Pharmacy Technician salary in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
Pharmacy Technicians in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn a median of $50,100 a year ($24.09 an hour), based on BLS data for 260 workers.
Pay ranges from $43,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,420 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $45,750. Pay here is 9% lower than the California statewide median of $55,110. There are 2.6 pharmacy technicians per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $57,870, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for pharmacy technicians in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $43,700 | $21.01 |
| 25th percentile | $46,950 | $22.57 |
| Median | $50,100 | $24.09 |
| 75th percentile | $60,430 | $29.05 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $85,420 | $41.07 |
| Average (mean) | $57,870 | $27.82 |
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 | $4,175 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,087.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,926.92 |
| Weekly | $963.46 |
| Hourly | $24.09 |
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 |
| 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
| 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $81,000 | $38.94 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $62,810 | $30.20 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $60,510 | $29.09 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $129,920 | $62.46 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $60,580 | $29.12 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $83,100 | $39.95 |
| Surgical Technologist | $100,130 | $48.14 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $51,970 | $24.98 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $55,950 | $26.90 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $142,150 | $68.34 |
| Paramedic | $71,390 | $34.32 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $43,710 | $21.01 |
| Registered Nurse | $170,960 | $82.19 |
| Dental Hygienist | $130,600 | $62.79 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, 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 Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The median salary for pharmacy technicians in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $50,100 a year, or $24.09 an hour. Pay ranges from $43,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $85,420 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pharmacy technicians make in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
The top 10% of pharmacy technicians in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area earn at least $85,420 a year. The top 25% earn $60,430 or more.
What is the starting pay for pharmacy technicians in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $43,700 a year, and a quarter of pharmacy technicians earn $46,950 or less.
How many pharmacy technicians work in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA?
About 260 pharmacy technicians are employed in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.