Per diemPosted 9 days ago
Pharmacy Technician
CommonSpirit Health · Merced, CA
$25.55–$38.00/ hour
Pharmacy Technician jobs in Merced, CA
Pay for pharmacy technicians in the Merced area centers on $21.98 per hour, or about $45,720 a year. The lower quarter earns under $18.11 and the upper quarter over $24.25. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Merced. That ranks 83rd of 386 U.S. metro areas for pharmacy technician pay, and 81st of 341 once local prices are factored in. The free report below lists employers near Merced and what they pay.
- $21.98median pay per hour, Merced
- $18–$24typical range per hour
- 210pharmacy technicians employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay
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Get my free pay reportPharmacy Technician pay in Merced, CA
The metro median is 8% below the California statewide median of $23.86 per hour. Nationally the median is $20.90 per hour. BLS counts about 210 pharmacy technicians employed in the Merced metro area, 2.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.82).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $17.53 | $36,460 | 16% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $18.11 | $37,670 | 13% below U.S. median |
| Median | $21.98 | $45,720 | 5% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $24.25 | $50,440 | 16% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $29.72 | $61,820 | 42% above U.S. median |
How Merced ranks
- 83rd of 386 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 81st of 341 after adjusting for local prices
- 24th of 24 California metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Pharmacy Technicians (SOC 29-2052), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.
What your pay buys in Merced
- Overall prices in Merced run 2% below the U.S. average (index 98.3, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 21% below the U.S. average (index 78.6).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $21.98 median hour buys what $22.37 buys at the national price level, 7% above the national median.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.
Estimate your Merced paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$791
- Per year: $39,564
- Per month: $3,297
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Merced metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Merced
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $110 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $68 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,246 |
| 13-week assignment | $16,198 |
Travel pharmacy technician assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.
Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).
Hospitals in Merced
CMS lists 1 hospital in Merced, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of pharmacy technicians.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy Medical Center Merced, CA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Pharmacy Technician pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turlock, CA | 25 mi | $22.81/hr | 72,888 |
| Madera, CA | 32 mi | $23.20/hr | 69,094 |
| Modesto, CA | 37 mi | $22.81/hr | 220,592 |
| Fresno, CA | 52 mi | $23.20/hr | 550,105 |
| Manteca, CA | 53 mi | $22.95/hr | 94,292 |
| Clovis, CA | 55 mi | $23.20/hr | 127,993 |
Pharmacy Technician jobs in California · Pharmacy Technician jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in California
State registration or license, as the state requires. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
California taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Merced
Merced city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do pharmacy technicians make in Merced, CA?
Pharmacy Technicians in the Merced metro area have a median pay of $21.98 per hour, about $45,720 a year. The middle half earn between $18.11 and $24.25 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Merced a good place for pharmacy technicians once cost of living is counted?
Merced ranks 81st of 341 metro areas for pharmacy technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 83rd of 386 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring pharmacy technicians in Merced?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Merced. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Merced.
Do I need a California license to work in Merced as a pharmacy technician?
State registration or license, as the state requires. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what California requires for your role with the California licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.
What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Merced?
The federal per diem benchmark in Merced is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place pharmacy technicians in Merced?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Merced and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Merced.
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What do employers near Merced pay pharmacy technicians? Get the report.
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- 1Pay for your role at other employers
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
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The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Pharm Tech pay reportMerced, CA · pay published by employers, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare SystemSalinas, CA · 2 postings$37.80/ hr$35–$40
- CommonSpirit HealthSANTA MARIA, CA · 6 postings$35.76/ hr$26–$45
- Sharp HealthCareSan Diego, CA · 10 postings$33.39/ hr$25–$40
- Sharp HealthcareSan Diego, CA · 5 postings$33.39/ hr$25–$39
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published.
2What they are offering now
Low$24Median$32.09High$39
49 Pharm Tech postings with published pay in California, 46 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 49 Pharm Tech roles
- PHARMACY TECHNICIANPermanent$30.16–$37.70/ hour
- Pharmacy TechnicianPermanent$52k–$67k/ year
+ 47 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.