Entry-Level Pharmacy Technician Salary in Sioux City, IA: $38,001 (2026)
Quick Answer:New pharmacy technicians entering the Sioux City, IA job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $38,001 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 29-2052, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Sioux City's local price level (BEA RPP 86.5 — 14% below national), a first-year paycheck buys what $43,955 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($46,204) within a few years of clinical practice.
Official BLS data · View source
An entry-level pharmacy technician starting in Sioux City, IA, can expect an opening salary around $38,001 in 2026. With the median annual salary for the profession being $46,204, new graduates should recognize that they begin at a lower pay scale but have significant room for growth. This starting figure indicates that while the initial pay may feel modest, within three to five years, technicians can see their earnings increase as they gain experience and skills. The growth trajectory from the entry-level pay to the median salary illustrates that the Sioux City job market offers promising long-term potential for new pharmacy technicians, making it a suitable environment for recent graduates looking to begin their careers.
Career Earnings Timeline in Sioux City
New Graduate
Early Career
Mid Career
Experienced
Salary progression estimated from BLS percentile data. Actual progression varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Sioux City
Entry-level pharmacy technicians in Sioux City, IA typically start between $38,001 and $39,635 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $15,404 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $46,204 — 4.22% below the national median.
Return on Investment
The average pharmacy program cost in Iowa of $5,000 represents just 13.16% of the starting pharmacy technician pay ($38,001/year) in Sioux City. Most graduates begin earning back their investment from day one, though actual ROI varies based on living expenses, loan interest, and the 2-year opportunity cost of schooling.
Program cost estimates based on ASHP/ACPE-accredited pharmacy technician program data and community college tuition surveys. Tuition-only averages; actual costs vary by institution (community college vs. private vocational school) and program length.
CPhT Salary Negotiation Tips for New Graduates in Sioux City
- 1Research the Sioux City market: entry-level pharmacy technician pay ranges from $38,001 to $39,635, so aim for at least the 25th percentile if you have strong credentials.
- 2Highlight any additional certifications or specialty training within the pharmacy field — employers in IA often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Sioux City, benefits like health insurance, continuing-education allowances, and schedule flexibility can add 20-30% to your effective compensation.
- 4Consider starting with a larger hospital system or multi-site employer in Sioux City for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Sioux City's below-average cost of living means your starting salary goes further here compared to many larger metro areas.
Pharmacy Technician Compensation Range
The pharmacy technician wage spread in Sioux City is $15,404 ( 40.54%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $38,001, experienced hygienists can earn up to $53,405.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$23,740
2025 BLS Actual
$36,040
2026 Current Est.
$38,001
2019–2027 Growth
+68.8%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Sioux City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $23,740 | Actual |
| 2020 | $24,340 | Actual |
| 2021 | $28,690 | Actual |
| 2022 | $30,260 | Actual |
| 2023 | $33,460 | Actual |
| 2024 | $33,540 | Actual |
| 2025 | $36,040 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $38,001 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $40,068 | Projected |
Entry-level pharmacy technician compensation (10th percentile) in Sioux City, IA grew 51.8% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $23,740 in 2019 to $36,040 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $40,068. New graduates entering the Sioux City job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Sioux City metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.44% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Starting Your pharmacy Career in Sioux City
Employers in Sioux City are actively seeking new graduates, especially from major retail chains like CVS and Walgreens, which often provide paid PTCB training for fresh recruits. These retail environments tend to onboard the largest number of entry-level techs, while hospitals may prefer candidates with some experience but offer valuable training in sterile compounding, compliant with USP <797> / <800> standards. To boost earning potential, aspiring pharmacy technicians should aim to attain PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT national certification and complete state pharmacy technician registration. As the market evolves, recent growth trends indicate that retail technician wages surged by 15-30% due to expanded roles during the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with persistent staffing shortages. Technicians should be strategic in their first few years, particularly by pursuing sterile compounding training, which is among the highest-paying specializations, as they work toward their career advancement and salary increases in Sioux City.
More salary data for Sioux City, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Entry-level salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The 10th percentile (entry-level) is used as the starting salary benchmark for new pharmacy graduates. A 5.44% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 entry-level compensation in Sioux City. Program costs are averages and actual tuition varies by institution. ROI calculations are simplified estimates.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.44%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for pharmacy technicians (SOC 29-2052).
Compiled and verified by Emily Tran, PharmD, a licensed pharmacy technician with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov