NC · Durham · Updated October 15, 2026

Pharmacy Technician jobs in Durham, NC

Pharmacy Technicians in the Durham area earn a median of $21.95 per hour, about $45,650 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $18.98 and $24.76. That ranks 85th of 386 U.S. metro areas for pharmacy technician pay, and 79th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Durham. The free report below lists employers near Durham and what they pay.

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More open Pharmacy Technician roles in Durham

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

PermanentPosted yesterday

Pharmacy Technician

CVS Health · Durham, NC

Pay range with your report
  • Part time
  • Req R1074546
New this week
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Pharmacy Technician pay in Durham, NC

The metro median is 15% above the North Carolina statewide median of $19.17 per hour. Nationally the median is $20.90 per hour. BLS counts about 1,300 pharmacy technicians employed in the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area, 3.8 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.20).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$18.41$38,29012% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$18.98$39,4809% below U.S. median
Median$21.95$45,6505% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$24.76$51,50018% above U.S. median
Top 10%$27.41$57,01031% above U.S. median

How Durham ranks

  • 85th of 386 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 79th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
  • 1st of 13 North Carolina 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.

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Named employers near Durham, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Durham

  • Overall prices in Durham-Chapel Hill run 2% below the U.S. average (index 97.6, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 1% below the U.S. average (index 98.9).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $21.95 median hour buys what $22.50 buys at the national price level, 8% 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 Durham paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$790
  • Per year: $39,510
  • Per month: $3,292

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

Travel assignment per diem in Durham

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$121
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,365
13-week assignment$17,745

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).

Open Pharmacy Technician roles in North Carolina

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Durham as they open.

All Pharmacy Technician jobs in North Carolina

Hospitals in Durham

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

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Duke Regional Hospital
Durham, NC		Acute careGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Duke University Hospital
Durham, NC		Acute careFor-profit5 of 5Yes
Durham Va Medical Center
Durham, NC		Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
North Carolina Specialty Hospital
Durham, NC		Acute careFor-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
Chapel Hill, NC9 mi$21.95/hr64,028
Cary, NC14 mi$19.74/hr182,659
Apex, NC17 mi$19.74/hr75,977
Raleigh, NC18 mi$19.74/hr499,825
Wake Forest, NC22 mi$19.74/hr56,764
Burlington, NC33 mi$17.62/hr61,365

Pharmacy Technician jobs in North Carolina · Pharmacy Technician jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in North Carolina

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

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

North Carolina state guide

Other healthcare roles in Durham

Durham city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do pharmacy technicians make in Durham, NC?

Pharmacy Technicians in the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area have a median pay of $21.95 per hour, about $45,650 a year. The middle half earn between $18.98 and $24.76 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Durham-Chapel Hill ranks 79th of 341 metro areas for pharmacy technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 85th of 386 before adjusting. Overall prices run 2% below the U.S. average.

Where do pharmacy technicians work in Durham?

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Durham, led by Duke Regional Hospital. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a North Carolina license to work in Durham as a pharmacy technician?

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

The federal per diem benchmark in Durham is $121 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,365 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place pharmacy technicians in Durham?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Durham and across North Carolina. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Durham.

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

Your Pharm Tech pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your North Carolina list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Advocate HealthCharlotte, NC · 4 postings$27.32/ hr$22–$34
  • ECU HealthGreenville, NC · 3 postings$22.13/ hr$18–$26
  • CommonSpirit HealthSeattle, WA · 7 postings$37.85/ hr$26–$49
  • MultiCareAuburn, WA · 20 postings$36.66/ hr$25–$52

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your North Carolina list

2What they are offering now

Low$18Median$27.32High$33

7 Pharm Tech postings with published pay in North Carolina, 7 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 7 Pharm Tech roles

  1. Sterile Compounding Pharmacy Technician I - Cancer CenterPermanent
    $18.01–$26.25/ hour
    ECU Health · Greenville, NC · posted today
  2. Clinical Pharmacy Technician I - Medication Reconciliation PRNPer diem
    $18.01–$26.25/ hour
    ECU Health · Greenville, NC · posted today

+ 5 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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