PermanentPosted today
Pharmacy Technician - Clinical
Veterans Health Administration · Des Moines, IA
$61k–$80k/ year
Top 25% payNew this week
Pharmacy Technician jobs in Des Moines, IA
The median pharmacy technician pay in the Des Moines area is $20.97 per hour ($43,610 a year), with the typical range running from $18.37 to $23.04. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Des Moines. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Des Moines. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Des Moines.
- $20.97median pay per hour, Des Moines
- $18–$23typical range per hour
- 1,030pharmacy technicians employed in the metro area
- 1open roles with published pay
Open Pharmacy Technician roles in Des Moines
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Get my free pay reportPharmacy Technician pay in Des Moines, IA
The metro median is 5% above the Iowa statewide median of $19.90 per hour. Nationally the median is $20.90 per hour. BLS counts about 1,030 pharmacy technicians employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area, 2.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.80).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $17.79 | $37,000 | 15% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $18.37 | $38,210 | 12% below U.S. median |
| Median | $20.97 | $43,610 | in line with U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $23.04 | $47,920 | 10% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $27.38 | $56,950 | 31% above U.S. median |
How Des Moines ranks
- 122nd of 386 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 55th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
- 1st of 8 Iowa 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 Des Moines
- Overall prices in Des Moines-West Des Moines run 8% below the U.S. average (index 91.7, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 15% below the U.S. average (index 84.7).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $20.97 median hour buys what $22.87 buys at the national price level, 9% 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 Des Moines paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$755
- Per year: $37,746
- Per month: $3,146
Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.
Travel assignment per diem in Des Moines
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $121 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $80 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,407 |
| 13-week assignment | $18,291 |
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 Des Moines
CMS lists 4 hospitals in Des Moines, 1 of the 4 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of pharmacy technicians.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Va Central Iowa Healthcare System Des Moines, IA | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Broadlawns Medical Center Des Moines, IA | Acute care | Government and federal | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Unitypoint Health - Des Moines Iowa Methodist Medi Des Moines, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Mercyone Des Moines Medical Center Des Moines, IA | Acute care | Nonprofit | 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Des Moines, IA | 9 mi | $20.97/hr | 73,664 |
| Ankeny, IA | 11 mi | $20.97/hr | 76,727 |
| Ames, IA | 31 mi | $19.25/hr | 69,026 |
| Waterloo, IA | 91 mi | $18.93/hr | 67,477 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 103 mi | $19.70/hr | 137,904 |
| Iowa City, IA | 108 mi | $19.69/hr | 76,710 |
Pharmacy Technician jobs in Iowa · Pharmacy Technician jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Iowa
State registration or license, as the state requires. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
Iowa taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Des Moines
Des Moines city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do pharmacy technicians make in Des Moines, IA?
Pharmacy Technicians in the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro area have a median pay of $20.97 per hour, about $43,610 a year. The middle half earn between $18.37 and $23.04 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Des Moines a good place for pharmacy technicians once cost of living is counted?
Des Moines-West Des Moines ranks 55th of 341 metro areas for pharmacy technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 122nd of 386 before adjusting. Overall prices run 8% below the U.S. average.
Who is hiring pharmacy technicians in Des Moines?
We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Des Moines. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Des Moines.
Do I need a Iowa license to work in Des Moines as a pharmacy technician?
State registration or license, as the state requires. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Iowa requires for your role with the Iowa 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 Des Moines?
The federal per diem benchmark in Des Moines is $121 a night for lodging and $80 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,407 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.
Does Valorem Health place pharmacy technicians in Des Moines?
Yes. We place healthcare staff in Des Moines and across Iowa. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Des Moines.
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What do employers near Des Moines pay pharmacy technicians? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other employers
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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20+ Pharmacy Technician roles in Iowa, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Pharm Tech pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Iowa list by name comes with the full report
1Pay for your role at other employers
- CommonSpirit HealthSeattle, WA · 7 postings$37.85/ hr$26–$49
- MultiCareAuburn, WA · 20 postings$36.66/ hr$25–$52
- CommonSpirit HealthSANTA MARIA, CA · 6 postings$35.76/ hr$26–$45
- Sharp HealthCareSan Diego, CA · 10 postings$33.39/ hr$25–$40
Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Iowa list
2What they are offering now
Low$19Median$26.35High$36
310 Pharm Tech postings with published pay in the US, 262 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 1 Pharm Tech roles
- Pharmacy Technician - ClinicalPermanent$61k–$80k/ year
Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.