Highest Paying Pharmacy Technician Jobs with State & City-wise Salary

If you are aiming to enter the healthcare industry, becoming a pharmacy technician might be an excellent choice. The demand for this role is at an all-time high across the country, and not to mention, the pay is great.

Speaking of salary, pharmacy technicians earn $43,460 per year on average. However, that is the median salary, and it can vary drastically depending on the location, experience, and specialization. 

With that said, this salary guide will help you get a better understanding of the salary potential for pharmacy technicians across different roles and states.

Overview: National Average Salary and Key Factors

According to the latest data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for pharmacy technicians is about $43,460. In other words, half of pharmacy techs earn less than this amount, and half earn more.

The lowest 10% of earners make around $35,100 or less, while the top 10% make over $59,450. This means that even the highest-paid pharmacy technicians in typical roles are earning under $60k, which is well short of six figures. 

In fact, making a six-figure salary ($100,000 or more) as a pharmacy technician is not currently realistic. For that, you need to upskill and work towards advanced roles like a pharmacist. 

Salary at a Glance

What Factors Influence A Pharmacy Technician’s Salary?

• Experience and Certification: Entry-level pharmacy techs typically start on the lower end of the pay scale. Gaining experience and obtaining certification (becoming a Certified Pharmacy Technician, or CPhT) can boost your earning potential. Certified techs are more likely to be hired and can often negotiate a higher starting wage. Many employers value certification and may even offer raises or reimburse training costs for those who get certified.
• Work Environment: The setting you work in greatly affects pay. Pharmacy techs in hospitals and clinic settings generally earn more than those in retail pharmacies. BLS data shows median wages around $49k per year in hospitals versus roughly $38k in retail drug stores. (We’ll dive deeper into this in a moment.) Additionally, specialized environments like outpatient care centers or pharmaceutical manufacturers can sometimes pay higher wages for technicians with the right skills.
• Location (State/City): Pay varies across the country. Just as an example, a pharmacy tech in Washington state has a much higher median salary than one in Arkansas.
• Job Title or Role Level: “Pharmacy technician” can encompass a range of roles from entry-level positions to specialized or supervisory roles. Some advanced titles, like lead pharmacy tech or pharmacy tech instructor, command higher pay than the typical tech who counts pills at the local drugstore. We’ll list some of the highest-paying pharmacy tech roles next.

In summary, the national average pay for pharmacy techs is around $19–$20 per hour (about $40k annually), but where you fall on that spectrum depends on your role, credentials, and where you work.

Highest-Paying Pharmacy Technician Roles

Not all pharmacy tech jobs are the same. While many start out in entry-level positions, there are opportunities to move into higher-paying roles with experience, education, or specialization. Here are some of the highest-paying positions in the pharmacy technician field:

Pharmacy Technician Program Director

This is often the highest-paid role associated with pharmacy technicians. This is because program directors oversee pharmacy tech training programs, and are often experienced techs who moved into education or management. This role typically requires many years of experience and often a higher degree or extensive knowledge of the field.

Salary

According to ZipRecruiter, salaries for pharmacy tech program directors are in the ballpark of $70,000 – $80,000 per year on average. Nome, AK, pays the most at $88,687 per year.

Informatics Pharmacy Technician (Pharmacy Tech Informaticist)

An informatics specialist works with pharmacy data systems, such as electronic health records and automation systems, to improve workflow and patient safety. It’s a more technical role, and employers usually seek techs with several years of experience and often at least an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.

Salary

Now, here’s the complicated part: the pay scale for this role varies drastically based on experience. 

ZipRecruiter mentions the average salary for an informatics specialist is $40,074 per year; however, it can climb as high as $83,614 annually in Kentville, NS.

Pharmacy Technician Instructor

Experienced pharmacy technicians can become instructors for training programs at community colleges or private institutes. Unsurprisingly, their pay is higher than a typical tech’s wage, as this role benefits from both pharmacy knowledge and teaching ability 

Salary

Pharmacy technician instructors earn around $69,058 per year on average. Once again, Nome, AK, pays the highest for this role at $85,666.

