Pharmacy Technician Salary in Champaign, IL: $40,036 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacy technician in Champaign, IL earns a median $40,036/year (≈ $19.24/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Once you factor in Champaign's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 92.7), that paycheck buys what $43,187 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 10.8% below the Illinois state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Champaign, Illinois, pharmacy technicians can expect a median annual salary of $40,036 in 2026, reflecting a significant gap compared to the national figure of $48,239. The salary range for pharmacy technicians in the area is projected to be from $37,937 at the 10th percentile to $52,836 at the 90th percentile. This information comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) data. The disparity highlights the pay gradient between hospital sterile compounding positions and retail roles, with hospital environments often providing higher compensation due to the need for compliance with strict regulations such as USP <797> and <800>.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37,937 | $18.24 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $38,971 | $18.74 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $40,036 | $19.24 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $48,935 | $23.52 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $52,836 | $25.40 |
Median Salary Position
17% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Champaign
In Champaign, IL, the pharmacy technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $14,899 (2026 est.). At $40,036, the local median is 17% below the national median of $48,239.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Champaign: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Champaign Pharmacy Technician Pay Compares
Champaign median: $40,036/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Champaign Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Average | $44,883 | -10.80% less |
| National Average | $48,239 | -17.00% less |
Pharmacy Technicians in Champaign, IL earn a median of $40,036 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.00% lower than the national median of $48,239 and 10.80% below the Illinois state average of $44,883.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Champaign has a cost of living 7.30% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Champaign, IL has a cost-of-living index of 92.704 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacy technician earning $40,036 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $43,187 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.87% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$30,980
2025 BLS Actual
$37,970
2026 Current Est.
$40,036
2019–2027 Growth
+36.3%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Champaign (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $30,980 | Actual |
| 2020 | $32,370 | Actual |
| 2021 | $35,210 | Actual |
| 2022 | $36,720 | Actual |
| 2023 | $37,460 | Actual |
| 2024 | $41,730 | Actual |
| 2025 | $37,970 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $40,036 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $42,214 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Champaign metropolitan area, the median pharmacy technician salary grew 22.6% from $30,980 (2019) to $37,970 (2025). At a 5.44% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $42,214 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,234 (36.26%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Champaign 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) | $37,937 – $38,971 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $38,971 – $40,036 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $40,036 – $48,935 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $48,935 – $52,836 |
CPhT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacy technician compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacy Technician Job Market in Champaign
Currently, there are approximately 390 pharmacy technicians employed in Champaign, which indicates a relatively stable local job market. The cost of living index stands at 92.704, suggesting that purchasing power is slightly above the national average, which can make a pharmacy technician salary in Champaign more competitive when adjusted for living expenses. Employers in the area that tend to offer more lucrative pay include hospital inpatient pharmacies and specialty pharmacies, where factors such as CSPT certification stipends, shift differentials, and specific institutional pay scales can narrow the wage gap between the highest and lowest earners. For pharmacy technicians in Champaign, pursuing advanced certifications and seeking roles in hospital settings or specialized pharmacy fields may be effective strategies for maximizing their pay in this evolving job market.
More salary data for Champaign, IL:
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 $37,970 for pharmacy techniciansin the Champaign 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