PermanentPosted 6 days ago
Pharmacy Technician
CVS Health · Columbia, SC
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Pharmacy Technician jobs in Columbia, SC
The median pharmacy technician pay in the Columbia area is $18.75 per hour ($39,000 a year), with the typical range running from $17.86 to $22.07. That ranks 222nd of 386 U.S. metro areas for pharmacy technician pay, and 246th of 341 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Columbia. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Columbia.
- $18.75median pay per hour, Columbia
- $18–$22typical range per hour
- 1,350pharmacy technicians employed in the metro area
- 94cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
More open Pharmacy Technician roles in Columbia
1 more open role from employers in Columbia. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.
Pharmacy Technician pay in Columbia, SC
The metro median is in line with the South Carolina statewide median of $18.73 per hour. Nationally the median is $20.90 per hour. BLS counts about 1,350 pharmacy technicians employed in the Columbia metro area, 3.5 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.11).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $16.93 | $35,210 | 19% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $17.86 | $37,150 | 15% below U.S. median |
| Median | $18.75 | $39,000 | 10% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $22.07 | $45,910 | 6% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $24.19 | $50,320 | 16% above U.S. median |
How Columbia ranks
- 222nd of 386 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 246th of 341 after adjusting for local prices
- 3rd of 8 South 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.
Get the Columbia Pharmacy Technician pay report
Named employers near Columbia, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportWhat your pay buys in Columbia
- Overall prices in Columbia run 6% below the U.S. average (index 93.7, U.S. = 100).
- Housing is the biggest driver: 21% below the U.S. average (index 79.5).
- Adjusted for local prices, a $18.75 median hour buys what $20.02 buys at the national price level, 4% 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$675
- Per year: $33,750
- Per month: $2,812
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
| Item | Federal rate |
|---|---|
| Lodging per night | $115 |
| Meals and incidentals per day | $74 |
| Per week (7 nights, 7 days) | $1,323 |
| 13-week assignment | $17,199 |
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 Columbia
CMS lists 6 hospitals in Columbia, 3 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of pharmacy technicians.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Sc Va Medical Center Columbia, SC | Acute Care - Veterans Administration | Government and federal | 5 of 5 | Yes |
| Prisma Health Baptist Columbia, SC | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge Columbia, SC | Acute care | Nonprofit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Musc Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown Columbia, SC | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| Prisma Health Richland Hospital Columbia, SC | Acute care | Nonprofit | 3 of 5 | Yes |
| G Werber Bryan Psych Hosp Columbia, SC | Psychiatric | Government and federal | Not rated | No |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Hill, SC | 62 mi | $20.56/hr | 75,798 |
| Charlotte, NC | 81 mi | $20.56/hr | 943,476 |
| Augusta, GA | 82 mi | $18.75/hr | 201,737 |
| Summerville, SC | 83 mi | $21.18/hr | 52,625 |
| Gastonia, NC | 85 mi | $20.56/hr | 85,535 |
| Goose Creek, SC | 89 mi | $21.18/hr | 50,352 |
Pharmacy Technician jobs in South Carolina · Pharmacy Technician jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in South Carolina
State registration or license, as the state requires. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what South Carolina requires for your role with the South Carolina licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.
South Carolina taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.
Other healthcare roles in Columbia
Columbia city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do pharmacy technicians make in Columbia, SC?
Pharmacy Technicians in the Columbia metro area have a median pay of $18.75 per hour, about $39,000 a year. The middle half earn between $17.86 and $22.07 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Columbia a good place for pharmacy technicians once cost of living is counted?
Columbia ranks 246th of 341 metro areas for pharmacy technician pay after adjusting for local prices, and 222nd of 386 before adjusting. Overall prices run 6% below the U.S. average.
Where do pharmacy technicians work in Columbia?
CMS lists 6 hospitals in Columbia, led by Columbia Sc Va Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.
Do I need a South Carolina 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 South Carolina requires for your role with the South 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 Columbia?
The federal per diem benchmark in Columbia is $115 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,323 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 South Carolina. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Columbia.
Free for every candidate
What do employers near Columbia 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.
Get your free pay report
45+ Pharmacy Technician roles in South Carolina, sent free by email
Tell us who you are and what you do. We email the report within 24 hours on business days.
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Pharm Tech pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your South Carolina 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 South Carolina 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 Pharm Tech roles
Open Pharm Tech roles near Columbia, SC, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.