California Median
$55,110
per year
Hourly Rate
$26.50
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+20% vs US median
US median $45,750
State Rank
#2 of 51
39,860 employed here
How much does a Pharmacy Technician make in California?
A Pharmacy Technician working in California earns a median salary of $55,110 per year, or about $26.50 per hour. That is 20% above the national median of $45,750 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $42,850 while the top 10% make $81,190 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $46,430 and $65,590 a year.
Pharmacy Technician salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,850 | $20.60 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $46,430 | $22.32 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $55,110 | $26.50 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $65,590 | $31.53 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,190 | $39.03 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 2nd out of 51 states and territories for Pharmacy Technician pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Pharmacy Technician salary in other states
Washington $58,900Oregon $54,900Alaska $52,640Colorado $49,970Montana $49,400Minnesota $48,300Wyoming $48,260Utah $48,140Nevada $47,980Vermont $47,940Arizona $47,640North Dakota $47,560District of Columbia $47,410New Hampshire $47,360Connecticut $47,050Hawaii $46,760Illinois $46,650New Mexico $46,630Nebraska $46,610Massachusetts $46,470Delaware $46,430Idaho $46,420South Dakota $46,170Wisconsin $45,970Texas $45,900Maine $45,400Maryland $45,120Iowa $44,860Virginia $44,610Indiana $44,560North Carolina $44,530Louisiana $44,410Rhode Island $44,380Michigan $44,340New York $43,930Florida $43,590Kansas $43,310South Carolina $42,120Tennessee $41,920Georgia $41,910Ohio $40,650Oklahoma $40,500Missouri $40,100Pennsylvania $40,040New Jersey $39,610Kentucky $39,200Mississippi $39,040Alabama $39,030Arkansas $38,680West Virginia $38,210
Working as a Pharmacy Technician in California
Nationally, about 472,000 people work as Pharmacy Technicians in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($55,110) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Pharmacy Technician make in California?
The median Pharmacy Technician salary in California is $55,110 per year, or about $26.50 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $42,850 at the entry level to $81,190 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Pharmacy Technicians about 20% more than the national median of $45,750. California ranks 2nd out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Pharmacy Technicians?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $55,110 a year. About 39,860 Pharmacy Technicians are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Pharmacy Technician salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.