Pharmacy Tech Salary: Pay and Take-Home by State
The typical (median) pharmacy tech in the US earns $22 an hour, or $45,750 a year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates for 471,680 jobs (May 2025, occupation: pharmacy technicians). The middle half earn between $37,850 and $49,990 a year, and the top 10% earn more than $61,040.
After federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, the median salary leaves a single filer about $38,940 a year ($3,245 a month) in a state with no income tax. Using each state's own median pay for this job, take-home is highest in Washington ($48,697 a year) and lowest in West Virginia ($31,895).
Pharmacy Tech pay range
| Pay level | Hourly | Yearly | Take-home a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $17.32 | $36,020 | $31,122 |
| 25th percentile | $18.20 | $37,850 | $32,592 |
| Median (half earn more) | $22.00 | $45,750 | $38,940 |
| 75th percentile | $24.04 | $49,990 | $42,347 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $29.35 | $61,040 | $51,225 |
The average (mean) is $46,620 a year ($22.41 an hour), above the median because a minority of high earners pull it up. *Take-home after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer in a state with no income tax (2026). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, occupation 29-2052. Source
Pharmacy Tech salary by state
The highest median pay for pharmacy techs is in Washington ($58,910), California ($55,120), Oregon ($54,890), Alaska ($52,640), Colorado ($49,960). The lowest is in West Virginia ($38,210), Arkansas ($38,690), Mississippi ($39,040).
The most pharmacy techs work in Texas (41,740), California (39,860), Florida (38,460).
After each state's taxes, the most take-home at the local median is in Washington ($48,697), California ($44,271), Alaska ($44,213), Oregon ($42,320), Wyoming ($40,957). A state with no income tax can come out ahead of a state that pays more before tax.
Median pay in each state for this job (BLS, May 2025), and take-home at that pay. Take-home is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the state's income tax and payroll programs, for a single filer with a 2026 W-4 and no deductions. Local taxes are not included. *District of Columbia: federal taxes only (DC income tax is not modeled yet).
| State | Median hourly | Median yearly | Take-home a year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $18.77 | $39,040 | $31,962 | 8,510 |
| Alaska | $25.31 | $52,640 | $44,213 | 800 |
| Arizona | $22.90 | $47,630 | $39,498 | 12,970 |
| Arkansas | $18.60 | $38,690 | $32,322 | 4,560 |
| California | $26.50 | $55,120 | $44,271 | 39,860 |
| Colorado | $24.02 | $49,960 | $40,147 | 6,010 |
| Connecticut | $22.62 | $47,050 | $38,069 | 5,200 |
| Delaware | $22.32 | $46,430 | $37,401 | 1,480 |
| District of Columbia | $22.79 | $47,400 | $40,266* | 1,130 |
| Florida | $20.96 | $43,600 | $37,212 | 38,460 |
| Georgia | $20.15 | $41,910 | $34,512 | 14,680 |
| Hawaii | $22.48 | $46,760 | $37,464 | 1,540 |
| Idaho | $22.32 | $46,430 | $37,874 | 2,950 |
| Illinois | $22.43 | $46,650 | $37,499 | 21,340 |
| Indiana | $21.42 | $44,550 | $35,811 | 10,790 |
| Iowa | $21.57 | $44,870 | $37,062 | 4,630 |
| Kansas | $20.82 | $43,310 | $35,362 | 4,270 |
| Kentucky | $18.84 | $39,190 | $32,415 | 8,870 |
| Louisiana | $21.35 | $44,410 | $36,889 | 6,700 |
| Maine | $21.83 | $45,410 | $36,854 | 2,070 |
| Maryland | $21.69 | $45,120 | $35,372 | 7,990 |
| Massachusetts | $22.34 | $46,470 | $37,379 | 10,150 |
| Michigan | $21.32 | $44,350 | $36,181 | 14,240 |
| Minnesota | $23.22 | $48,300 | $38,295 | 7,340 |
| Mississippi | $18.77 | $39,040 | $32,717 | 4,040 |
| Missouri | $19.28 | $40,100 | $33,465 | 12,610 |
| Montana | $23.75 | $49,400 | $40,313 | 1,340 |
| Nebraska | $22.41 | $46,610 | $38,107 | 2,660 |
| Nevada | $23.07 | $47,990 | $40,740 | 4,070 |
| New Hampshire | $22.77 | $47,360 | $40,234 | 1,970 |
| New Jersey | $19.04 | $39,600 | $32,887 | 14,020 |
| New Mexico | $22.42 | $46,630 | $38,243 | 2,550 |
| New York | $21.12 | $43,930 | $35,449 | 24,400 |
| North Carolina | $21.41 | $44,530 | $36,660 | 17,260 |
| North Dakota | $22.86 | $47,550 | $40,386 | 890 |
