Pharmacy Technician Hourly Pay in Memphis, TN: $22.94 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a pharmacy technician working in Memphis, TN runs $22.94 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $47,722 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Weighted against Memphis's regional price level (BEA RPP 92.2, 8% below national), each hour of work buys what $24.89 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $28,634 per year.
Official BLS data · View source

In Memphis, TN, pharmacy technicians will earn a median hourly rate of $22.94, which falls slightly below the national median of $23.19. This discrepancy reflects the local job market for entry-level positions while offering an accessible entry point for individuals pursuing careers in diverse pharmacy settings, including retail counters, hospital pharmacies, and specialized compounding environments. Entry-level roles typically start at around $18.61 per hour, while experienced pharmacy technicians can earn up to $29.02 per hour. This robust hourly range underscores the growth potential in the field and highlights opportunities for part-time and per-diem workers, especially as demand for pharmacy services continues to rise post-pandemic. According to the projections based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, these figures position Memphis competitively within the regional and national healthcare landscape for pharmacy technicians.
Pharmacy Technician Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $18.61 | $148.88 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $19.13 | $153.01 |
| Median (P50) | $22.94 | $183.55 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $24.94 | $199.49 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $29.02 | $232.14 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Memphis
Based on $22.94/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $22.94/hr, a pharmacy technician working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Memphis, TN can expect to earn approximately $47,723 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $27,532. With a cost-of-living index of 92.18 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Memphis.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Memphis
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $917.75 | $3,977 | $47,723 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $550.65 | $2,386 | $28,634 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $367.10 | $1,591 | $19,089 |
Compare CPhT Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician (Memphis) | $22.94 |
| 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 Memphis, TN earn a median of $47,722 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.07% lower than the national median of $48,239 and 16.70% above the Tennessee state average of $40,893.
Pharmacy Technician Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $22.94/hr = $28,634/year (purchasing power: $31,063).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $47,723/year (purchasing power: $51,772).
CoL index: 92.179 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$16.86/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$21.76/hr
2026 Current Est.
$22.94/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+43.5%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Memphis (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $16.86/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $17.26/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $17.53/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $17.70/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $18.71/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $18.93/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $21.76/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $22.94/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $24.19/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for pharmacy technicians in Memphis grew 29.1% from $16.86/hr (2019) to $21.76/hr (2025). At a 5.44% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $24.19/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 Memphis 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 Memphis
For those considering part-time work as pharmacy technicians in Memphis, a typical schedule of three days per week could yield an annual take-home pay of approximately $28,407, significantly less than a full-time counterpart. Per-diem pharmacy technician pay in Memphis tends to fluctuate, with many billing between $20 and $32 per hour depending on their specific roles and responsibilities. For instance, hospital sterile compounding technicians can earn between $25 to $40 per hour on a per-diem basis, while specialized travel contracts might bring in between $1,200 to $1,800 per week in high-demand areas. Hourly rates can vary notably across employer types, with retail pharmacies offering slightly lower wages compared to hospital settings, which typically feature higher pay scales to attract qualified personnel, especially for positions compliant with USP <797> and <800>. While some pharmacy technicians may choose to accept lower hourly wages in exchange for benefits like health insurance, others may prefer higher pay without benefits, impacting their job selection and career strategies in this evolving market. Negotiation skills play a critical role in maximizing hourly pay, particularly for those working in diverse pharmacy environments throughout Memphis.
More salary data for Memphis, TN:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly rate for pharmacy technicians in Memphis in 2026?
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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 Memphis. 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