Pharmacy Technician Salary by State (2026)
Updated · Wage data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 OEWS (released May 2026)
Where you work changes pharmacy technician pay by more than $20,690 a year. This page lists the verified BLS median and mean annual wage for all 51 US jurisdictions, plus the top-paying states and metros, so you can see exactly where your state stands. For the national picture and the industry pay gap, see the main pharmacy technician salary guide.
Quick answer
The national median pharmacy technician wage is $45,750 a year (BLS May 2025 OEWS (released May 2026)). Washington pays the most ($58,900 median) and West Virginia the least ($38,210). The single biggest lever within any state is setting: hospitals and clinics pay well above retail pharmacies.
National pharmacy technician wages
| Median annual wage | $45,750 |
| Mean annual wage | $46,620 |
| Lowest 10% | under $36,020 |
| Highest 10% | over $61,040 |
| Total employment | 471,680 |
Pharmacy technician salary, all states ranked
Median and mean annual wages by state, highest median first (BLS May 2025 OEWS (released May 2026)). State names link to full requirements guides where available.
| Rank | State | Median | Mean | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $58,900 | $61,140 | 8,150 |
| 2 | California | $55,110 | $58,330 | 39,860 |
| 3 | Oregon | $54,900 | $55,180 | 4,320 |
| 4 | Alaska | $52,640 | $54,230 | 800 |
| 5 | Colorado | $49,970 | $52,210 | 6,010 |
| 6 | Montana | $49,400 | $50,230 | 1,340 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $48,300 | $49,250 | 7,340 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $48,260 | $49,520 | 600 |
| 9 | Utah | $48,140 | $48,870 | 5,030 |
| 10 | Nevada | $47,980 | $48,900 | 4,070 |
| 11 | Vermont | $47,940 | $49,680 | 760 |
| 12 | Arizona | $47,640 | $49,760 | 12,970 |
| 13 | North Dakota | $47,560 | $49,310 | 890 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $47,410 | $53,700 | 1,130 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $47,360 | $48,020 | 1,970 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $47,050 | $48,120 | 5,200 |
| 17 | Hawaii | $46,760 | $48,910 | 1,540 |
| 18 | Illinois | $46,650 | $45,930 | 21,340 |
| 19 | New Mexico | $46,630 | $47,810 | 2,550 |
| 20 | Nebraska | $46,610 | $45,670 | 2,660 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $46,470 | $50,680 | 10,150 |
| 22 | Delaware | $46,430 | $46,280 | 1,480 |
| 23 | Idaho | $46,420 | $47,120 | 2,950 |
| 24 | South Dakota | $46,170 | $45,750 | 1,230 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $45,970 | $45,750 | 9,540 |
| 26 | Texas | $45,900 | $45,670 | 41,740 |
| 27 | Maine | $45,400 | $45,850 | 2,070 |
| 28 | Maryland | $45,120 | $45,670 | 7,990 |
| 29 | Iowa | $44,860 | $44,340 | 4,630 |
| 30 | Virginia | $44,610 | $45,330 | 10,720 |
| 31 | Indiana | $44,560 | $44,020 | 10,790 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $44,530 | $44,500 | 17,260 |
| 33 | Louisiana | $44,410 | $43,650 | 6,700 |
| 34 | Rhode Island | $44,380 | $46,120 | 1,540 |
| 35 | Michigan | $44,340 | $44,250 | 14,240 |
| 36 | New York | $43,930 | $46,800 | 24,400 |
| 37 | Florida | $43,590 | $44,120 | 38,460 |
| 38 | Kansas | $43,310 | $43,850 | 4,270 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $42,120 | $43,120 | 8,070 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $41,920 | $43,590 | 11,870 |
| 41 | Georgia | $41,910 | $43,960 | 14,680 |
| 42 | Ohio | $40,650 | $43,440 | 17,820 |
| 43 | Oklahoma | $40,500 | $42,690 | 5,500 |
| 44 | Missouri | $40,100 | $42,590 | 12,610 |
| 45 | Pennsylvania | $40,040 | $42,300 | 18,880 |
| 46 | New Jersey | $39,610 | $44,690 | 14,020 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $39,200 | $41,660 | 8,870 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $39,040 | $41,330 | 4,040 |
| 49 | Alabama | $39,030 | $41,360 | 8,510 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $38,680 | $41,160 | 4,560 |
| 51 | West Virginia | $38,210 | $40,250 | 3,560 |
Top-paying metro areas
Pay within a state clusters in its metros. The highest-paying metro areas for pharmacy technicians are:
| Metro area | Mean annual wage |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $76,740 |
| Napa, CA | $71,040 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $67,690 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $64,360 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $63,760 |
| Vallejo, CA | $62,920 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $61,150 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $58,640 |
How to earn more, wherever you are
State averages set the baseline, but you control two big levers: get PTCB certified and move from retail into a hospital or clinic role. Both lift pay within any state. If you are just starting, see how to become a pharmacy technician, then check your state requirements.
Frequently asked questions
Which state pays pharmacy technicians the most?
Washington has the highest median pharmacy technician wage at $58,900 a year (mean $61,140), per BLS May 2025 OEWS (released May 2026). California and Oregon follow closely.
What is the average pharmacy technician salary in the US?
The national median is $45,750 a year and the mean is $46,620, across about 471,680 jobs (BLS May 2025 OEWS (released May 2026)). The lowest 10% earn under $36,020 and the top 10% earn over $61,040.
Which metro areas pay pharmacy technicians the most?
California's Bay Area metros lead: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $76,740 mean, followed by other California metros and Seattle. Metro pay can run well above the state median.
Why does pharmacy technician pay vary by state?
Cost of living, local demand, the mix of hospital versus retail employers, and state licensing requirements all shift pay. States that require certification or licensure, and those with more hospital and clinic roles, tend to pay more.
Official sources
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Pharmacy Technicians
- BLS OEWS interactive profile (state and metro wages)
Wage figures are BLS OEWS estimates (May 2025 OEWS (released May 2026)) and are descriptive, not a guarantee of earnings. For metro and nonmetro detail beyond the top areas shown, use the BLS interactive tool. PTCB Quiz Prep is an independent study resource, not affiliated with PTCB. See our editorial standards.