How Much Does a Pharmacy Tech Make in Louisiana in 2026?

A typical Pharmacy Tech in Louisiana earns about $21.35 per hour, or $44,410 per year, per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $3,701 a month or $854 a week. These figures reflect the typical wage across the state, covering technicians in retail pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics alike. Actual pay depends on the specific employer and city.

That typical pay sits about 3% below the national figure of $22.00 an hour, or $45,750 a year, according to the same wage data. Louisiana ranks 33rd out of 51 states and the District of Columbia for Pharmacy Tech pay. About 6,700 people work as Pharmacy Techs across the state, giving the figures a solid base. Lower pay compared with the national figure often tracks a lower cost of living in the state.

Entry-level positions in Louisiana typically offer around $17.35 an hour, or about $36,100 a year, for those just starting out as Pharmacy Techs. That's noticeably below the statewide typical pay of $21.35 an hour. Within a few years, most technicians move up toward that typical figure as they gain experience and certification. Starting pay tends to be highest in hospital and clinical settings compared with retail pharmacies.

Experienced Pharmacy Techs in Louisiana often earn upwards of $23.06 an hour, or around $47,970 a year, once they've built a track record. The top 10% of earners make over $25.44 an hour, or $52,920 a year, a spread of $16,820 between entry-level and top pay. That gap tends to reflect setting, years of experience, and city, with hospital and specialty pharmacy roles often paying more than typical retail positions.

Pharmacy Tech pay in Louisiana has climbed steadily over the past decade, rising from $29,330 in 2015 to $44,410 in 2025. That's a gain of $15,080, or 51%, over ten years. The increase wasn't perfectly even each year, but the overall direction has been consistently upward. Pay picked up noticeably in the final year of that stretch, jumping from $38,700 in 2024 to the 2025 figure.

Nationally, typical Pharmacy Tech pay rose about 50% over the same ten years, so Louisiana's 51% increase tracked closely with the national pace. Someone starting as a Pharmacy Tech in Louisiana today enters a field where pay has moved up steadily over the past decade. That doesn't guarantee future increases, but it reflects the recent trend.

Pay runs highest in New Orleans, where Pharmacy Techs earn a typical $46,020 a year, about 4% above the statewide figure. Metairie matches that figure exactly, since the two share the same metro area. Mandeville, Covington, and Slidell follow closely at $45,700 a year, and Baton Rouge isn't far behind at $45,550. These figures cover each city's full metro area, not just the city itself.

At the other end, Monroe pays the least among the state's tracked cities, with a typical $39,160 a year, a spread of $6,860 between the highest- and lowest-paying areas. New Orleans also has the largest Pharmacy Tech workforce in the state, with 1,410 employed there. Higher pay in New Orleans and the surrounding metro area generally lines up with a higher cost of living than in smaller cities like Monroe.

Louisiana's pay sits close to Texas, where Pharmacy Techs earn $45,900 a year, about 3% above Louisiana's figure. Mississippi and Arkansas both pay less, at $39,040 and $38,680 a year, or 12% and 13% below Louisiana's typical pay. Someone moving between these states can often transfer or endorse an existing pharmacy technician license or registration into the neighboring state, though requirements vary.

Pharmacy Techs in Louisiana typically earn $44,410 a year, up 51% over the past decade from $29,330 in 2015. That growth has roughly tracked the national pace, and pay varies by city and experience level within the state. For specific requirements, check Louisiana's pharmacy technician licensing or registry page, and compare local pay using the city-by-city figures for New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, and other Louisiana cities.