How Much Does a Pharmacy Tech Make in Columbia, MO in 2026?
Typical pay for Pharmacy Techs in Columbia, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Missouri.
BLS OES May 2025 · Columbia metro area
A typical Pharmacy Tech in Columbia, Missouri earns $18.15 per hour, or $37,750 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,146 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $31,880, and the top 10% of earners make over $53,820.
That pay is 6% below the Missouri figure of $40,100 and 17% below the national figure of $45,750. Columbia ranks 5th of 8 metro areas in Missouri for Pharmacy Tech pay. About 500 Pharmacy Techs work in the Columbia area.
Pharmacy Tech pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.15 an hour, or $37,750 a year.
- That is 6% below the Missouri figure, ranking 5th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $31,880; the top 10% make over $53,820.
- Typical pay rose +29% from 2015 to 2025, against +43% for Missouri as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Pharmacy Tech make in Columbia?
Pay in Columbia runs from entry-level positions at around $15.33 an hour to more than $25.88 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Missouri and national figures.
Pharmacy Tech pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $31,880$15.33 an hour | $33,830$16.27 an hour | $36,020$17.32 an hour |
| First years | $35,010$16.83 an hour | $36,270$17.44 an hour | $37,850$18.20 an hour |
| Typical Pharmacy Tech | $37,750$18.15 an hour | $40,100$19.28 an hour | $45,750$22.00 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,930$22.08 an hour | $47,100$22.64 an hour | $49,990$24.04 an hour |
| Top 10% | $53,820$25.88 an hour | $54,600$26.25 an hour | $61,040$29.35 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Columbia area as BLS defines it
Pharmacy Tech pay growth in Columbia
Typical (median) annual wage for Pharmacy Techs in the Columbia area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Pharmacy Tech pay in Columbia was $29,190 a year. By 2025 it had reached $37,750, a change of +29%, compared with +43% for Missouri over the same years.
How Columbia compares with other Missouri cities
Kansas City pays Pharmacy Techs the most in Missouri at $45,360 a year, $7,610 more than Columbia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Cape Girardeau at $35,910.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | Pharmacy Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City | $45,360 | $21.81 | +20% | 3,550 |
| 2 | St. Louis | $45,220 | $21.74 | +20% | 4,980 |
| 3 | Springfield | $39,490 | $18.99 | +5% | 1,020 |
| 4 | Joplin | $37,860 | $18.20 | 0% | 310 |
| 5 | Columbia | $37,750 | $18.15 | this city | 500 |
| 6 | St. Joseph | $36,930 | $17.76 | -2% | 240 |
| 7 | Jefferson City | $36,410 | $17.51 | -4% | 200 |
| 8 | Cape Girardeau | $35,910 | $17.26 | -5% | 230 |
Every metro area in Missouri with Pharmacy Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Missouri typical pay $40,100
Is Columbia a good place to work as a Pharmacy Tech?
Pharmacy Techs in Columbia earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $37,750 a year, 17% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbia area, about 4.6 are Pharmacy Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 3.1. 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 Columbia, MO?
- A typical Pharmacy Tech in Columbia earns $37,750 a year, or $18.15 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $31,880 and the top 10% earn over $53,820.
- How much does a Pharmacy Tech make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for Pharmacy Techs in Columbia is $18.15. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $15.33, and the top 10% earn over $25.88 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Pharmacy Tech in Columbia?
- Entry-level Pharmacy Tech positions in Columbia typically offer around $15.33 an hour, or $31,880 a year.
- Is Pharmacy Tech pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of Missouri?
- Columbia pay is 6% below the Missouri figure of $40,100 a year, ranking 5th of 8 metro areas in the state. Kansas City pays the most in Missouri at $45,360.