Hospital Pharmacy Technician

Working in a hospital pharmacy tends to pay more than working in a retail pharmacy. This is because hospital pharmacy techs help prepare IV medications, stock automated dispensing cabinets throughout the hospital, and handle more complex medication dispensing tasks in coordination with pharmacists.

Salary

The average salary for hospital pharmacy techs is about $59,289 per year. As for which city pays the most, it is Soledad, CA, at $88,691. 

Lead Pharmacy Technician / Level III Pharmacy Technician

Some employers have tiered levels for technicians, often labeled Level I, II, III, or simply “senior technician”. A Level III pharmacy technician or lead tech usually has at least 1+ year of experience and may supervise other techs or handle the most advanced tasks. As you can expect, Level III pharmacy techs earn the highest among tiered level roles. 

Salary

The average salary for this role is in the mid-$40,000s annually. However, you can earn as much as $56,497 in locations like Kentville, NS.

NOTE: Salary range for Level II pharmacy technician overlaps with the pay scale of Level III pharmacy technician. 

Compounding Pharmacy Technician

A compounding tech specializes in mixing custom medications (creams, liquids, IV mixtures, etc.) under a pharmacist’s supervision. Compounding pharmacy tech requires precision and often additional training in sterile technique, and it’s commonly found in hospital pharmacies or specialized compounding pharmacies. 

Salary

Similar to informatics technicians, pay for this role tends to range widely, roughly from the low $30,000s up to mid-$40,000s per year. Highly skilled compounding techs can earn as much as $56,083 in Nome, AK.

Retail Pharmacy Technician

This is the most common job for pharmacy techs, working at a community pharmacy or drugstore (think Walgreens, Walmart, etc.). Retail pharmacy techs assist pharmacists in filling prescriptions, handling insurance claims, and serving customers.

Salary

The average salary for retail pharmacy techs is around $38,223 per year, with the highest pay scale at $47,416 in Nome, AK.

So, to summarize, the highest-paid pharmacy techs are those in management or specialized roles, such as program directors, informatics specialists, and instructors, who can earn in the $70k+ range. On the other hand, the lowest-paid pharmacy tech jobs are the entry-level positions (often in retail settings or low-wage states) where salaries can hover in the mid-$30k range. 

NOTE: These are average salary statistics; upskilling can help you earn more.

Not sure what skills to add to your resume? Check our pharma tech resume skill guide.

Salary by Work Setting: Hospital vs. Retail vs. Remote

One of the biggest factors in pharmacy technician pay is where you work. Let’s compare a few common work settings:

• Hospital Pharmacy Technicians: As mentioned, hospitals generally pay more. Why? Hospital techs have a broader scope of duties – they may prepare IV drips, manage inventory for entire wards, and assist with urgent medication needs in a fast-paced environment. You can expect to earn roughly $23–$24 per hour.
• Retail Pharmacy Technicians: Retail or community pharmacies include chain drugstores, supermarkets with pharmacies, or independent neighborhood pharmacies. These positions are plentiful (over half of all pharmacy tech jobs are in pharmacies and drug stores), but they typically pay the least. A typical retail pharmacy tech might earn around $15–$18 per hour in many areas. 
• Remote Pharmacy Technician Jobs: Advances in technology have led to the emergence of work-from-home or remote pharmacy tech jobs, though they represent a smaller segment of the field. These might involve working for mail-order pharmacies, insurance companies (processing claims and prior authorizations), or telepharmacy services. Many remote pharmacy tech listings show hourly rates around $18–$22 per hour.
• Other Settings: Pharmacy technicians also work in nursing homes or long-term care facilities, pharmaceutical warehouses, and government/military facilities. Pay in grocery chains is often similar to that in other retail. Long-term care and mail-order pharmacy facilities often pay somewhere between retail and hospital ranges. Government jobs, such as a tech working for the VA hospital or Department of Defense, can sometimes have higher base pay or great benefits.

