Pharmacy Technician salary in California
Pharmacy Technicians in California earn a median of $23.86 per hour, about $49,640 a year, 14% above the U.S. median of $20.90. The middle half earn between $21.93 and $30.96 per hour. The highest median among California metro areas is in Napa, CA, at $39.09 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.
- $23.86median pay per hour
- $49,640median pay per year
- 45,210pharmacy technicians employed in California
- #4of 50 states by median pay
Pharmacy Technician pay in California: percentiles
| Level | California per hour | California per year | U.S. per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $18.68 | $38,850 | $16.88 |
| Lower quartile | $21.93 | $45,610 | $17.75 |
| Median | $23.86 | $49,640 | $20.90 |
| Upper quartile | $30.96 | $64,400 | $23.36 |
| Top 10% | $38.28 | $79,620 | $28.58 |
Pharmacy Technician pay by metro area in California
| Metro area | Median / hr | Median / year | Employed | vs California median | After cost of living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | $39.09 | $81,310 | 190 | 64% above | $34.73 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $34.01 | $70,740 | 2,080 | 43% above | $30.80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $29.80 | $61,990 | 4,460 | 25% above | $25.78 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $29.47 | $61,290 | 460 | 24% above | $27.34 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $26.83 | $55,810 | 3,140 | 12% above | $25.15 |
| Vallejo, CA | $26.22 | $54,530 | 450 | 10% above | $24.17 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $23.82 | $49,540 | 3,840 | in line with | $21.29 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $23.76 | $49,420 | 280 | in line with | $21.62 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $23.62 | $49,130 | 470 | 1% below | $21.71 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $23.52 | $48,920 | 870 | 1% below | $21.28 |
| Salinas, CA | $23.50 | $48,870 | 410 | 2% below | $21.55 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $23.50 | $48,880 | 340 | 2% below | $21.64 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $23.46 | $48,790 | 4,820 | 2% below | $22.04 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $23.41 | $48,680 | 1,010 | 2% below | $23.20 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $23.37 | $48,600 | 16,040 | 2% below | $20.58 |
| Fresno, CA | $23.20 | $48,250 | 1,400 | 3% below | $22.71 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $23.20 | $48,260 | 190 | 3% below | $22.83 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $22.95 | $47,730 | 750 | 4% below | $21.84 |
| Yuba City, CA | $22.92 | $47,680 | 220 | 4% below | $21.99 |
| El Centro, CA | $22.84 | $47,510 | 170 | 4% below | — |
| Modesto, CA | $22.81 | $47,450 | 580 | 4% below | $21.91 |
| Chico, CA | $22.49 | $46,770 | 260 | 6% below | $22.22 |
| Redding, CA | $22.41 | $46,610 | 240 | 6% below | $22.26 |
| Visalia, CA | $22.25 | $46,290 | 490 | 7% below | $22.29 |
| Merced, CA | $21.98 | $45,720 | 210 | 8% below | $22.37 |
Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).
Pharmacy Technician pay in states next to California
What employers are posting in California
- 49roles with published pay
- $32.09median pay per hour
- $24–$39typical published range
- 18employers hiring
| Employer | Roles | Median pay / hour |
|---|---|---|
| Sharp HealthCare | 10 | $33.39 |
| CommonSpirit Health | 6 | $35.76 |
| BrightSpring Health Services | 6 | $22.25 |
| Sharp Healthcare | 5 | $33.39 |
| Emanate Health | 3 | $28.75 |
| Enloe Medical Center | 3 | $32.09 |
| Military Treatment Facilities under DHA | 2 | $28.25 |
| Central Maine Healthcare Corporation | 2 | $25.73 |
Midpoints of pay ranges in 49 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.
Pharmacy Technician jobs in California · Pharmacy Technician salary nationwide · California state guide
Common questions
How much does a pharmacy technician make in California?
The median is $23.86 per hour, about $49,640 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $18.68 and the top 10% earn over $38.28 (BLS, May 2024).
Which California city pays pharmacy technicians the most?
Among California metro areas, Napa, CA has the highest median at $39.09 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.
Where does California rank for pharmacy technician pay?
California ranks 4th of 50 states by median pharmacy technician pay.
Is this the same as the pay in job postings?
No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.
What do employers near you pay pharmacy technicians? Get the report.
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- 1Pay for your role at other employers
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Your Pharm Tech pay reportCalifornia · pay published by employers, collected October 15, 2026
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare SystemSalinas, CA · 2 postings$37.80/ hr$35–$40
- CommonSpirit HealthSANTA MARIA, CA · 6 postings$35.76/ hr$26–$45
- 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
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.