How Much Does a Pharmacy Tech Make in Iowa City, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Pharmacy Techs in Iowa City, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa City metro area
A typical Pharmacy Tech in Iowa City, Iowa earns $20.91 per hour, or $43,500 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,625 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,030, and the top 10% of earners make over $63,420.
That pay is 3% below the Iowa figure of $44,860 and 5% below the national figure of $45,750. Iowa City ranks 6th of 8 metro areas in Iowa for Pharmacy Tech pay. About 460 Pharmacy Techs work in the Iowa City area.
Pharmacy Tech pay in Iowa City at a glance
- Typical pay is $20.91 an hour, or $43,500 a year.
- That is 3% below the Iowa figure, ranking 6th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $37,030; the top 10% make over $63,420.
- Typical pay rose +23% from 2015 to 2025, against +56% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Pharmacy Tech make in Iowa City?
Pay in Iowa City runs from entry-level positions at around $17.80 an hour to more than $30.49 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Iowa and national figures.
Pharmacy Tech pay by career stage in Iowa City
| Career stage | Iowa City | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $37,030$17.80 an hour | $36,140$17.38 an hour | $36,020$17.32 an hour |
| First years | $39,930$19.20 an hour | $37,790$18.17 an hour | $37,850$18.20 an hour |
| Typical Pharmacy Tech | $43,500$20.91 an hour | $44,860$21.57 an hour | $45,750$22.00 an hour |
| Experienced | $50,280$24.17 an hour | $48,670$23.40 an hour | $49,990$24.04 an hour |
| Top 10% | $63,420$30.49 an hour | $52,150$25.07 an hour | $61,040$29.35 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Iowa City area as BLS defines it
Pharmacy Tech pay growth in Iowa City
Typical (median) annual wage for Pharmacy Techs in the Iowa City area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Pharmacy Tech pay in Iowa City was $35,310 a year. By 2025 it had reached $43,500, a change of +23%, compared with +56% for Iowa over the same years.
How Iowa City compares with other Iowa cities
Des Moines pays Pharmacy Techs the most in Iowa at $46,620 a year, $3,120 more than Iowa City. The lowest-paying area in the state is Ames at $39,310.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Iowa City | Pharmacy Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines metro incl. West Des Moines | $46,620 | $22.41 | +7% | 1,160 |
| 2 | Dubuque | $45,100 | $21.69 | +4% | 250 |
| 3 | Davenport | $45,080 | $21.67 | +4% | 550 |
| 4 | Cedar Rapids | $43,930 | $21.12 | +1% | 390 |
| 5 | Sioux City | $43,820 | $21.07 | +1% | 210 |
| 6 | Iowa City | $43,500 | $20.91 | this city | 460 |
| 7 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $40,950 | $19.69 | -6% | 270 |
| 8 | Ames | $39,310 | $18.90 | -10% | 140 |
Every metro area in Iowa with Pharmacy Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $44,860
Is Iowa City a good place to work as a Pharmacy Tech?
Pharmacy Techs in Iowa City earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $43,500 a year, 5% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Iowa City area, about 4.9 are Pharmacy Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 3.0. That makes the local economy more reliant on Pharmacy Techs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Pharmacy Tech make in Iowa City, IA?
- A typical Pharmacy Tech in Iowa City earns $43,500 a year, or $20.91 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $37,030 and the top 10% earn over $63,420.
- How much does a Pharmacy Tech make an hour in Iowa City?
- Typical hourly pay for Pharmacy Techs in Iowa City is $20.91. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.80, and the top 10% earn over $30.49 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Pharmacy Tech in Iowa City?
- Entry-level Pharmacy Tech positions in Iowa City typically offer around $17.80 an hour, or $37,030 a year.
- Is Pharmacy Tech pay in Iowa City higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- Iowa City pay is 3% below the Iowa figure of $44,860 a year, ranking 6th of 8 metro areas in the state. Des Moines pays the most in Iowa at $46,620.