Pharmacy Technician salary in California
Pharmacy Technicians in California earn a median of $55,110 a year ($26.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 39,860 workers.
Pay ranges from $42,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,190 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $45,750. California ranks 2nd of 51 states for pharmacy technicians pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 2.2 pharmacy technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.72). The average (mean) salary is $58,330, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for pharmacy technicians in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $42,850 | $20.60 |
| 25th percentile | $46,430 | $22.32 |
| Median | $55,110 | $26.50 |
| 75th percentile | $65,590 | $31.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $81,190 | $39.03 |
| Average (mean) | $58,330 | $28.04 |
Half of pharmacy technicians 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 | $4,592.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,296.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,119.62 |
| Weekly | $1,059.81 |
| Hourly | $26.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Pharmacy Technician salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $77,360 | 200 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $75,490 | 1,780 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $61,800 | 370 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $60,550 | 4,040 |
| Vallejo, CA | $58,670 | 440 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $58,470 | 2,820 |
| Salinas, CA | $57,180 | 360 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $56,580 | 420 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $56,530 | 320 |
| Chico, CA | $56,320 | 220 |
| Yuba City, CA | $56,160 | 190 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $54,500 | 3,600 |
| Redding, CA | $52,860 | 220 |
| Fresno, CA | $52,210 | 1,320 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $52,160 | 680 |
| El Centro, CA | $51,130 | 160 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $50,760 | 13,130 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $50,720 | 720 |
| Modesto, CA | $50,540 | 480 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $50,270 | 4,630 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $50,100 | 260 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $50,060 | 200 |
| Visalia, CA | $48,870 | 420 |
| Merced, CA | $48,680 | 170 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $48,110 | 870 |
Highest-paying states for pharmacy technicians
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $79,750 | $38.34 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $76,010 | $36.54 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $60,390 | $29.03 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $46,380 | $22.30 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $121,260 | $58.30 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $61,810 | $29.71 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $49,140 | $23.62 |
| Surgical Technologist | $81,310 | $39.09 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $60,630 | $29.15 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $128,530 | $61.79 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $57,990 | $27.88 |
| Dietetic Technician | $46,410 | $22.31 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $78,170 | $37.58 |
| Paramedic | $74,590 | $35.86 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2052. 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 technician make in California?
The median salary for pharmacy technicians in California is $55,110 a year, or $26.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $42,850 for the lowest-paid 10% to $81,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pharmacy technicians make in California?
The top 10% of pharmacy technicians in California earn at least $81,190 a year. The top 25% earn $65,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for pharmacy technicians in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $42,850 a year, and a quarter of pharmacy technicians earn $46,430 or less.
How many pharmacy technicians work in California?
About 39,860 pharmacy technicians are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.