Pharmacy Technician Salary in Stockton, CA: $54,998 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacy technician in Stockton, CA earns a median $54,998/year (≈ $26.44/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Once you factor in Stockton's price level (5% above national, BEA RPP 105.1), that paycheck buys what $52,335 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.3% below the California state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Stockton, California, the projected median annual salary for pharmacy technicians in 2026 is $54,998, reflecting a competitive compensation level when compared to the national median of $48,239. The salary range indicates a significant variation in earnings, from $41,280 at the lower end to as high as $83,751 at the 90th percentile. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, highlights the demand for certified pharmacy technicians possessing the CSPT credential, which can enhance earning potential due to the specialized skills in sterile compounding. With a local job market that employs approximately 680 pharmacy technicians, individuals seeking to enter the field can expect diverse opportunities across various sectors, which further shapes the salary dynamics in this area.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $41,280 | $19.84 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $49,040 | $23.58 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $54,998 | $26.44 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $65,942 | $31.71 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $83,751 | $40.27 |
Median Salary Position
14.01% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Stockton
In Stockton, CA, the pharmacy technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $42,471 (2026 est.). At $54,998, the local median is 14.01% above the national median of $48,239.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Stockton: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Stockton Pharmacy Technician Pay Compares
Stockton median: $54,998/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Stockton Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $55,722 | -1.30% less |
| National Average | $48,239 | +14.01% more |
Pharmacy Technicians in Stockton, CA earn a median of $54,998 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.01% higher than the national median of $48,239 and 1.30% below the California state average of $55,722.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Stockton has a cost of living 5.09% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Stockton, CA has a cost-of-living index of 105.089 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $54,998 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $52,335 — a 4.84% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$43,530
2025 BLS Actual
$52,160
2026 Current Est.
$54,998
2019–2027 Growth
+33.2%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Stockton (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $43,530 | Actual |
| 2020 | $47,920 | Actual |
| 2021 | $46,620 | Actual |
| 2022 | $48,010 | Actual |
| 2023 | $47,530 | Actual |
| 2024 | $47,730 | Actual |
| 2025 | $52,160 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $54,998 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $57,989 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Stockton metropolitan area, the median pharmacy technician salary grew 19.8% from $43,530 (2019) to $52,160 (2025). At a 5.44% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $57,989 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,459 (33.22%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Stockton 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) | $41,280 – $49,040 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $49,040 – $54,998 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $54,998 – $65,942 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $65,942 – $83,751 |
CPhT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacy technician compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacy Technician Job Market in Stockton
While Stockton's annual pharmacy technician salary stands above the national average, the cost of living, with a current index of 105.089, slightly influences take-home pay. As various employers in the region, such as retail pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens, as well as hospital inpatient pharmacies, compete for skilled technicians, the highest salaries tend to arise within hospital settings that require sterile compounding capabilities. Factors driving the disparity between lower and higher wages often include workplace settings, shift differentials, and the value of the CSPT certification. To maximize earnings, pharmacy technicians in Stockton should consider pursuing additional certifications, focusing on specialized roles, and being open to shift work that could offer premium pay opportunities.
More salary data for Stockton, CA:
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
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 $52,160 for pharmacy techniciansin the Stockton 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
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