Pharmacy Technician Hourly Pay in Scranton, PA: $18.39 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a pharmacy technician working in Scranton, PA runs $18.39 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $38,254 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Weighted against Scranton's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.6, 6% below national), each hour of work buys what $19.66 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $22,949 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Scranton, Pennsylvania, pharmacy technicians earn a median hourly pay of $18.39, which is significantly lower than the national median of $23.19. This disparity reflects broader regional economic conditions and may influence the earning capacity of part-time and per-diem workers in various healthcare settings. For instance, those working three days a week could expect to earn about $1,000 per week before taxes, depending on their hours, providing them with a decent supplemental income. Entry-level technicians can start at $15.96 per hour, while experienced professionals may earn up to $23.52 per hour, allowing for a wide range of financial potential within this role, based on skills and experience. This data comes from projections made based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026.
Pharmacy Technician Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $15.96 | $127.71 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $17.96 | $143.65 |
| Median (P50) | $18.39 | $147.11 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $22.36 | $178.91 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $23.52 | $188.19 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Scranton
Based on $18.39/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $18.39/hr, a pharmacy technician working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Scranton, PA can expect to earn approximately $38,249 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $22,066. With a cost-of-living index of 93.56 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Scranton.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Scranton
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $735.55 | $3,187 | $38,249 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $441.33 | $1,912 | $22,949 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $294.22 | $1,275 | $15,299 |
Compare CPhT Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician (Scranton) | $18.39 |
| 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 Scranton, PA earn a median of $38,254 per year (2026 est.), which is 20.70% lower than the national median of $48,239 and 3.20% below the Pennsylvania state average of $39,518.
Pharmacy Technician Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $18.39/hr = $22,949/year (purchasing power: $24,530).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $38,249/year (purchasing power: $40,883).
CoL index: 93.556 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$13.99/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$17.44/hr
2026 Current Est.
$18.39/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+38.6%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Scranton (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $13.99/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $16.29/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $17.62/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $17.45/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $16.58/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $16.95/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $17.44/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $18.39/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $19.39/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for pharmacy technicians in Scranton grew 24.7% from $13.99/hr (2019) to $17.44/hr (2025). At a 5.44% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $19.39/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 Scranton 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 Scranton
Looking deeper into the earning potential of pharmacy technicians in Scranton, those working part-time may find they take home around $25,000 annually, as opposed to their full-time counterparts who could earn approximately $38,254. Per diem pharmacy technicians often command higher rates, typically billing between $20 and $32 per hour, with specialized roles in hospital sterile compounding yielding rates from $25 to $40 per hour. Contract positions for travel pharmacy technicians can net $1,200 to $1,800 per week, illustrating the financial incentive to take on roles in high-demand areas. Variability in hourly rates exists across different employers, including retail chains like CVS and Walgreens, inpatient hospital pharmacies, and specialty compounding pharmacies. Many technicians must weigh the benefits of health insurance against higher hourly compensation, which may come with fewer benefits. When negotiating pay, knowledge of these market conditions and the specific roles in demand within Scranton can effectively empower technicians to advocate for better compensation.
More salary data for Scranton, 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 Scranton. 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