Pharmacy Aide salary in California
Pharmacy Aides in California earn a median of $42,200 a year ($20.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,440 workers.
Pay ranges from $36,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,320 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $37,680. California ranks 6th of 48 states for pharmacy aides pay. There are 0.46 pharmacy aides per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $48,200, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for pharmacy aides in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,240 | $17.42 |
| 25th percentile | $37,390 | $17.97 |
| Median | $42,200 | $20.29 |
| 75th percentile | $57,820 | $27.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,320 | $34.29 |
| Average (mean) | $48,200 | $23.17 |
Half of pharmacy aides earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,516.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,758.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,623.08 |
| Weekly | $811.54 |
| Hourly | $20.29 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Pharmacy Aide salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | $69,870 | 80 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $55,710 | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $47,450 | 380 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $46,830 | 690 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $44,810 | 440 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $44,120 | 140 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $43,260 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $42,590 | 430 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $41,910 | 100 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $41,600 | 590 |
| Chico, CA | $39,980 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $39,770 | 4,010 |
| Redding, CA | $39,690 | 50 |
| Yuba City, CA | $38,160 | 50 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,050 | 110 |
| Merced, CA | $37,900 | 50 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $37,840 | 140 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,400 | 60 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $37,350 | 230 |
| Modesto, CA | $36,730 | 140 |
| Fresno, CA | $36,270 | 200 |
Highest-paying states for pharmacy aides
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $59,960 |
| Utah | $51,600 |
| Hawaii | $46,250 |
| Washington | $45,110 |
| Arizona | $43,360 |
| California | $42,200 |
| Oregon | $40,250 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,470 |
| Nevada | $39,080 |
| Texas | $38,630 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant | $49,660 | $23.88 |
| Dental Assistant | $50,110 | $24.09 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $49,130 | $23.62 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $46,260 | $22.24 |
| Massage Therapist | $45,970 | $22.10 |
| Phlebotomist | $56,040 | $26.94 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $61,370 | $29.50 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $45,050 | $21.66 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $34,320 | $16.50 |
| Nursing Assistant | $47,630 | $22.90 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $83,110 | $39.96 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $38,330 | $18.43 |
| Orderly | $49,920 | $24.00 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $81,770 | $39.31 |
More: Healthcare Support Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-9095. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacy aide make in California?
The median salary for pharmacy aides in California is $42,200 a year, or $20.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $36,240 for the lowest-paid 10% to $71,320 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pharmacy aides make in California?
The top 10% of pharmacy aides in California earn at least $71,320 a year. The top 25% earn $57,820 or more.
What is the starting pay for pharmacy aides in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $36,240 a year, and a quarter of pharmacy aides earn $37,390 or less.
How many pharmacy aides work in California?
About 8,440 pharmacy aides are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.