Pharmacy Technician Salary in Upland, CA: $53,900 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacy technician in Upland, CA earns a median $53,900/year (≈ $25.92/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Once you factor in Upland's price level (13% above national, BEA RPP 113.1), that paycheck buys what $47,657 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.3% below the California state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Upland, California, the projected median salary for pharmacy technicians in 2026 is $53,900, marking an increase compared to the national average of $48,239. Local estimates indicate a comprehensive salary range from $42,571 at the 10th percentile to $72,823 at the 90th percentile. This wide pay gradient suggests that pharmacy technicians engaged in hospital sterile compounding, a field that requires advanced knowledge of USP <797> and <800> compliance, often earn significantly more than those working in retail settings. The salary landscape in Upland reflects local cost-of-living adjustments based on data from BLS estimates, emphasizing the importance of skill specialization and work environment in determining pharmacy technician pay in Upland, CA.
About the Upland Market
Salary estimated from California average ($52,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $42,571 | $20.47 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $44,456 | $21.37 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $53,900 | $25.92 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $59,679 | $28.69 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $72,823 | $35.01 |
Median Salary Position
11.74% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Upland
In Upland, CA, the pharmacy technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $30,252 (2026 est.). At $53,900, the local median is 11.74% above the national median of $48,239.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Upland: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Upland Pharmacy Technician Pay Compares
Upland median: $53,900/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Upland Pays |
|---|---|---|
| California Average | $55,739 | -3.30% less |
| National Average | $48,239 | +11.74% more |
Pharmacy Technicians in Upland, CA earn a median of $53,900 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.74% higher than the national median of $48,239 and 3.30% below the California state average of $55,739.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Upland has a cost of living 13.10% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Upland, CA has a cost-of-living index of 113.1 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $53,900 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $47,657 — a 11.58% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$37,934
2025 BLS Actual
$51,119
2026 Current Est.
$53,900
2019–2027 Growth
+49.8%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Upland (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $37,934 | Actual |
| 2020 | $39,219 | Actual |
| 2021 | $41,052 | Actual |
| 2022 | $42,225 | Actual |
| 2023 | $45,029 | Actual |
| 2024 | $56,875 | Actual |
| 2025 | $51,119 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $53,900 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $56,832 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Upland metropolitan area, the median pharmacy technician salary grew 34.8% from $37,934 (2019) to $51,119 (2025). At a 5.44% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $56,832 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,898 (49.82%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Upland 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) | $42,571 – $44,456 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $44,456 – $53,900 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $53,900 – $59,679 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $59,679 – $72,823 |
CPhT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacy technician compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacy Technician Job Market in Upland
With 18 pharmacy technicians currently employed in Upland, the job market reveals a compact workforce ready to respond to local healthcare demands. However, the cost-of-living index of 113.1 indicates that living expenses are higher than the national average, which impacts the real purchasing power of these salaries. Among the local employers, hospital inpatient pharmacies typically offer the highest wages, particularly for technicians with certifications such as CSPT. Factors such as shift differentials for overnight roles, along with the tendency of hospital jobs to pay more than retail pharmacy positions, largely contribute to the observed salary variances. To optimize earning potential in Upland's market, pharmacy technicians can pursue additional certifications, seek positions in specialty or hospital pharmacies, and remain informed about employer-specific benefits that enhance overall compensation.
More salary data for Upland, 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 $51,119 for pharmacy techniciansin the Upland 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 Upland 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