Pharmacy Technician salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Pharmacy Technicians in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $46,660 a year ($22.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 6,650 workers.
Pay ranges from $37,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,220 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $45,750. Pay here is 2% lower than the District of Columbia statewide median of $47,410. There are 2.1 pharmacy technicians per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.70). The average (mean) salary is $49,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for pharmacy technicians in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,950 | $18.25 |
| 25th percentile | $39,830 | $19.15 |
| Median | $46,660 | $22.44 |
| 75th percentile | $57,800 | $27.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $64,220 | $30.88 |
| Average (mean) | $49,550 | $23.82 |
Half of pharmacy technicians 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 | $3,888.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $1,944.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,794.62 |
| Weekly | $897.31 |
| Hourly | $22.44 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $46,660 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Pharmacy Technician salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville, VA | $48,110 | 340 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $46,100 | 130 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $45,230 | 4,130 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $44,880 | 9,030 |
| Richmond, VA | $44,030 | 2,020 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $43,980 | 230 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | $43,930 | 400 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $43,930 | 1,990 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $43,780 | 300 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $42,390 | 270 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $42,030 | 300 |
| Roanoke, VA | $41,200 | 530 |
| Salisbury, MD | $40,890 | 170 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $40,510 | 230 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | $39,830 | 220 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | $39,460 | 200 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | $38,730 | 800 |
| Morgantown, WV | $38,320 | 350 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | $38,210 | 150 |
| Beckley, WV | $38,100 | 240 |
| Charleston, WV | $37,930 | 540 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $37,760 | 510 |
Highest-paying states for pharmacy technicians
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $58,900 |
| California | $55,110 |
| Oregon | $54,900 |
| Alaska | $52,640 |
| Colorado | $49,970 |
| Montana | $49,400 |
| Minnesota | $48,300 |
| Wyoming | $48,260 |
| Utah | $48,140 |
| Nevada | $47,980 |
See Pharmacy Technician pay in every state or the District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $75,860 | $36.47 |
| Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians | $70,300 | $33.80 |
| Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other | $55,530 | $26.70 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $97,390 | $46.82 |
| Medical Records Specialist | $58,810 | $28.28 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | $57,630 | $27.71 |
| Emergency Medical Technician | $49,250 | $23.68 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $105,290 | $50.62 |
| Psychiatric Technician | $50,840 | $24.44 |
| Surgical Technologist | $78,750 | $37.86 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $93,030 | $44.73 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | $59,520 | $28.62 |
| Ophthalmic Medical Technician | $48,050 | $23.10 |
| Paramedic | $75,190 | $36.15 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-2052. 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 technician make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for pharmacy technicians in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $46,660 a year, or $22.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $37,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $64,220 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid pharmacy technicians make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of pharmacy technicians in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $64,220 a year. The top 25% earn $57,800 or more.
What is the starting pay for pharmacy technicians in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $37,950 a year, and a quarter of pharmacy technicians earn $39,830 or less.
How many pharmacy technicians work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 6,650 pharmacy technicians are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.