Pharmacy Technicians Salary
The median pay for a pharmacy technicians in New Jersey is $39,610/year ($19.04/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $60K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $39,873 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,067/month, about 75.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $40K get you in New Jersey?
About pharmacy technicians
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What this looks like in New Jersey
Pay for pharmacy technicians in New Jersey runs about 13% below the U.S. median of $46K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,067/month, which is 74.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for pharmacy technicianss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level pharmacy technicians (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $60K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Pharmacy Technicians salary by metro in New Jersey
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic City-Hammonton | $45K | +13% | 560 |
| Trenton-Princeton | $38K | -4% | 500 |
| Vineland | $37K | -6% | 180 |
Compare to other states
Track pharmacy technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacy technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 74.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for pharmacy technicians in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pharmacy technicians typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,170/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 95% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is pharmacy technician a high-paying job in New Jersey?
Local pay runs 13% below the national median — $40K here vs. $46K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for pharmacy technicians?
New Jersey pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $40K — below the national median.
How much do pharmacy technicians make in New Jersey?
The median is $39,610 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,170, and experienced pharmacy technicians can clear $59,700. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,763/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 74.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a pharmacy technicians salary go in New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median pharmacy technicians salary is worth about $39,873 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do pharmacy technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.