Pharmacy Technician Salary in Lake Elsinore, CA: $55,565 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacy technician in Lake Elsinore, CA earns a median $55,565/year (≈ $26.72/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Once you factor in Lake Elsinore's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $49,129 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.3% below the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, pharmacy technicians in Lake Elsinore, California, can expect to earn a median annual salary of $55,565, significantly higher than the national median of $48,239. Salary ranges for this position vary widely, from $42,350 at the 10th percentile to as much as $76,255 at the 90th percentile. These figures, derived from state-level BLS data and adjusted for local cost of living, highlight the compensation trends across different pharmacy settings in the area. The distinction between hospital sterile compounding roles and retail positions is particularly notable, with the former commanding higher pay due to specialized skills and compliance with regulations like USP <797> and <800>. For pharmacy technicians in Lake Elsinore, understanding these pay gradients is essential for career planning.
About the Lake Elsinore Market
Salary estimated from California average ($52,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $42,350 | $20.36 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $44,506 | $21.39 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $55,565 | $26.72 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $59,069 | $28.39 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $76,255 | $36.66 |
Median Salary Position
15.19% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lake Elsinore
In Lake Elsinore, CA, the pharmacy technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $33,905 (2026 est.). At $55,565, the local median is 15.19% above the national median of $48,239.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Lake Elsinore: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Lake Elsinore Pharmacy Technician Pay Compares
Lake Elsinore median: $55,565/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lake Elsinore Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $55,732 | -0.30% less |
| National Average | $48,239 | +15.19% more |
Pharmacy Technicians in Lake Elsinore, CA earn a median of $55,565 per year (2026 est.), which is 15.19% higher than the national median of $48,239 and 0.30% below the California state average of $55,732.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lake Elsinore has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lake Elsinore, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $55,565 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $49,129 — a 11.58% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$39,106
2025 BLS Actual
$52,698
2026 Current Est.
$55,565
2019–2027 Growth
+49.8%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Lake Elsinore (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $39,106 | Actual |
| 2020 | $40,431 | Actual |
| 2021 | $42,320 | Actual |
| 2022 | $43,529 | Actual |
| 2023 | $46,420 | Actual |
| 2024 | $58,631 | Actual |
| 2025 | $52,698 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $55,565 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $58,587 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lake Elsinore metropolitan area, the median pharmacy technician salary grew 34.8% from $39,106 (2019) to $52,698 (2025). At a 5.44% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $58,587 by 2027 — a total increase of $19,481 (49.82%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lake Elsinore 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $42,350 – $44,506 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $44,506 – $55,565 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $55,565 – $59,069 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $59,069 – $76,255 |
CPhT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacy technician compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacy Technician Job Market in Lake Elsinore
The local job market for pharmacy technicians remains robust, with approximately 18 professionals currently employed in the Lake Elsinore region. Given the cost of living index of 113.1, technicians must consider how this affects their take-home purchasing power. Among the various employers, hospital inpatient pharmacies typically provide the highest wages, followed by specialty pharmacies and mail-order operations, with retail chains like CVS and Walgreens generally offering lower salaries. Factors contributing to the pay disparity include the setting of employment, with hospital positions often offering additional benefits such as CSPT certification stipends and shift differentials. To maximize earnings in Lake Elsinore, pharmacy technicians should seek positions in higher-paying environments, pursue relevant certifications, and consider opportunities for overnight or lead roles that offer premium wages.
More salary data for Lake Elsinore, CA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do pharmacy technicians make in Lake Elsinore, CA in 2026?
Is Lake Elsinore, CA a good place to work as a pharmacy technician?
Can pharmacy technicians make $100K in Lake Elsinore?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted pharmacy technician salary in Lake Elsinore?
How much does a pharmacy technician make per hour in Lake Elsinore?
Related Pages
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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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $52,698 for pharmacy techniciansin the Lake Elsinore metropolitan area. A 5.44% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Lake Elsinore is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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