Pharmacy Technicians Salary
The median pay for a pharmacy technicians in Pennsylvania is $40,040/year ($19.25/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $42,161 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 48.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $40K get you in Pennsylvania?
About pharmacy technicians
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pay for pharmacy technicians in Pennsylvania runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $46K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,351/month, which is 49.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for pharmacy technicianss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level pharmacy technicians (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Pharmacy Technicians salary by metro in Pennsylvania
16 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $45K | +12% | 9,030 |
| Pittsburgh | $42K | +4% | 4,270 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $40K | -0% | 910 |
| Lancaster | $40K | -1% | 650 |
| Williamsport | $39K | -4% | 100 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $38K | -4% | 1,160 |
| Lebanon | $38K | -5% | 130 |
| Johnstown | $38K | -6% | 170 |
| Chambersburg | $37K | -6% | 180 |
| State College | $37K | -7% | 160 |
| Erie | $37K | -7% | 370 |
| Gettysburg | $37K | -7% | 70 |
| York-Hanover | $37K | -7% | 520 |
| Reading | $37K | -8% | 410 |
| Altoona | $37K | -8% | 190 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $36K | -9% | 940 |
Showing 1–10 of 16 metros
Compare to other states
Track pharmacy technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a pharmacy technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 49.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/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 Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new pharmacy technicians typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,108/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 64% 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 Pennsylvania?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $40K here vs. $46K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for pharmacy technicians?
Pennsylvania pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $42K — below the national median.
How much do pharmacy technicians make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $40,040 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,140, and experienced pharmacy technicians can clear $51,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,749/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 49.1% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $42,161 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.