MO · Columbia · Updated October 15, 2026

Pharmacy Technician jobs in Columbia, MO

The median pharmacy technician pay in the Columbia area is $18.34 per hour ($38,140 a year), with the typical range running from $16.24 to $21.64. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Columbia. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Columbia. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Columbia.

Open Pharmacy Technician roles in Columbia

More open Pharmacy Technician roles in Columbia

2 more open roles from employers in Columbia. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

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Pharmacy Technician pay in Columbia, MO

The metro median is in line with the Missouri statewide median of $18.27 per hour. Nationally the median is $20.90 per hour. BLS counts about 470 pharmacy technicians employed in the Columbia metro area, 4.4 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.39).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$14.76$30,70029% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$16.24$33,78022% below U.S. median
Median$18.34$38,14012% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$21.64$45,0104% above U.S. median
Top 10%$25.43$52,89022% above U.S. median

How Columbia ranks

  • 275th of 386 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 203rd of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 5th of 8 Missouri 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 Columbia

  • Overall prices in Columbia run 11% below the U.S. average (index 89.4, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 31% below the U.S. average (index 69.2).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $18.34 median hour buys what $20.51 buys at the national price level, 2% below 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 Columbia paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$660
  • Per year: $33,012
  • Per month: $2,751

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Columbia metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Columbia

ItemFederal 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 Columbia

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Columbia, 2 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of pharmacy technicians.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Boone Hospital Center
Columbia, MO
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Columbia Mo Va Medical Center
Columbia, MO
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
University Of Missouri Health Care
Columbia, MO
Acute careGovernment and federal3 of 5Yes
Centerpointe Hospital Of Columbia
Columbia, MO
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Pharmacy Technician pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
O'Fallon, MO87 mi$19.25/hr95,355
St. Peters, MO93 mi$19.25/hr61,398
St. Charles, MO98 mi$19.25/hr72,458
Blue Springs, MO104 mi$20.28/hr61,246
Florissant, MO108 mi$19.25/hr51,290
Independence, MO109 mi$20.28/hr121,629

Pharmacy Technician jobs in Missouri · Pharmacy Technician jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Missouri

State registration or license, as the state requires. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Missouri requires for your role with the Missouri licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Missouri taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Missouri state guide

Other healthcare roles in Columbia

Columbia city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do pharmacy technicians make in Columbia, MO?

Pharmacy Technicians in the Columbia metro area have a median pay of $18.34 per hour, about $38,140 a year. The middle half earn between $16.24 and $21.64 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Columbia a good place for pharmacy technicians once cost of living is counted?

Columbia ranks 203rd of 341 metro areas for pharmacy technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 275th of 386 before adjusting. Overall prices run 11% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring pharmacy technicians in Columbia?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in Columbia. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Columbia.

Do I need a Missouri license to work in Columbia as a pharmacy technician?

State registration or license, as the state requires. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Missouri requires for your role with the Missouri 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 Columbia?

The federal per diem benchmark in Columbia 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 Columbia?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Columbia and across Missouri. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Columbia.

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Pay report · Pharm Tech near Columbia, MO
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Pharm Tech pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Missouri 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 Missouri 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

  1. Community Pharmacy Technician - Clinic Based - SmileyPermanent
    $16.68–$26.31/ hour
    University of Missouri Health Care · Columbia, MO · posted today

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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