Pharmacy Technician Hourly Pay in New Orleans, LA: $23.33 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a pharmacy technician working in New Orleans, LA runs $23.33 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $48,523 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Weighted against New Orleans's regional price level (BEA RPP 92.6, 7% below national), each hour of work buys what $25.20 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $29,121 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In New Orleans, Louisiana, pharmacy technicians earn a median hourly pay of $23.33, which positions them slightly above the national hourly median of $23.19. This rate reflects the diverse opportunities available within the profession, whether in bustling retail pharmacy counters or specialized settings such as hospital pharmacy IV clean rooms, mail-order fulfillment, and long-term care facilities. For those working part-time, such as a pharmacy technician on a typical 3-day work week, this median rate translates to around $1,866 monthly or approximately $22,392 annually. In this city, entry-level technicians may start at an hourly wage of $18.91, while top earners could reach as much as $28.68. These figures, drawn from 2025 BLS OEWS data projected to 2026, highlight the potential for growth and stable employment for pharmacy technicians in New Orleans.
Pharmacy Technician Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $18.91 | $151.24 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $19.19 | $153.52 |
| Median (P50) | $23.33 | $186.67 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $24.66 | $197.30 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $28.68 | $229.44 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in New Orleans
Based on $23.33/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $23.33/hr, a pharmacy technician working full-time (40 hr/wk) in New Orleans, LA can expect to earn approximately $48,534 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $28,001. With a cost-of-living index of 92.60 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in New Orleans.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in New Orleans
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $933.35 | $4,045 | $48,534 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $560.01 | $2,427 | $29,121 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $373.34 | $1,618 | $19,414 |
Compare CPhT Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician (New Orleans) | $23.33 |
| 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 New Orleans, LA earn a median of $48,523 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.59% higher than the national median of $48,239 and 5.30% above the Louisiana state average of $46,081.
Pharmacy Technician Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $23.33/hr = $29,121/year (purchasing power: $31,449).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $48,534/year (purchasing power: $52,415).
CoL index: 92.597 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$16.26/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$22.13/hr
2026 Current Est.
$23.33/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+51.3%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in New Orleans (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $16.26/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $17.50/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $17.59/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $17.67/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $18.27/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $18.80/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $22.13/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $23.33/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $24.60/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for pharmacy technicians in New Orleans grew 36.1% from $16.26/hr (2019) to $22.13/hr (2025). At a 5.44% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $24.60/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 New Orleans 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 New Orleans
When considering the earning potential for part-time pharmacy technicians in New Orleans, a 3-day work schedule allows individuals to balance work life with personal commitments. With an effective take-home pay reflecting the hourly wage, many find that full-time employment, usually requiring 40 hours a week, brings considerable financial advantage. Per diem pharmacy technician pay in New Orleans typically ranges from $20 to $32 an hour, and roles in sterile compounding often command higher hourly rates of $25 to $40. These positions can also offer travel contracts that pay between $1,200 and $1,800 per week in markets experiencing shortages. Pharmacy technicians may opt for lower hourly pay in exchange for benefits like health insurance, while those who choose higher pay without benefits might find greater financial flexibility. Negotiating hourly pay effectively, especially with major employers like CVS and Walgreens, can yield improved compensation, particularly as the demand for pharmacy technicians increases in the wake of recent healthcare initiatives and ongoing shortages across various sectors.
More salary data for New Orleans, LA:
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 New Orleans. 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