Pharmacy Tech Pay

Colorado Springs vs Denver: Pharmacy Technician Salary (2026)

Compare pharmacy technician salaries between Colorado Springs, CO and Denver, CO. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Colorado Springs, CO
$52,646
$25.32/hr
Denver, CO
$53,743
$25.83/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricColorado Springs, CODenver, CO
Median Salary$52,646$53,743
Hourly Rate$25.32$25.83
Entry Level (P10)$40,236$44,696
25th Percentile$47,374$49,736
75th Percentile$60,238$62,937
Top Earner (P90)$64,940$71,109
Total Employed7403,260
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Colorado Springs ($52,646) and Denver ($53,743) pharmacy technician salaries.Colorado SpringsDenverMedian Salary$52,646$53,743Entry Level (P10)$40,236$44,696Top Earner (P90)$64,940$71,109US Median $48,239

Verdict

Denver, CO offers better overall compensation for pharmacy technicians, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Colorado Springs.

The salary gap between Colorado Springs and Denver is $1,097 (2.08%). Denver's median is +11.41% compared to the US national median of $48,239.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Colorado Springs spans $24,704,Denver spans $26,413. Denver has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced pharmacy technicians.

Colorado Springs
P10 (Entry)$40,236
P25$47,374
Median$52,646
P75$60,238
P90 (Top)$64,940
Denver
P10 (Entry)$44,696
P25$49,736
Median$53,743
P75$62,937
P90 (Top)$71,109

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Colorado Springs ($52,276 effective) pays 2.90% more than Denver ($50,805 effective).

Colorado Springs
Nominal: $52,646
CoL Index: 100.707
Adjusted: $52,276
Denver
Nominal: $53,743
CoL Index: 105.782
Adjusted: $50,805

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Colorado Springs if…

  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $52,276)
  • You prefer the Colorado area and lifestyle

Choose Denver if…

  • Higher median salary ($53,743/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($71,109)
  • Larger job market (3,260 employed)
  • You prefer the Colorado area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, pharmacy technician salaries in Colorado Springs grew 36.9% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 35.1% growth in Denver over the same period.

Colorado Springs, CO

+36.9%

$36,470 (2019) → $49,930 (2025)

Denver, CO

+35.1%

$37,720 (2019) → $50,970 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays pharmacy technicians more: Colorado Springs or Denver?

Denver has a higher median pharmacy technician salary at $53,743/year, compared to Colorado Springs at $52,646/year — a difference of $1,097 (2.08%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Colorado Springs and Denver?

Colorado Springs pharmacy technicians earn $25.32/hr while Denver hygienists earn $25.83/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Colorado Springs to Denver as a pharmacy technician?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Colorado Springs and Denver. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Colorado Springs = $52,276, Denver = $50,805), job availability (740 vs 3,260 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level pharmacy technicians earn in Colorado Springs vs Denver?

Entry-level (10th percentile) pharmacy technicians earn $40,236 in Colorado Springs and $44,696 in Denver. The Denver area offers higher starting salaries.
ET

Written by Emily Tran, PharmD

Career Analyst

Emily Tran has over 8 years of experience as a pharmacy technician. She specializes in medication therapy management. Her experience includes working in community pharmacies.

Clinically reviewed by David Kim, CPhTData verified by Fatima Hassan, CPhT

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 5.44% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Emily Tran, PharmD, a licensed pharmacy technician with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov