharmacy Support Person (PSP).
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do pharmacy aides make?
The national median annual wage for pharmacy aides was $37,680 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $29,820 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $56,010. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do pharmacy aides need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and short-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is pharmacy aides a growing career?
BLS projects employment of pharmacy aides to change -0.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 5,100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay pharmacy aides the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were District of Columbia ($59,960), Utah ($51,600), Hawaii ($46,250). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.