PermanentPosted today
PHARMACY TECHNICIAN
CommonSpirit Health · Santa Maria, CA
$30.16–$37.70/ hour
New this week
Pharmacy Technician jobs in Santa Maria, CA
Pharmacy Technicians in the Santa Maria area earn a median of $23.62 per hour, about $49,130 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $21.39 and $30.72. That ranks 30th of 386 U.S. metro areas for pharmacy technician pay, and 113th of 341 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Santa Maria. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Santa Maria.
- $23.62median pay per hour, Santa Maria
- $21–$31typical range per hour
- 470pharmacy technicians employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay
Open Pharmacy Technician roles in Santa Maria
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Get my free pay reportPharmacy Technician pay in Santa Maria, CA
The metro median is 1% below the California statewide median of $23.86 per hour. Nationally the median is $20.90 per hour. BLS counts about 470 pharmacy technicians employed in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area, 2.3 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.74).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.47 | $38,420 | 12% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $21.39 | $44,490 | 2% above U.S. median |
| Median | $23.62 | $49,130 | 13% above U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $30.72 | $63,900 | 47% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $34.23 | $71,200 | 64% above U.S. median |
How Santa Maria ranks
- 30th of 386 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 113th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
- 9th 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 Santa Maria
- Overall prices in Santa Maria-Santa Barbara run 9% above the U.S. average (index 108.8, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 51% above the U.S. average (index 151.4).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $23.62 median hour buys what $21.71 buys at the national price level, 4% 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 Santa Maria paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$850
- Per year: $42,516
- Per month: $3,543
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Santa Maria
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $214 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $92 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $2,142 |
| 13-week assignment | $27,846 |
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. 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 Santa Maria
CMS lists 1 hospital in Santa Maria, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marian Regional Medical Center Santa Maria, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Barbara, CA | 55 mi | $23.62/hr | 87,291 |
| San Buenaventura, CA | 82 mi | $23.52/hr | 109,831 |
| Bakersfield, CA | 85 mi | $23.41/hr | 417,468 |
| Oxnard, CA | 87 mi | $23.52/hr | 200,616 |
| Delano, CA | 88 mi | $23.41/hr | 53,198 |
| Camarillo, CA | 94 mi | $23.52/hr | 69,881 |
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 Santa Maria
Santa Maria city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do pharmacy technicians make in Santa Maria, CA?
Pharmacy Technicians in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara metro area have a median pay of $23.62 per hour, about $49,130 a year. The middle half earn between $21.39 and $30.72 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Santa Maria a good place for pharmacy technicians once cost of living is counted?
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara ranks 113th of 341 metro areas for pharmacy technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 30th of 386 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% above the U.S. average.
Who is hiring pharmacy technicians in Santa Maria?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Santa Maria. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Santa Maria.
Do I need a California license to work in Santa Maria 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 Santa Maria?
The federal per diem benchmark in Santa Maria is $214 a night for lodging and $92 a day for meals and incidentals, about $2,142 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place pharmacy technicians in Santa Maria?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Santa Maria and across California. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Santa Maria.
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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 reportSanta Maria, CA · pay published by employers, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- CommonSpirit HealthSANTA MARIA, CA · 6 postings$35.76/ hr$26–$45
- Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare SystemSalinas, CA · 2 postings$37.80/ hr$35–$40
- 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.