Pharmacy Technician Hourly Pay in Altoona, PA: $18.66 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a pharmacy technician working in Altoona, PA runs $18.66 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $38,812 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Weighted against Altoona's regional price level (BEA RPP 89.5, 10% below national), each hour of work buys what $20.85 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $23,291 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Altoona, Pennsylvania, the projected median hourly pay for pharmacy technicians in 2026 is $18.66. This figure is notably lower than the national median of $23.19, reflecting the regional variations in pay scales. For pharmacy technicians working part-time, such as those on a 3-day workweek, this translates to a weekly income of approximately $448, which can provide essential income in a variety of settings, from retail pharmacies to hospital IV clean rooms that comply with USP <797> and <800> standards. The hourly pay range from $16.08 to $26.82 indicates opportunities for both entry-level positions and those that require specialized skills, positioning Altoona as a market with a diverse pay scale for pharmacy technicians in various roles.
Pharmacy Technician Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $16.08 | $128.64 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $17.78 | $142.22 |
| Median (P50) | $18.66 | $149.30 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $22.54 | $180.34 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $26.82 | $214.59 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Altoona
Based on $18.66/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $18.66/hr, a pharmacy technician working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Altoona, PA can expect to earn approximately $38,819 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $22,395. With a cost-of-living index of 89.51 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Altoona.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Altoona
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $746.52 | $3,235 | $38,819 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $447.91 | $1,941 | $23,291 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $298.61 | $1,294 | $15,528 |
Compare CPhT Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician (Altoona) | $18.66 |
| 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 Altoona, PA earn a median of $38,812 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.54% lower than the national median of $48,239 and 1.80% below the Pennsylvania state average of $39,524.
Pharmacy Technician Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $18.66/hr = $23,291/year (purchasing power: $26,022).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $38,819/year (purchasing power: $43,370).
CoL index: 89.507 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$14.58/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$17.70/hr
2026 Current Est.
$18.66/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+35.0%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Altoona (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $14.58/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $14.67/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $14.00/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $16.91/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $17.28/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $16.67/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $17.70/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $18.66/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $19.68/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for pharmacy technicians in Altoona grew 21.4% from $14.58/hr (2019) to $17.70/hr (2025). At a 5.44% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $19.68/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 Altoona 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 Altoona
Part-time pharmacy technicians, working approximately 24 hours a week, can expect an annual income near $22,100, which is significantly less than what full-time employees might earn but still offers a flexible work-life balance. Per diem pharmacy technician pay in Altoona can vary quite a bit; professional contractors often charge between $20 and $32 per hour for standard assignments, with sterile compounding duties fetching rates up to $40 per hour. It is worth noting that specialty pharmacy environments, alongside retail giants like CVS and Walgreens, may provide different hourly compensation and benefits structures. This means some pharmacy technicians might opt for jobs with lower hourly rates for the added security of health insurance. When negotiating pay, it’s beneficial for applicants to research the specific employer types in Altoona, as compensation can vary widely between retail, hospital, and compounding pharmacy settings.
More salary data for Altoona, PA:
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 Altoona. 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