Pharmacy Aide salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Pharmacy Aides in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $44,810 a year ($21.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 440 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,960 for the top 10%. That is 19% higher than the national median of $37,680. Pay here is 6% higher than the California statewide median of $42,200. There are 0.29 pharmacy aides per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $52,090, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for pharmacy aides in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,620 | $18.57 |
| 25th percentile | $39,570 | $19.02 |
| Median | $44,810 | $21.54 |
| 75th percentile | $64,770 | $31.14 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,960 | $35.08 |
| Average (mean) | $52,090 | $25.04 |
Half of pharmacy aides earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $3,734.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,867.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,723.46 |
| Weekly | $861.73 |
| Hourly | $21.54 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $44,810 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Pharmacy Aide salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Vallejo, CA | $69,870 | 80 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $55,710 | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $47,450 | 380 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $46,830 | 690 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $44,120 | 140 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $43,260 | 50 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $42,590 | 430 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $41,910 | 100 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $41,600 | 590 |
| Chico, CA | $39,980 | 40 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $39,770 | 4,010 |
| Redding, CA | $39,690 | 50 |
| Yuba City, CA | $38,160 | 50 |
| Salinas, CA | $38,050 | 110 |
| Merced, CA | $37,900 | 50 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $37,840 | 140 |
| Visalia, CA | $37,400 | 60 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $37,350 | 230 |
| Modesto, CA | $36,730 | 140 |
| Fresno, CA | $36,270 | 200 |
Highest-paying states for pharmacy aides
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $59,960 |
| Utah | $51,600 |
| Hawaii | $46,250 |
| Washington | $45,110 |
| Arizona | $43,360 |
| California | $42,200 |
| Oregon | $40,250 |
| Pennsylvania | $39,470 |
| Nevada | $39,080 |
| Texas | $38,630 |
See Pharmacy Aide pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant | $49,420 | $23.76 |
| Dental Assistant | $58,120 | $27.94 |
| Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers | $46,720 | $22.46 |
| Massage Therapist | $45,200 | $21.73 |
| Healthcare Support Workers, All Other | $57,740 | $27.76 |
| Phlebotomist | $58,170 | $27.97 |
| Medical Transcriptionist | $45,420 | $21.84 |
| Medical Equipment Preparer | $67,830 | $32.61 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $35,300 | $16.97 |
| Nursing Assistant | $48,070 | $23.11 |
| Physical Therapist Assistant | $82,160 | $39.50 |
| Physical Therapist Aide | $37,850 | $18.20 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | $82,680 | $39.75 |
| Orderly | $49,410 | $23.75 |
More: Healthcare Support Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 31-9095. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a pharmacy aide make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for pharmacy aides in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $44,810 a year, or $21.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $72,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pharmacy aides make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of pharmacy aides in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $72,960 a year. The top 25% earn $64,770 or more.
What is the starting pay for pharmacy aides in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,620 a year, and a quarter of pharmacy aides earn $39,570 or less.
How many pharmacy aides work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 440 pharmacy aides are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.