How Much Does a Pharmacy Tech Make in West Des Moines, IA in 2026?
Typical pay for Pharmacy Techs in West Des Moines, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Iowa.
BLS OES May 2025 · Des Moines · West Des Moines metro area
A typical Pharmacy Tech in West Des Moines, Iowa earns $22.41 per hour, or $46,620 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,885 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,580, and the top 10% of earners make over $54,770.
That pay is 4% above the Iowa figure of $44,860 and 2% above the national figure of $45,750. West Des Moines ranks 1st of 8 metro areas in Iowa for Pharmacy Tech pay. About 1,160 Pharmacy Techs work in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area. West Des Moines is part of the Des Moines · West Des Moines metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Des Moines share these figures.
Pharmacy Tech pay in West Des Moines at a glance
- Typical pay is $22.41 an hour, or $46,620 a year.
- That is 4% above the Iowa figure, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $36,580; the top 10% make over $54,770.
- Typical pay rose +58% from 2015 to 2025, against +56% for Iowa as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Pharmacy Tech make in West Des Moines?
Pay in West Des Moines runs from entry-level positions at around $17.59 an hour to more than $26.33 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 West Des Moines
| Career stage | West Des Moines | Iowa | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $36,580$17.59 an hour | $36,140$17.38 an hour | $36,020$17.32 an hour |
| First years | $38,930$18.72 an hour | $37,790$18.17 an hour | $37,850$18.20 an hour |
| Typical Pharmacy Tech | $46,620$22.41 an hour | $44,860$21.57 an hour | $45,750$22.00 an hour |
| Experienced | $49,420$23.76 an hour | $48,670$23.40 an hour | $49,990$24.04 an hour |
| Top 10% | $54,770$26.33 an hour | $52,150$25.07 an hour | $61,040$29.35 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Des Moines · West Des Moines area as BLS defines it
Pharmacy Tech pay growth in West Des Moines
Typical (median) annual wage for Pharmacy Techs in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Pharmacy Tech pay in West Des Moines was $29,510 a year. By 2025 it had reached $46,620, a change of +58%, compared with +56% for Iowa over the same years.
How West Des Moines compares with other Iowa cities
West Des Moines pays Pharmacy Techs the most of any metro area in Iowa. The lowest-paying area in the state is Ames at $39,310.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs West Des Moines | Pharmacy Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Des Moines metro incl. Des Moines | $46,620 | $22.41 | this city | 1,160 |
| 2 | Dubuque | $45,100 | $21.69 | -3% | 250 |
| 3 | Davenport | $45,080 | $21.67 | -3% | 550 |
| 4 | Cedar Rapids | $43,930 | $21.12 | -6% | 390 |
| 5 | Sioux City | $43,820 | $21.07 | -6% | 210 |
| 6 | Iowa City | $43,500 | $20.91 | -7% | 460 |
| 7 | Cedar Falls metro incl. Waterloo | $40,950 | $19.69 | -12% | 270 |
| 8 | Ames | $39,310 | $18.90 | -16% | 140 |
Every metro area in Iowa with Pharmacy Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Iowa typical pay $44,860
Is West Des Moines a good place to work as a Pharmacy Tech?
Pharmacy Tech pay in West Des Moines sits close to the national figure: $46,620 a year, 2% above the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Des Moines · West Des Moines area, about 2.9 are Pharmacy Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 3.0. Pharmacy Tech jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Pharmacy Tech make in West Des Moines, IA?
- A typical Pharmacy Tech in West Des Moines earns $46,620 a year, or $22.41 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $36,580 and the top 10% earn over $54,770.
- How much does a Pharmacy Tech make an hour in West Des Moines?
- Typical hourly pay for Pharmacy Techs in West Des Moines is $22.41. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.59, and the top 10% earn over $26.33 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Pharmacy Tech in West Des Moines?
- Entry-level Pharmacy Tech positions in West Des Moines typically offer around $17.59 an hour, or $36,580 a year.
- Is Pharmacy Tech pay in West Des Moines higher than in the rest of Iowa?
- West Des Moines pay is 4% above the Iowa figure of $44,860 a year, ranking 1st of 8 metro areas in the state.