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

A typical Pharmacy Tech in Pennsylvania earns about $19.25 per hour ($40,040 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). That breaks down to roughly $3,337 a month and $770 a week, both figures calculated from the annual median. Pay varies with city, employer, and years on the job, but this number marks the middle of the range across the state.

Pennsylvania pay sits 12% below the national figure of $22.00 an hour ($45,750 a year), a gap that often tracks the state's lower cost of living. Pennsylvania ranks 45th out of 51 states for Pharmacy Tech pay. About 18,880 Pharmacy Techs work across the state, giving the figures above a solid base to compare against.

Entry-level positions in Pennsylvania typically offer around $16.89 an hour, or about $35,140 a year, for Pharmacy Techs just starting out. Pay tends to move toward the state's typical figure of $19.25 an hour within the first few years on the job. Certification, additional training, and time in a single pharmacy setting all tend to speed that climb.

Experienced Pharmacy Techs in Pennsylvania often earn upwards of $22.53 an hour, or about $46,870 a year, in mid-to-senior roles. The top 10% of earners make over $24.66 an hour, or $51,290 a year. The spread between entry-level and top pay comes to $16,150, a gap shaped mostly by setting, years of experience, and the city where the job is based.

Pennsylvania's Pharmacy Tech pay has climbed from $28,880 in 2015 to $40,040 in 2025, a gain of $11,160. That marks a 39% rise over the decade, one of the more notable increases in the state's health care pay data for this role. The rise has not been a straight line, with the sharpest jump landing between 2020 and 2021.

Nationally, Pharmacy Tech pay rose 50% over the same decade, faster than Pennsylvania's climb. Pay for the role has moved up over the past ten years, though there's no guarantee that pace continues. Someone starting out now enters a job with a stronger pay history than it had ten years ago.

Philadelphia pays Pharmacy Techs the most in Pennsylvania, with typical pay around $44,880 a year ($21.58 an hour), about 12% above the state figure. Pittsburgh follows at $41,780 a year, and Harrisburg and Carlisle both come in at $39,940. These figures cover each city's full metro area, not just the city center.

Wilkes-Barre sits at the lower end, with typical pay around $36,280 a year, putting the spread between the state's highest- and lowest-paying cities at $8,600. Philadelphia also holds the largest Pharmacy Tech workforce in the state, with about 9,030 workers. Cities with higher pay tend to carry higher living costs, so the gap in take-home value is often smaller than the raw numbers suggest.

Delaware pays Pharmacy Techs the most among Pennsylvania's neighbors, with typical pay around $46,430 a year, about 16% higher than Pennsylvania. Maryland ($45,120, +13%) and New York ($43,930, +10%) also pay more, while Ohio ($40,650, +2%) runs close to Pennsylvania's figure. New Jersey ($39,610, -1%) and West Virginia ($38,210, -5%) pay somewhat less. Pharmacy Tech licensure or registration in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, though requirements vary.

Pharmacy Techs in Pennsylvania typically earn $40,040 a year, about $19.25 an hour, a figure that has risen 39% over the past decade. Pay runs highest in Philadelphia and lowest in Wilkes-Barre, with city and employer both playing a role in where an individual paycheck lands. Readers weighing this career should check Pennsylvania's pharmacy technician registration requirements and review city-specific pay pages for local figures before deciding where to work.