How Much Does a Pharmacy Tech Make in Columbia, SC 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 South Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Columbia metro area
A typical Pharmacy Tech in Columbia, South Carolina earns $18.83 per hour, or $39,170 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,264 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,870, and the top 10% of earners make over $52,780.
That pay is 7% below the South Carolina figure of $42,120 and 14% below the national figure of $45,750. Columbia ranks 8th of 10 metro areas in South Carolina for Pharmacy Tech pay. About 1,470 Pharmacy Techs work in the Columbia area.
Pharmacy Tech pay in Columbia at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.83 an hour, or $39,170 a year.
- That is 7% below the South Carolina figure, ranking 8th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $35,870; the top 10% make over $52,780.
- Typical pay rose +25% from 2015 to 2025, against +45% for South Carolina 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 $17.25 an hour to more than $25.37 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Carolina and national figures.
Pharmacy Tech pay by career stage in Columbia
| Career stage | Columbia | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $35,870$17.25 an hour | $35,500$17.07 an hour | $36,020$17.32 an hour |
| First years | $36,630$17.61 an hour | $36,990$17.78 an hour | $37,850$18.20 an hour |
| Typical Pharmacy Tech | $39,170$18.83 an hour | $42,120$20.25 an hour | $45,750$22.00 an hour |
| Experienced | $46,920$22.56 an hour | $47,810$22.99 an hour | $49,990$24.04 an hour |
| Top 10% | $52,780$25.37 an hour | $51,060$24.55 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 $31,300 a year. By 2025 it had reached $39,170, a change of +25%, compared with +45% for South Carolina over the same years.
How Columbia compares with other South Carolina cities
Gastonia pays Pharmacy Techs the most in South Carolina at $46,220 a year, $7,050 more than Columbia. The lowest-paying area in the state is Sumter at $38,820.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Columbia | Pharmacy Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gastonia metro incl. Concord | $46,220 | $22.22 | +18% | 3,970 |
| 2 | Charleston metro incl. North Charleston | $45,690 | $21.97 | +17% | 1,420 |
| 3 | Greer metro incl. Greenville · Anderson | $45,590 | $21.92 | +16% | 1,270 |
| 4 | Richmond County | $44,550 | $21.42 | +14% | 880 |
| 5 | Spartanburg | $43,840 | $21.08 | +12% | 630 |
| 6 | Port Royal metro incl. Bluffton · Hilton Head Island | $40,370 | $19.41 | +3% | 290 |
| 7 | Florence | $39,350 | $18.92 | 0% | 460 |
| 8 | Columbia | $39,170 | $18.83 | this city | 1,470 |
| 9 | North Myrtle Beach metro incl. Myrtle Beach · Conway | $38,860 | $18.68 | -1% | 570 |
| 10 | Sumter | $38,820 | $18.66 | -1% | 130 |
Every metro area in South Carolina with Pharmacy Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Carolina typical pay $42,120
Is Columbia a good place to work as a Pharmacy Tech?
Pharmacy Techs in Columbia earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $39,170 a year, 14% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Columbia area, about 3.7 are Pharmacy Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 3.0. 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, SC?
- A typical Pharmacy Tech in Columbia earns $39,170 a year, or $18.83 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $35,870 and the top 10% earn over $52,780.
- How much does a Pharmacy Tech make an hour in Columbia?
- Typical hourly pay for Pharmacy Techs in Columbia is $18.83. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $17.25, and the top 10% earn over $25.37 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Pharmacy Tech in Columbia?
- Entry-level Pharmacy Tech positions in Columbia typically offer around $17.25 an hour, or $35,870 a year.
- Is Pharmacy Tech pay in Columbia higher than in the rest of South Carolina?
- Columbia pay is 7% below the South Carolina figure of $42,120 a year, ranking 8th of 10 metro areas in the state. Gastonia pays the most in South Carolina at $46,220.