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Pharmacy technician salary in California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$55,110median pay per year in California, or $26.50 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $42,850lowest 10% earn less
  2. $46,43025th percentile
  3. $55,110median
  4. $65,59075th percentile
  5. $81,190top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $45,750[3]

Pharmacy technicians in California had a median pay of $55,110 a year in May 2025[1]. That was $9,360 above the US median[6].

Jobs in CA
39,860[4]
Rank by median pay
2 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
+20.5%[6]

How much do pharmacy technicians make in California?

The median wage for pharmacy technicians in California was $55,110 a year, or $26.50 an hour[1]. Half of these workers earned more than that and half earned less. The average was a bit higher, at $58,330 a year[7]. Across the US, the median was $45,750[3]. California's median was 20.5% higher than that[6]. It was $3,130 lower than the median for all jobs in the state, which was $58,240[8][9].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $42,850 a year[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $81,190[2]. In hourly terms, that range runs from $20.60 to $39.03[10].

Pay differs across the state. Among the 25 metro areas with a published median, Napa had the highest, at $77,360[11]. Among the metros with the most pharmacy technician jobs, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara was at $75,490[12]. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim was at $50,760[12]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers only. It leaves out the self-employed, and it does not include bonuses or the cost of benefits like health insurance[13].

California vs US pay

Pay for pharmacy technicians in California next to the national figures[1][3].

CAUS
Median per year$55,110[1]$45,750[3]
Median per hour$26.50[1]$22.00[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$42,850[2]$36,020[14]
Top 10% earn more than$81,190[2]$61,040[14]
Jobs39,860[4]471,680[3]

Pay by metro area in California

Metro areas in California with the most jobs for pharmacy technicians, and the median pay in each[12].

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA[12]$50,76013,130
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$50,2704,630
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$60,5504,040
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$54,5003,600
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$58,4702,820
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$75,4901,780
Fresno, CA$52,2101,320
Bakersfield-Delano, CA$48,110870

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for pharmacy technicians in the states that border California, highest first[15].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Oregon[15]$54,9004,320
Nevada$47,9804,070
Arizona$47,64012,970

Median pay for pharmacy technicians in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for pharmacy technicians are projected to grow 6.4% from 2025 to 2035[16]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: high school diploma or equivalent[17].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a pharmacy technician make in California?
The median pay was $55,110 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $58,330 a year[7].
How much does a pharmacy technician make an hour in California?
The median was $26.50 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile was $20.60 an hour and the 90th percentile was $39.03[10].
Which city in California pays pharmacy technicians the most?
Napa had the highest median among the 25 California metro areas with a published figure, at $77,360 a year[11].
Is California a good state for pharmacy technicians?
California had the 2nd highest median annual wage for pharmacy technicians among the 50 states and DC with a published median[5]. Its median was $9,360 above the US median[6].
What do you need to become a pharmacy technician in California?
This is a US figure, not a California one. Across the US, the typical entry education is a high school diploma or equivalent, with no related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training[17].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Pharmacy Technicians in California was $55,110 per year and $26.50 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Pharmacy Technicians in California: 10th percentile $42,850, 25th percentile $46,430, 75th percentile $65,590, 90th percentile $81,190. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Pharmacy Technicians in the US as a whole was $45,750 per year and $22.00 per hour, with about 471,680 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 39,860 people worked as Pharmacy Technicians in California (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: California had the 2nd highest median annual wage for Pharmacy Technicians out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Pharmacy Technicians in California ($55,110) was $9,360 (20.5%) higher than the US median ($45,750). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Pharmacy Technicians in California was $58,330 per year and $28.04 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Pharmacy Technicians in California was $3,130 lower than the median for all occupations in the state ($58,240). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in California was $58,240. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Pharmacy Technicians in California: 10th percentile $20.60, 25th percentile $22.32, 75th percentile $31.53, 90th percentile $39.03. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 25 metro areas in or partly in California with a published median for Pharmacy Technicians, Napa, CA had the highest median annual wage, $77,360. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Pharmacy Technicians in the US: 10th percentile $36,020, 25th percentile $37,850, 75th percentile $49,990, 90th percentile $61,040. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Pharmacy Technicians in states that border California (highest first): Oregon $54,900; Nevada $47,980; Arizona $47,640. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Pharmacy Technicians is projected to grow 6.4% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 44,700 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  17. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Pharmacy Technicians: education needed for entry: High school diploma or equivalent; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections

State figures cover only California. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.