How much does a pharmacy technician make?
The median pharmacy technician salary in the US was $45,750 a year, or $22.00 an hour, in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The lowest-paid 10% earned under $36,020 and the top 10% earned over $61,040. Hospitals paid a higher median ($50,760) than pharmacies and drug stores ($39,240).
Key takeaways
5 points · under 1 min- BLS puts the May 2025 median pharmacy tech pay at $45,750 a year ($22.00 an hour).
- Hospitals paid a $50,760 median; pharmacies and drug stores, the biggest employer, paid $39,240.
- Washington had the highest average pay in May 2025, at $61,140 a year.
- BLS projects 6% job growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 44,700 openings a year.
- PTCB charges $129 to apply for the CPhT and take the PTCE, as of October 2026.
In this article 7 sections · 6 min read
How much does a pharmacy technician make?
A typical pharmacy technician in the US earns about $45,750 a year. That is the May 2025 median wage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The median is the middle of the pay range: half of technicians earn more, and half earn less.
That works out to a median of $22.00 an hour. For comparison, BLS put the median for all US jobs at $50,980 in May 2025. So pharmacy tech pay sits a little below the overall middle.
The mean (average) was a bit higher than the median, at $46,620 a year. A smaller group of high earners pulls the average up. The table shows the full spread from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey.
| Pay level, May 2025 (BLS OEWS) | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earned less than | $36,020 | $17.32 |
| 25th percentile | $37,850 | $18.20 |
| Median | $45,750 | $22.00 |
| Mean (average) | $46,620 | $22.41 |
| 75th percentile | $49,990 | $24.04 |
| Top 10% earned more than | $61,040 | $29.35 |
In plain terms, the middle half of pharmacy techs earned between about $37,850 and $49,990 a year. OEWS does not break pay down by years of experience. So read the percentiles as a range of what techs earn, not as a career ladder.
Which pharmacy settings pay the most?
Hospitals paid pharmacy techs the most of the main settings BLS tracks. Their May 2025 median was $50,760. Retail pharmacies and drug stores are by far the largest employer, but they had the lowest median of the group.
| Work setting | Share of pharmacy tech jobs, 2025 | Median annual wage, May 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitals (state, local and private) | 18% | $50,760 |
| Ambulatory healthcare services | 5% | $48,860 |
| General merchandise retailers | 9% | $48,150 |
| Grocery and specialty food retailers | 8% | $41,430 |
| Pharmacies and drug retailers | 51% | $39,240 |
The gap between the hospital and drugstore medians is $11,520 a year. BLS notes that hospital techs prepare a wider range of drugs, including intravenous (IV) drugs. That is one reason the work differs from a retail counter.
Schedules matter too. BLS says full-time work is the norm, but part-time jobs are also common. Some pharmacies stay open around the clock, so techs may have to work nights or weekends.
Which states pay pharmacy technicians the most?
Washington paid pharmacy techs the most in May 2025, with a yearly mean wage of $61,140. California and Oregon came next. The table ranks areas by mean wage and shows the median beside it.
| Top-paying areas, May 2025 (BLS OEWS) | Annual mean wage | Annual median wage | Pharmacy tech jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $61,140 | $58,900 | 8,150 |
| California | $58,330 | $55,110 | 39,860 |
| Oregon | $55,180 | $54,900 | 4,320 |
| Alaska | $54,230 | $52,640 | 800 |
| District of Columbia | $53,700 | $47,410 | 1,130 |
| Colorado | $52,210 | $49,970 | 6,010 |
The states with the most pharmacy tech jobs are not the top payers. In May 2025, these states had the most techs:
- Texas: 41,740 jobs, $45,900 median
- California: 39,860 jobs
- Florida: 38,460 jobs, $43,590 median
At the low end, West Virginia ($38,210 median), Arkansas ($38,680), Alabama ($39,030) and Mississippi ($39,040) had the lowest state medians. OEWS numbers are not adjusted for cost of living. A higher wage in Washington or California may not go as far as it looks.
Is the demand for pharmacy technicians growing?
Yes. BLS projects pharmacy tech jobs to grow 6% from 2025 to 2035. That is double the 3% average for all jobs. It means about 471,200 jobs in 2025, rising to a projected 501,300 in 2035.
BLS also expects about 44,700 openings a year over the decade. BLS expects many of them to come from replacing techs who retire or change careers, not from brand-new jobs.
BLS points to two reasons for the demand:
- More prescriptions. An aging population and more long-term conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, mean more prescriptions.
- New tasks. Pharmacists are spending more time on patient care. So techs are expected to take over tasks like gathering patient information, handling prescription transfers and checking other techs’ work.
What can raise a pharmacy technician’s pay?
The clearest pay gaps in the BLS data come from where you work: both the setting and the state. Hospitals and ambulatory care paid higher medians than drugstores in May 2025. The top-paying states paid well above the national median.
Specialized roles are the other path. BLS lists them under moving up, but it does not publish separate pay for them. With extra training and experience, techs can move into jobs such as:
- Sterile compounding technician, preparing injectable drugs in a clean room
- Nuclear pharmacy technician, handling radioactive materials used in medical imaging
- Medication history technician, collecting and checking patients’ medication lists
- Trainer or supervisor roles for other pharmacy staff
PTCB offers credentials that match some of these roles. They include the Certified Compounded Sterile Preparation Technician (CSPT) and the Advanced Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT-Adv). PTCB also offers certificates such as Medication History and Technician Product Verification. BLS and PTCB do not publish a set raise for any credential. Check local job postings to see what employers ask for and pay.
Do you need PTCB certification to work as a pharmacy technician?
It depends on your state and employer. BLS says most states regulate pharmacy techs, and some states and employers require certification. Even where it isn’t required, BLS says certification may make it easier to get a job. Some employers also pay for the exam.
One national option is PTCB’s Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). You earn it by passing the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). As of October 2026, PTCB lists these basics:
| PTCB CPhT basics (October 2026) | Details |
|---|---|
| Cost to apply and test | $129 |
| Eligibility | A PTCB-recognized education/training program, or at least 500 hours of pharmacy technician work experience |
| Exam appointment | About 2 hours, including a 1 hour 50 minute exam |
| Renewal | Every 2 years |
NHA’s ExCPT also leads to a CPhT credential. Our PTCB vs ExCPT comparison breaks down cost, length and passing scores. For an overview of the exam itself, start at our PTCB exam hub.
Quick answers
How much does a pharmacy technician make an hour? The BLS median was $22.00 an hour in May 2025. The top 10% earned more than $29.35 an hour.
What is the highest-paying state for pharmacy technicians? Washington. Its yearly mean wage was $61,140, and its median was $58,900 in May 2025 (BLS OEWS).
Do hospital pharmacy technicians make more than retail technicians? In May 2025, yes. The BLS median was $50,760 in hospitals and $39,240 in pharmacies and drug retailers.
How long does it take to become a pharmacy technician? BLS says on-the-job training usually lasts under a year. Many pharmacy technology programs award a certificate in a year or less.
How can I prepare for the PTCB exam? Try our free PTCB practice test to see where you stand. Then work through the PTCB lessons for the topics you missed.
Ready to see where you stand? It's free to start, and every answer is explained.
Sources
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, Pharmacy Technicians
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Tables (national and state data, SOC 29-2052)
- BLS OEWS, May 2025 National Data (XLSX in ZIP), occupation 29-2052
- BLS OEWS, May 2025 State Data (XLSX in ZIP), occupation 29-2052
- PTCB, Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
- PTCB, Credentials
Written with AI and checked against the sources above by a separate review step. No pharmacist reviews this content. How we make our content.
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