North Dakota $52,079 · Minnesota $51,332 · Wyoming $49,616 · Washington $49,202 · Montana $49,194
Washington leads on the raw paycheck ($56,140) but ranks #4 once cost of living is applied. Hawaii, California, and Massachusetts lose the most purchasing power of any states.
The U.S. median pharmacy technician wage is $43,460 (BLS, May 2024). Lowest adjusted pay lands in Hawaii (~$24,530).
Ranked by cost-of-living-adjusted pay (highest real pay first). “Adjusted pay” = median wage ÷ (state cost-of-living index ÷ 100). Select a state for its full breakdown.
| # | State | Median wage (BLS 2024) | Cost-of-living index | Adjusted (real) pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Dakota | $47,600 | 91.4 | $52,079 |
| 2 | Minnesota | $48,560 | 94.6 | $51,332 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $46,490 | 93.7 | $49,616 |
| 4 | Washington | $56,140 | 114.1 | $49,202 |
| 5 | Montana | $46,980 | 95.5 | $49,194 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $44,970 | 93.7 | $47,994 |
| 7 | Texas | $43,920 | 92.1 | $47,687 |
| 8 | South Dakota | $43,760 | 91.9 | $47,617 |
| 9 | Illinois | $44,610 | 94.7 | $47,107 |
| 10 | Colorado | $48,070 | 102.7 | $46,806 |
| 11 | Nevada | $46,670 | 100.2 | $46,577 |
| 12 | Iowa | $41,380 | 89.7 | $46,132 |
| 13 | Oregon | $51,210 | 111.8 | $45,805 |
| 14 | Utah | $46,760 | 102.2 | $45,753 |
| 15 | Idaho | $45,210 | 99.9 | $45,255 |
| 16 | Nebraska | $41,400 | 92.6 | $44,708 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $43,620 | 97.7 | $44,647 |
| 18 | Michigan | $40,040 | 90.1 | $44,440 |
| 19 | Oklahoma | $38,200 | 86.0 | $44,419 |
| 20 | Kansas | $39,210 | 88.8 | $44,155 |
| 21 | Indiana | $40,020 | 91.0 | $43,978 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $38,210 | 87.3 | $43,769 |
| 23 | Arizona | $47,620 | 110.7 | $43,017 |
| 24 | Missouri | $37,990 | 89.0 | $42,685 |
| 25 | Delaware | $43,470 | 101.9 | $42,659 |
| 26 | Alabama | $37,690 | 88.6 | $42,540 |
| 27 | West Virginia | $37,370 | 88.3 | $42,322 |
| 28 | Tennessee | $38,130 | 90.3 | $42,226 |
| 29 | Virginia | $42,490 | 100.8 | $42,153 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $38,700 | 92.3 | $41,928 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $37,380 | 89.6 | $41,719 |
| 32 | Georgia | $38,390 | 92.5 | $41,503 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $38,960 | 94.7 | $41,140 |
| 34 | North Carolina | $39,870 | 97.8 | $40,767 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $37,630 | 92.5 | $40,681 |
| 36 | New Hampshire | $45,300 | 111.4 | $40,664 |
| 37 | Vermont | $46,050 | 113.6 | $40,537 |
| 38 | Alaska | $50,440 | 124.9 | $40,384 |
| 39 | Ohio | $37,860 | 94.3 | $40,148 |
| 40 | Connecticut | $44,190 | 112.7 | $39,210 |
| 41 | Florida | $39,640 | 102.2 | $38,787 |
| 42 | Pennsylvania | $37,560 | 97.2 | $38,642 |
| 43 | Maryland | $43,100 | 115.4 | $37,348 |
| 44 | Maine | $40,950 | 113.0 | $36,239 |
| 45 | California | $49,640 | 142.3 | $34,884 |
| 46 | Rhode Island | $37,730 | 110.6 | $34,114 |
| 47 | New Jersey | $38,890 | 115.1 | $33,788 |
| 48 | District of Columbia | $45,670 | 138.8 | $32,903 |
| 49 | New York | $40,840 | 125.1 | $32,646 |
| 50 | Massachusetts | $44,640 | 141.2 | $31,615 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $45,380 | 185.0 | $24,530 |
Use adjusted pay, not the sticker wage, when you compare offers across states — and then make sure your resume actually earns the top of that range. Pharmacy technician hiring rewards the same things this data hints at: documented scope (script volume, sterile compounding, 340B, inventory accountability), certifications stacked in progression, and operational impact a hiring manager can scan in seconds.
That's exactly what a Pharm rewrite surfaces. See the early-career and mid-career tracks, or drop your resume for a free 60-second read.
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