Pharmacy Technician Hourly Pay in Kankakee, IL: $19.86 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a pharmacy technician working in Kankakee, IL runs $19.86 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $41,322 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Weighted against Kankakee's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.4, 4% below national), each hour of work buys what $20.61 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $24,791 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Kankakee, Illinois, the projected pharmacy technician hourly pay for 2026 is $19.86, which is notably lower than the national median hourly rate of $23.19. This difference can significantly impact part-time workers, particularly those clocking in three days a week. At this rate, a typical part-time pharmacy technician working 24 hours weekly could earn just under $31,000 annually, which often makes it essential for them to seek additional shifts or per-diem opportunities to increase their income. For those new to the field, entry-level positions may start around $17.81 per hour, while seasoned professionals can earn up to $26.25 per hour depending on their specific roles—be it in retail pharmacy counters, sterile compounding environments compliant with USP <797> and <800>, or pharmaceutical production lines. This data is derived from estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026.
Pharmacy Technician Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $17.81 | $142.47 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $18.20 | $145.59 |
| Median (P50) | $19.86 | $158.92 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $25.07 | $200.59 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $26.25 | $210.04 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Kankakee
Based on $19.86/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $19.86/hr, a pharmacy technician working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Kankakee, IL can expect to earn approximately $41,319 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $23,838. With a cost-of-living index of 96.39 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Kankakee.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Kankakee
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $794.60 | $3,443 | $41,319 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $476.76 | $2,066 | $24,791 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $317.84 | $1,377 | $16,528 |
Compare CPhT Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician (Kankakee) | $19.86 |
| Medical Assistant (National Avg) | $20.14 |
| Dental Assistant (National Avg) | $21.29 |
| Phlebotomist (National Avg) | $20.36 |
| Registered Nurse (National Avg) | $42.80 |
Pharmacy Technicians in Kankakee, IL earn a median of $41,322 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.34% lower than the national median of $48,239 and 8.00% below the Illinois state average of $44,915.
Pharmacy Technician Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $19.86/hr = $24,791/year (purchasing power: $25,719).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $41,319/year (purchasing power: $42,865).
CoL index: 96.394 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$13.87/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$18.84/hr
2026 Current Est.
$19.86/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+51.0%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Kankakee (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $13.87/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $15.30/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $17.47/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $18.16/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $17.79/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $18.18/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $18.84/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $19.86/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $20.95/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for pharmacy technicians in Kankakee grew 35.8% from $13.87/hr (2019) to $18.84/hr (2025). At a 5.44% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $20.95/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem pharmacy technicians can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Kankakee 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.
Working as an Hourly Pharmacy Technician in Kankakee
When considering part-time pharmacy technicians in Kankakee, earnings can vary dramatically depending on the working arrangements. A technician working just three days a week will typically bring home significantly less than their full-time counterparts, who enjoy more stability and benefits. Per diem pharmacy technician pay in Kankakee can range from $20 to $32 per hour, with opportunities in sterile compounding roles fetching even more—often between $25 and $40 per hour. Employers such as CVS and Walgreens might offer lower rates but potentially include healthcare benefits, while contracts for travel pharmacy techs could yield $1,200 to $1,800 per week in markets experiencing staff shortages. Many technicians must balance the trade-off between accepting lower hourly wages for job security and benefits versus pursuing higher pay in more unstable positions. It's prudent for hourly workers in this sector to negotiate effectively—emphasizing certifications such as PTCB or CSPT can provide leverage in discussions about pay and terms.
More salary data for Kankakee, IL:
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
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 5.44% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for pharmacy technicians in Kankakee. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
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