How Much Does a Pharmacy Tech Make in State College, PA in 2026?
Typical pay for Pharmacy Techs in State College, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Pennsylvania.
BLS OES May 2025 · State College metro area
A typical Pharmacy Tech in State College, Pennsylvania earns $17.98 per hour, or $37,400 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,117 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $34,050, and the top 10% of earners make over $47,650.
That pay is 7% below the Pennsylvania figure of $40,040 and 18% below the national figure of $45,750. State College ranks 10th of 16 metro areas in Pennsylvania for Pharmacy Tech pay. About 160 Pharmacy Techs work in the State College area.
Pharmacy Tech pay in State College at a glance
- Typical pay is $17.98 an hour, or $37,400 a year.
- That is 7% below the Pennsylvania figure, ranking 10th of 16 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $34,050; the top 10% make over $47,650.
- Typical pay rose +36% from 2015 to 2025, against +39% for Pennsylvania as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Pharmacy Tech make in State College?
Pay in State College runs from entry-level positions at around $16.37 an hour to more than $22.91 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Pennsylvania and national figures.
Pharmacy Tech pay by career stage in State College
| Career stage | State College | Pennsylvania | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $34,050$16.37 an hour | $35,140$16.89 an hour | $36,020$17.32 an hour |
| First years | $35,880$17.25 an hour | $36,160$17.39 an hour | $37,850$18.20 an hour |
| Typical Pharmacy Tech | $37,400$17.98 an hour | $40,040$19.25 an hour | $45,750$22.00 an hour |
| Experienced | $45,890$22.06 an hour | $46,870$22.53 an hour | $49,990$24.04 an hour |
| Top 10% | $47,650$22.91 an hour | $51,290$24.66 an hour | $61,040$29.35 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the State College area as BLS defines it
Pharmacy Tech pay growth in State College
Typical (median) annual wage for Pharmacy Techs in the State College area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Pharmacy Tech pay in State College was $27,580 a year. By 2025 it had reached $37,400, a change of +36%, compared with +39% for Pennsylvania over the same years.
How State College compares with other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia pays Pharmacy Techs the most in Pennsylvania at $44,880 a year, $7,480 more than State College. The lowest-paying area in the state is Wilkes at $36,280.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs State College | Pharmacy Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $44,880 | $21.58 | +20% | 9,030 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh | $41,780 | $20.09 | +12% | 4,270 |
| 3 | Carlisle metro incl. Harrisburg | $39,940 | $19.20 | +7% | 910 |
| 4 | Lancaster | $39,580 | $19.03 | +6% | 650 |
| 5 | Williamsport | $38,500 | $18.51 | +3% | 100 |
| 6 | Allentown | $38,490 | $18.50 | +3% | 1,160 |
| 7 | Lebanon | $37,890 | $18.22 | +1% | 130 |
| 8 | Johnstown | $37,540 | $18.05 | 0% | 170 |
| 9 | Chambersburg | $37,440 | $18.00 | 0% | 180 |
| 10 | State College | $37,400 | $17.98 | this city | 160 |
| 11 | Erie | $37,340 | $17.95 | 0% | 370 |
| 12 | Gettysburg | $37,320 | $17.94 | 0% | 70 |
| 13 | Hanover metro incl. York | $37,220 | $17.89 | 0% | 520 |
| 14 | Reading | $36,860 | $17.72 | -1% | 410 |
| 15 | Altoona | $36,810 | $17.70 | -2% | 190 |
| 16 | Barre | $36,280 | $17.44 | -3% | 940 |
Every metro area in Pennsylvania with Pharmacy Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Pennsylvania typical pay $40,040
Is State College a good place to work as a Pharmacy Tech?
Pharmacy Techs in State College earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $37,400 a year, 18% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the State College area, about 2.3 are Pharmacy Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 3.1. That makes Pharmacy Techs a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Pharmacy Tech make in State College, PA?
- A typical Pharmacy Tech in State College earns $37,400 a year, or $17.98 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $34,050 and the top 10% earn over $47,650.
- How much does a Pharmacy Tech make an hour in State College?
- Typical hourly pay for Pharmacy Techs in State College is $17.98. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $16.37, and the top 10% earn over $22.91 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Pharmacy Tech in State College?
- Entry-level Pharmacy Tech positions in State College typically offer around $16.37 an hour, or $34,050 a year.
- Is Pharmacy Tech pay in State College higher than in the rest of Pennsylvania?
- State College pay is 7% below the Pennsylvania figure of $40,040 a year, ranking 10th of 16 metro areas in the state. Philadelphia pays the most in Pennsylvania at $44,880.