| Ohio | $19.55 | $40,660 | $34,016 | 17,820 |
| Oklahoma | $19.47 | $40,500 | $33,447 | 5,500 |
| Oregon | $26.39 | $54,890 | $42,320 | 4,320 |
| Pennsylvania | $19.25 | $40,040 | $33,095 | 18,880 |
| Rhode Island | $21.34 | $44,390 | $35,732 | 1,540 |
| South Carolina | $20.25 | $42,120 | $34,705 | 8,070 |
| South Dakota | $22.20 | $46,180 | $39,286 | 1,230 |
| Tennessee | $20.15 | $41,910 | $35,855 | 11,870 |
| Texas | $22.07 | $45,910 | $39,069 | 41,740 |
| Utah | $23.14 | $48,130 | $38,720 | 5,030 |
| Vermont | $23.05 | $47,940 | $39,353 | 760 |
| Virginia | $21.45 | $44,620 | $36,281 | 10,720 |
| Washington | $28.32 | $58,910 | $48,697 | 8,150 |
| West Virginia | $18.37 | $38,210 | $31,895 | 3,560 |
| Wisconsin | $22.10 | $45,970 | $37,185 | 9,540 |
| Wyoming | $23.20 | $48,260 | $40,957 | 600 |
Overtime and pay rules for pharmacy techs
Pharmacy techs who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not. Source Estimate your deduction.
How the exemptions work across jobs: who gets overtime pay.
Taxes on a pharmacy tech's pay
On the median $45,750, federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare take about 14.9% of pay for a single filer: $3,310 of income tax and $3,500 of Social Security and Medicare a year.
Tax bracket. After the $16,100 standard deduction, taxable income is $29,650, so the top federal rate is 12%. Each extra dollar from a raise or extra shifts is taxed at about 19.65% before state tax: 12% income tax plus 7.65% Social Security and Medicare. Source
401(k). Putting 5% ($2,288 a year) into a traditional 401(k) lowers federal income tax by about $275, so it costs about $2,013 of take-home pay.
Self-employed or contract work
BLS pay figures cover employees only; self-employed pharmacy techs are not counted. If you work as a contractor (1099), you pay both halves of Social Security and Medicare (15.3% self-employment tax) and usually make quarterly estimated payments. Use the 1099 Tax Calculator to see what to set aside, and see 1099 vs W-2 take-home pay for how much more a contractor needs to earn.
Jobs with similar pay
| Job | Median yearly | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Construction Laborer | $47,120 | $22.66 |
| Medical Assistant | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| Phlebotomist | $45,230 | $21.75 |
| Customer Service Representative | $44,770 | $21.53 |
| EMT | $44,470 | $21.38 |
For a full breakdown of a similar wage, see $22 an hour is how much a year.
Pharmacy Tech salary questions
How much does a pharmacy tech make?
The median pay is $22 an hour, or $45,750 a year (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics). The bottom 10% earn less than $36,020 and the top 10% more than $61,040.
How much does a pharmacy tech make after taxes?
About $38,940 a year, or $1,498 every two weeks, on the median salary for a single filer in a state with no income tax. In West Virginia, at that state's own median pay, it is about $31,895.
How much does a pharmacy tech make a month?
About $3,812 a month before taxes at the median salary, and roughly $3,245 after federal taxes in a state with no income tax.
Which state pays pharmacy techs the most?
Washington, with a median of $58,910 a year ($28.32 an hour). Next are California ($55,120) and Oregon ($54,890). After state taxes, take-home at the local median is highest in Washington.
How much does a pharmacy tech make an hour?
The median is $22 an hour. The middle half earn $18.20 to $24.04, and the top 10% more than $29.35.
Do pharmacy techs get paid overtime?
Pharmacy techs who are paid by the hour are owed overtime at 1.5 times their regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek under federal law, and some states also require daily overtime. The new no-tax-on-overtime deduction covers the extra half of time-and-a-half pay, up to $12,500 a year for a single filer. Only overtime that the federal Fair Labor Standards Act requires counts; overtime paid only under a contract, a state law or an employer policy does not.
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All jobs · Hourly to salary chart. BLS data published 2026, reference period May 2025; tax figures checked Oct 26, 2026.