Pharmacy technicians salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $36,020 | $17.32 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $45,750 | $22.00 |
| Mean (average) | $46,620 | $22.41 |
| 90th percentile | $61,040 | $29.35 |
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 technicians pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 54 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $39,030 | $31,620 | $49,760 | 8,510 | 1.33 |
| Alaska | $52,640 | $40,820 | $70,720 | 800 | 0.81 |
| Arizona | $47,640 | $39,040 | $60,820 | 12,970 | 1.32 |
| Arkansas | $38,680 | $33,400 | $48,620 | 4,560 | 1.15 |
| California | $55,110 | $42,850 | $81,190 | 39,860 | 0.72 |
| Colorado | $49,970 | $39,810 | $64,760 | 6,010 | 0.69 |
| Connecticut | $47,050 | $37,410 | $62,230 | 5,200 | 1.01 |
| Delaware | $46,430 | $35,460 | $57,400 | 1,480 | 1.01 |
| District of Columbia | $47,410 | $41,300 | $74,100 | 1,130 | 0.53 |
| Florida | $43,590 | $35,760 | $54,980 | 38,460 | 1.28 |
| Georgia | $41,910 | $35,160 | $56,820 | 14,680 | 0.99 |
| Guam | $36,010 | $26,470 | $48,390 | 140 | 0.67 |
| Hawaii | $46,760 | $36,120 | $62,190 | 1,540 | 0.81 |
| Idaho | $46,420 | $37,380 | $59,230 | 2,950 | 1.13 |
| Illinois | $46,650 | $36,550 | $58,260 | 21,340 | 1.15 |
| Indiana | $44,560 | $36,610 | $54,800 | 10,790 | 1.11 |
| Iowa | $44,860 | $36,140 | $52,150 | 4,630 | 0.98 |
| Kansas | $43,310 | $33,800 | $56,160 | 4,270 | 0.98 |
| Kentucky | $39,200 | $31,760 | $52,640 | 8,870 | 1.46 |
| Louisiana | $44,410 | $36,100 | $52,920 | 6,700 | 1.14 |
| Maine | $45,400 | $37,060 | $57,360 | 2,070 | 1.06 |
| Maryland | $45,120 | $36,180 | $60,050 | 7,990 | 0.95 |
| Massachusetts | $46,470 | $37,980 | $71,070 | 10,150 | 0.92 |
| Michigan | $44,340 | $35,430 | $54,740 | 14,240 | 1.07 |
| Minnesota | $48,300 | $38,110 | $62,080 | 7,340 | 0.82 |
| Mississippi | $39,040 | $33,340 | $49,250 | 4,040 | 1.14 |
| Missouri | $40,100 | $33,830 | $54,600 | 12,610 | 1.42 |
| Montana | $49,400 | $38,330 | $60,780 | 1,340 | 0.86 |
| Nebraska | $46,610 | $36,710 | $57,110 | 2,660 | 0.85 |
| Nevada | $47,980 | $37,350 | $62,500 | 4,070 | 0.87 |
| New Hampshire | $47,360 | $37,080 | $61,630 | 1,970 | 0.95 |
| New Jersey | $39,610 | $36,170 | $59,700 | 14,020 | 1.08 |
| New Mexico | $46,630 | $37,470 | $58,780 | 2,550 | 0.96 |
| New York | $43,930 | $36,540 | $64,690 | 24,400 | 0.83 |
| North Carolina | $44,530 | $35,820 | $57,360 | 17,260 | 1.15 |
| North Dakota | $47,560 | $38,370 | $63,850 | 890 | 0.68 |
| Ohio | $40,650 | $34,980 | $56,520 | 17,820 | 1.06 |
| Oklahoma | $40,500 | $34,780 | $50,930 | 5,500 | 1.06 |
| Oregon | $54,900 | $44,530 | $68,000 | 4,320 | 0.72 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,040 | $35,140 | $51,290 | 18,880 | 1.03 |
| Puerto Rico | $29,520 | $23,030 | $44,690 | 5,820 | 2.04 |
| Rhode Island | $44,380 | $38,270 | $58,990 | 1,540 | 1.01 |
| South Carolina | $42,120 | $35,500 | $51,060 | 8,070 | 1.15 |
| South Dakota | $46,170 | $37,220 | $56,800 | 1,230 | 0.88 |
| Tennessee | $41,920 | $35,550 | $55,430 | 11,870 | 1.19 |
| Texas | $45,900 | $35,920 | $59,260 | 41,740 | 0.98 |
| Utah | $48,140 | $37,860 | $63,130 | 5,030 | 0.96 |
| Vermont | $47,940 | $37,610 | $65,060 | 760 | 0.83 |
| Virgin Islands | $40,620 | $36,850 | $66,760 | 40 | 0.42 |
| Virginia | $44,610 | $36,260 | $59,030 | 10,720 | 0.86 |
| Washington | $58,900 | $47,270 | $79,090 | 8,150 | 0.76 |
| West Virginia | $38,210 | $30,490 | $48,460 | 3,560 | 1.67 |
| Wisconsin | $45,970 | $36,080 | $58,700 | 9,540 | 1.07 |
| Wyoming | $48,260 | $37,360 | $63,950 | 600 | 0.71 |
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 technicians
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 44,700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.1%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for pharmacy technicians
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
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
- Pharmacy Technician/Assistant CIP 51.0805
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
- Enter prescription information into computer databases.
- Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
- Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
- Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.
- Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
- Assist customers by answering simple questions, locating items, or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information.
- Operate cash registers to accept payment from customers.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Apple Safari (hot technology)
- MEDITECH software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Edge (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Mozilla Firefox (hot technology)
- Billing and reimbursement software
- Compounder software
- Database software
- Drug compatibility software
- Label-making software
- Medical condition coding software
- Patient record maintenance software
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Service Orientation, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Time Management.
Common job titles: Accredited Pharmacy Technician, Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), Chemotherapy Pharmacy Technician (Chemo Pharmacy Technician), Compounding Technician, OR Pharmacy Tech (Operating Room Pharmacy Tech), RPhT (Registered Pharmacy Technician).
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 technicians make?
The national median annual wage for pharmacy technicians was $45,750 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $36,020 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $61,040. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do pharmacy technicians need?
BLS lists high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is pharmacy technicians a growing career?
BLS projects employment of pharmacy technicians to change +6.4% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 44,700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay pharmacy technicians the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Washington ($58,900), California ($55,110), Oregon ($54,900). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.