Pharmacy Technician Salary by State

Top 5 Highest-Paying States (Median)

Now, here’s where things start to get interesting (and confusing). According to the BLS, the following are the highest-paying states:

However, according to ZipRecruiter, these stats are very different:

Lowest-Paying States

Arkansas and West Virginia pay the lowest for pharmacy tech roles.

Pharmacy Technician Salary by City

The BLS salary data is divided into metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas.

Metropolitan Area

Non Metropolitan Area

In short, location matters a lot. Pharmacy techs on the West Coast and Northeast generally see higher wages, while those in parts of the South and Midwest see lower wages. If you are open to moving and salary is a top concern, it may be worth considering states or cities known for higher pay in this field.

Career Growth, Advancement, and Future Outlook

Beyond just the immediate paycheck, you might be wondering about the career path for pharmacy technicians. Is it a stable career, and how can you advance or increase your earnings over time?

Job Outlook: The good news is that pharmacy technicians have a stable and growing demand. The BLS projects employment for pharmacy techs to grow about 7% from 2023 to 2033, which is about as fast as the average for all jobs. The healthcare industry is expanding due to an aging population and more chronic illnesses, so pharmacy services remain essential.

If you’re still unsure about the role, check 8 benefits that make becoming a pharma tech worth it.

How to Boost Your Earning Potential as a Pharma Tech

Despite the growing demand and stable job outlook, it’s not typically a “get rich” career. Many people use it as an entry point into healthcare. If you love the work, there are definitely ways to move up as a pharmacy tech and earn more:

• Certification: As mentioned earlier, becoming a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) is one of the quickest ways to boost your prospects. It can make you eligible for better jobs and sometimes comes with a pay raise. Some states require certification or licensure, but even if not required, having that credential is beneficial. 
• Education: Further education, like completing an associate’s degree in pharmacy technology, might help you land supervisory roles or specialties. For example, the PTCB (Pharmacy Technician Certification Board) now offers advanced certifications in areas like sterile compounding and medication history – obtaining these could make you a candidate for higher-paying specialty positions.
• Gain Experience & Pursue Level Ups: Many workplaces have a tiered system (Tech I, II, III, or Junior/Senior Tech). By gaining on-the-job experience and showing competence, you can get promoted to the next level. Each step up often comes with a bump in pay. Becoming a lead technician or a shift supervisor can also come with leadership pay.
• Specialize or Change Roles: Don’t be afraid to explore different pharmacy tech niches. If you start in retail, you might transition to hospital pharmacy after a year or two. This could increase your pay significantly. Likewise, if you’re in a hospital but want to earn more, consider roles like compounding, chemotherapy technician, or inventory specialist in the pharmacy.
• Learn a New Language: This might sound unrelated to pharmacy at first, but communication is key in healthcare. Being bilingual, especially in Spanish (in the US) or other commonly spoken languages in your area, can make you more valuable. In fact, 35% of managers have given a raise or promotion to someone for being able to speak a second language, according to a Forbes report.
• Transition to Other Healthcare Careers: If pharmacy school isn’t for you, there are other paths: some techs go into nursing, medical assisting, or healthcare administration. The skills you develop (attention to detail, medical knowledge, patient interaction) are transferable. Even within the framework of “technician” jobs, you might find that down the road you could pivot, for example, becoming a radiologic technologist or MRI technologist.
• Alternate/Non-Traditional Tech Roles: You could work in insurance companies as a pharmacy benefit analyst or for pharmacy software companies as a support specialist, in research clinics, or even in veterinary pharmacies. Do keep in mind that these niches sometimes pay differently.

Final Words

Becoming a pharmacy technician offers a solid entry into the healthcare field, with strong demand and a stable career outlook. While the typical salary doesn’t reach six figures, entry-level roles can earn in $40,000 range and advanced roles can earn over $80,000 per year.

If you’re motivated by the idea of helping others, enjoy working with medications and patients, and are open to continued learning, pharmacy technology can be a rewarding and sustainable career. Begin your journey to become a pharma tech with CCI Training Center’s Pharmacy Technician Training program.