Pharmacy Technician salary in Merced, CA
Pharmacy Technicians in the Merced, CA metro area earn a median of $48,680 a year ($23.40 an hour), based on BLS data for 170 workers.
Pay ranges from $39,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,130 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $45,750. Pay here is 12% lower than the California statewide median of $55,110. 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 $51,600, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for pharmacy technicians in Merced, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,020 | $18.76 |
| 25th percentile | $45,520 | $21.89 |
| Median | $48,680 | $23.40 |
| 75th percentile | $59,370 | $28.54 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,130 | $30.83 |
| Average (mean) | $51,600 | $24.81 |
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 | $4,056.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,028.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,872.31 |
| Weekly | $936.15 |
| Hourly | $23.40 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Pharmacy Technician salary in other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $48,110 | 870 |
Highest-paying states for pharmacy technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $58,900 |
| California | $55,110 |
| Oregon | $54,900 |
| Alaska | $52,640 |
| Colorado | $49,970 |
| Montana | $49,400 |
| Minnesota | $48,300 |
| Wyoming | $48,260 |
| Utah | $48,140 |
| Nevada | $47,980 |
See Pharmacy Technician pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Merced, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $75,890 | $36.49 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $52,570 | $25.27 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $101,400 | $48.75 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $58,060 | $27.91 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $50,420 | $24.24 |
| Paramedic | $64,100 | $30.82 |
| Registered Nurse | $131,620 | $63.28 |
| Pharmacist | $154,870 | $74.46 |
| Dental Hygienist | $117,400 | $56.44 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $158,750 | $76.32 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $114,220 | $54.91 |
| Physicians, All Other | $273,110 | $131.30 |
| Physical Therapist | $126,000 | $60.58 |
| Physician Assistant | $164,080 | $78.88 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Merced, CA
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 Merced, CA?
The median salary for pharmacy technicians in the Merced, CA metro area is $48,680 a year, or $23.40 an hour. Pay ranges from $39,020 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,130 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pharmacy technicians make in Merced, CA?
The top 10% of pharmacy technicians in the Merced, CA metro area earn at least $64,130 a year. The top 25% earn $59,370 or more.
What is the starting pay for pharmacy technicians in Merced, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $39,020 a year, and a quarter of pharmacy technicians earn $45,520 or less.
How many pharmacy technicians work in Merced, CA?
About 170 pharmacy technicians are employed in the Merced, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.