Certified pharmacy technician salary starting pay range from $18 to $23 per hour, averaging around $39,000 annually. Certification can increase earnings and improve job prospects.
Pharmacy Technician Pay Across the U.S. — State & Metro (2024)
Median U.S. wage (2024): $43,460/year (~$20.90/hr). Data synthesized from BLS OEWS and industry sources.
State-by-State Salary Averages
Median annual and implied hourly wages for pharmacy technicians by state. Hourly approximated as annual/2080. Colorado data withheld in the source release.
| State | Median Annual (USD) | Median Hourly (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| Alaska | $50,440 | $24.25 |
| Arizona | $47,620 | $22.89 |
| Arkansas | $37,380 | $17.97 |
| California | $49,640 | $23.87 |
| Colorado* | N/A | N/A |
| Connecticut | $44,190 | $21.25 |
| Delaware | $43,470 | $20.90 |
| Florida | $39,640 | $19.06 |
| Georgia | $38,390 | $18.46 |
| Hawaii | $45,380 | $21.82 |
| Idaho | $45,210 | $21.74 |
| Illinois | $44,610 | $21.45 |
| Indiana | $40,020 | $19.24 |
| Iowa | $41,380 | $19.89 |
| Kansas | $39,210 | $18.85 |
| Kentucky | $37,630 | $18.09 |
| Louisiana | $38,700 | $18.63 |
| Maine | $40,950 | $19.69 |
| Maryland | $43,100 | $20.72 |
| Massachusetts | $44,640 | $21.46 |
| Michigan | $40,040 | $19.24 |
| Minnesota | $48,560 | $23.35 |
| Mississippi | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| Missouri | $37,990 | $18.27 |
| Montana | $46,980 | $22.58 |
| Nebraska | $41,400 | $19.90 |
| Nevada | $46,670 | $22.43 |
| New Hampshire | $45,300 | $21.78 |
| New Jersey | $38,890 | $18.70 |
| New Mexico | $44,970 | $21.62 |
| New York | $40,840 | $19.64 |
| North Carolina | $39,870 | $19.16 |
| North Dakota | $47,600 | $22.88 |
| Ohio | $37,860 | $18.20 |
| Oklahoma | $38,200 | $18.37 |
| Oregon | $51,210 | $24.62 |
| Pennsylvania | $37,560 | $18.06 |
| Rhode Island | $37,730 | $18.14 |
| South Carolina | $38,960 | $18.73 |
| South Dakota | $43,760 | $21.04 |
| Tennessee | $38,130 | $18.33 |
| Texas | $43,920 | $21.12 |
| Utah | $46,760 | $22.48 |
| Vermont | $46,050 | $22.14 |
| Virginia | $42,490 | $20.43 |
| Washington | $56,140 | $26.99 |
| West Virginia | $37,370 | $17.97 |
| Wisconsin | $43,620 | $20.97 |
| Wyoming | $46,490 | $22.35 |
Notes: Hourly = annual / 2080 (approx). Source: BLS OEWS and industry aggregators.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Cities (BLS May 2023 metro means)
Top metropolitan areas by mean hourly wage (BLS May 2023).
| Metro area | Mean hourly | Mean annual |
|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $33.48 | $69,630 |
| San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA | $33.01 | $68,670 |
| San Francisco–Oakland–Hayward, CA | $32.36 | $67,310 |
| Vallejo–Fairfield, CA | $29.18 | $60,680 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $29.00 | $60,330 |
| Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WA | $28.22 | $58,700 |
| Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA | $27.66 | $57,540 |
| Santa Maria–Santa Barbara, CA | $26.57 | $55,260 |
| Salinas, CA | $26.19 | $54,480 |
| San Luis Obispo–Paso Robles, CA | $26.12 | $54,330 |
Note: Metro means may differ from state medians and online job-board reports.
Salary Trend Over Time (2019–2024)
National mean wages (OEWS). Toggle between annual and hourly.
Interpretation: national mean moved from mid-$30K (2019) to the low-$44K range by 2024.
Pay by Workplace Setting
Average annual wages by common settings that hire pharmacy technicians.
| Setting | Mean annual (USD) |
|---|---|
| Outpatient care centers | $61,080 |
| Research & development / scientific labs | $56,450 |
| Hospitals (general medical & surgical) | $49,810 |
| General merchandise stores | $44,770 |
| Pharmacies & drug stores (retail) | $40,170 |
Clinical and specialized settings generally pay more than retail chains.
Key Findings
- National median and mean cluster in the low-to-mid $40K/year range; 2024 median ~ $43,460.
- West Coast states (WA, OR, CA) report the highest medians; Washington ~ $56,140.
- Top metro areas (California & Seattle region) report mean wages in the high $20s–low $30s/hr.
- Outpatient care and research settings pay materially more than retail pharmacies.
- Wages have increased steadily from 2019–2024 (~2–3% annual growth on average).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is pharmacy technician starting pay?
Starting pay varies by state and employer. Entry-level hourly pay often begins in the mid-to-high teens ($15–$19/hr) in many areas, with higher starting rates in high-cost regions or specialized settings.
Does CVS pay for pharmacy technician training?
Many large pharmacy employers, including CVS, commonly provide on-the-job training and may offer company-sponsored training or tuition assistance for certain roles. Program details vary by location; consult the employer’s careers page for current information.
What is the average pay for a pharmacy technician?
Across the U.S., the typical (median) annual pay for pharmacy technicians is in the low $40K range (~$43,000/year or about $20–$22/hr) based on BLS and aggregated industry sources for 2023–2024.
How does workplace setting affect pharmacy technician pay?
Workplace setting is a major wage driver. Outpatient care centers and specialized clinical or research roles generally pay more, while retail chain pharmacies and general merchandise stores generally pay less.
Search-focused salary snapshot — pharmacy technician roles
Short, scannable answers for high-intent search queries (certified, hospital, CVS, starting pay, and variants).
What is a pharmacy technician salary?
The national median salary for pharmacy technicians is about $43,460 per year (~$20.90/hr) according to aggregated BLS and industry sources (2024). Local pay varies by state and employer.
How much is the salary for a pharmacy technician?
Typical salaries range from roughly $33,000 at entry-level to more than $55,000 in high-paying regions; most technicians fall in the low-to-mid $40K range.
What is the average salary for a pharmacy technician?
Average/median pay sits around $43K–$45K annually. Differences come from employer type (hospital vs retail), certification, and location.
What is the starting salary for a pharmacy technician?
Starting pay often begins in the $15–$18/hour range depending on region and employer, equivalent to roughly $31K–$37K/year.
Does CVS pay for pharmacy technician training?
Large chains such as CVS typically provide on-the-job training and may offer company-sponsored programs or tuition assistance for credentialing; specifics vary by store and program.
How does being certified affect pay?
Certification (CPhT) usually leads to higher pay—commonly an extra $2–$4 per hour—and may unlock higher-paying roles (hospital or specialty pharmacy).