Best paying cities for pharmacy technicians, after cost of living
After cost of living, pharmacy technician pay goes furthest in San Jose (worth $68,379) and least far in Miami (worth $39,615).
| # | Metro area | Median pay | Prices (US = 100) | Worth | vs. US median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $75,490 | 110.4 | $68,379 | +49% |
| 2 | Portland, OR | $58,590 | 105.4 | $55,588 | +22% |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $61,320 | 111.1 | $55,194 | +21% |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $58,470 | 106.7 | $54,799 | +20% |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $60,550 | 115.6 | $52,379 | +14% |
| 6 | San Antonio, TX | $47,050 | 94.7 | $49,683 | +9% |
| 7 | San Diego, CA | $54,500 | 111.9 | $48,704 | +6% |
| 8 | Denver, CO | $50,970 | 105.8 | $48,176 | +5% |
| 9 | Austin, TX | $47,010 | 98.1 | $47,920 | +5% |
| 10 | Nashville, TN | $45,950 | 96.3 | $47,715 | +4% |
| 11 | St. Louis, MO | $45,220 | 95.1 | $47,550 | +4% |
| 12 | Charlotte, NC | $46,220 | 97.3 | $47,503 | +4% |
| 13 | Las Vegas, NV | $47,590 | 100.2 | $47,495 | +4% |
| 14 | Houston, TX | $46,400 | 98.6 | $47,059 | +3% |
| 15 | Minneapolis, MN | $48,520 | 104.8 | $46,298 | +1% |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $47,760 | 103.3 | $46,234 | +1% |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $46,820 | 103.6 | $45,193 | −1% |
| 18 | Atlanta, GA | $45,020 | 100.1 | $44,975 | −2% |
| 19 | Dallas, TX | $46,260 | 103.1 | $44,869 | −2% |
| 20 | Los Angeles, CA | $50,760 | 113.6 | $44,683 | −2% |
| 21 | Pittsburgh, PA | $41,780 | 94.7 | $44,118 | −4% |
| 22 | Philadelphia, PA | $44,880 | 102.6 | $43,743 | −4% |
| 23 | Boston, MA | $46,890 | 108.3 | $43,296 | −5% |
| 24 | Baltimore, MD | $45,230 | 104.5 | $43,282 | −5% |
| 25 | Detroit, MI | $43,330 | 100.3 | $43,200 | −6% |
| 26 | Tampa, FL | $43,370 | 100.9 | $42,983 | −6% |
| 27 | Washington, DC | $46,660 | 108.9 | $42,847 | −6% |
| 28 | Orlando, FL | $43,080 | 101.4 | $42,485 | −7% |
| 29 | New York, NY | $44,640 | 112.6 | $39,645 | −13% |
| 30 | Miami, FL | $45,240 | 114.2 | $39,615 | −13% |
U.S. median for pharmacy technicians: $45,750. "Worth" is the median adjusted for local prices: what that pay buys at average U.S. prices, using U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024.
Use this data
Free to share and cite. Please link to this page as the source:
Rankings for all 30 jobs → · Pharmacy Technician pay details →
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 (Pharmacy Technicians, SOC 29-2052); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metro area, 2024. Median pay for wage and salary workers, excluding bonuses, benefits and overtime. Metro areas, not city limits.