How much does a pharmacy tech make? Pharmacy Tech salary and hourly pay
A pharmacy tech in the US earns a median of $45,750 a year, about $22.00 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,020 and the top 10% earn over $61,040. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Washington, has a median of $58,900.
Pharmacy Tech pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a pharmacy tech make an hour?
The median pharmacy tech earns $22.00 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $17.32 for the lowest-paid 10% to $29.35 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $36,020 | $17.32 |
| Lower 25% | $37,850 | $18.20 |
| Median (typical) | $45,750 | $22.00 |
| Upper 25% | $49,990 | $24.04 |
| Top 10% | $61,040 | $29.35 |
Pharmacy Tech salary by state
Median annual pay for pharmacy techs in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $39,030 | $18.76 |
| Alaska | $52,640 | $25.31 |
| Arizona | $47,640 | $22.90 |
| Arkansas | $38,680 | $18.60 |
| California | $55,110 | $26.50 |
| Colorado | $49,970 | $24.02 |
| Connecticut | $47,050 | $22.62 |
| Delaware | $46,430 | $22.32 |
| District of Columbia | $47,410 | $22.79 |
| Florida | $43,590 | $20.96 |
| Georgia | $41,910 | $20.15 |
| Hawaii | $46,760 | $22.48 |
| Idaho | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| Illinois | $46,650 | $22.43 |
| Indiana | $44,560 | $21.42 |
| Iowa | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| Kansas | $43,310 | $20.82 |
| Kentucky | $39,200 | $18.85 |
| Louisiana | $44,410 | $21.35 |
| Maine | $45,400 | $21.83 |
| Maryland | $45,120 | $21.69 |
| Massachusetts | $46,470 | $22.34 |
| Michigan | $44,340 | $21.32 |
| Minnesota | $48,300 | $23.22 |
| Mississippi | $39,040 | $18.77 |
| Missouri | $40,100 | $19.28 |
| Montana | $49,400 | $23.75 |
| Nebraska | $46,610 | $22.41 |
| Nevada | $47,980 | $23.07 |
| New Hampshire | $47,360 | $22.77 |
| New Jersey | $39,610 | $19.04 |
| New Mexico | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| New York | $43,930 | $21.12 |
| North Carolina | $44,530 | $21.41 |
| North Dakota | $47,560 | $22.87 |
| Ohio | $40,650 | $19.54 |
| Oklahoma | $40,500 | $19.47 |
| Oregon | $54,900 | $26.39 |
| Pennsylvania | $40,040 | $19.25 |
| Rhode Island | $44,380 | $21.34 |
| South Carolina | $42,120 | $20.25 |
| South Dakota | $46,170 | $22.20 |
| Tennessee | $41,920 | $20.15 |
| Texas | $45,900 | $22.07 |
| Utah | $48,140 | $23.14 |
| Vermont | $47,940 | $23.05 |
| Virginia | $44,610 | $21.45 |
| Washington | $58,900 | $28.32 |
| West Virginia | $38,210 | $18.37 |
| Wisconsin | $45,970 | $22.10 |
| Wyoming | $48,260 | $23.20 |
Highest-paying states for pharmacy techs
- Washington: $58,900 median
- California: $55,110 median
- Oregon: $54,900 median
- Alaska: $52,640 median
- Colorado: $49,970 median
The lowest medians are in West Virginia ($38,210), Arkansas ($38,680), Alabama ($39,030), Mississippi ($39,040), Kentucky ($39,200). The most pharmacy tech jobs are in Texas (41,740 jobs), California (39,860 jobs), Florida (38,460 jobs), New York (24,400 jobs), Illinois (21,340 jobs).
How much does a pharmacy tech make a month?
At the median salary of $45,750, a pharmacy tech earns about $3,812 a month, $1,760 every two weeks or $880 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced pharmacy tech pay
New pharmacy techs typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,020 a year and the lowest 25% under $37,850. The top 25% earn over $49,990 and the top 10% over $61,040. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Pharmacy Tech salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy tech | $45,750 |
| Medical assistant | $45,690 |
| Surgical tech | $64,650 |
| Radiology tech | $80,110 |
| Ultrasound tech | $96,590 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 |
Common questions
How much does a pharmacy tech make?
The US median is $45,750 a year ($22.00 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a pharmacy tech make an hour?
The median is about $22.00 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $17.32 and the top 10% about $29.35 an hour.
Which state pays pharmacy techs the most?
Washington has the highest median at $58,900, followed by California ($55,110) and Oregon ($54,900).
How much does a pharmacy tech make a month?
At the US median of $45,750 a year, about $3,812 a month or $1,760 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level pharmacy tech make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $36,020 a year and the lowest 25% under $37,850, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of pharmacy techs make?
The top 10% earn over $61,040 a year; the top 25% earn over $49,990.
How much does a pharmacy tech make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $55,110 in California, $45,900 in Texas, $43,590 in Florida, $43,930 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 29-2052, “Pharmacy Technicians”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.