Pharmacy Technician Salary in Paducah, KY: $39,804 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacy technician in Paducah, KY earns a median $39,804/year (≈ $19.14/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Once you factor in Paducah's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 86.1), that paycheck buys what $46,239 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.9% below the Kentucky state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Paducah, Kentucky, pharmacy technicians earn a median annual salary of $39,804, which reflects a noticeable difference relative to the national average of $48,239. The salary range for this role in the local market varies from $32,982 at the 10th percentile to $50,812 at the 90th percentile, highlighting the potential for growth in this field. This data, based on 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected to 2026, illustrates a gradient in compensation, particularly notable between those working in hospital settings versus retail environments. Hospital sterile compounding roles tend to command higher salaries due to their complexity and compliance requirements with USP <797> and <800>, while positions in retail chains may offer lower pay yet more job opportunities. Understanding the specifics of this pay structure is essential for aspiring pharmacy technicians in Paducah's job market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $32,982 | $15.86 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $37,716 | $18.14 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $39,804 | $19.14 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $48,344 | $23.24 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $50,812 | $24.43 |
Median Salary Position
17.49% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Paducah
In Paducah, KY, the pharmacy technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $17,830 (2026 est.). At $39,804, the local median is 17.49% below the national median of $48,239.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Paducah: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Paducah Pharmacy Technician Pay Compares
Paducah median: $39,804/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Paducah Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Average | $40,992 | -2.90% less |
| National Average | $48,239 | -17.49% less |
Pharmacy Technicians in Paducah, KY earn a median of $39,804 per year (2026 est.), which is 17.49% lower than the national median of $48,239 and 2.90% below the Kentucky state average of $40,992.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Paducah has a cost of living 13.92% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Paducah, KY has a cost-of-living index of 86.084 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacy technician earning $39,804 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $46,239 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.17% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$28,013
2025 BLS Actual
$37,750
2026 Current Est.
$39,804
2019–2027 Growth
+49.8%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Paducah (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $28,013 | Actual |
| 2020 | $28,962 | Actual |
| 2021 | $30,316 | Actual |
| 2022 | $31,182 | Actual |
| 2023 | $33,253 | Actual |
| 2024 | $37,270 | Actual |
| 2025 | $37,750 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $39,804 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $41,969 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Paducah metropolitan area, the median pharmacy technician salary grew 34.8% from $28,013 (2019) to $37,750 (2025). At a 5.44% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $41,969 by 2027 — a total increase of $13,956 (49.82%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Paducah 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) | $32,982 – $37,716 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $37,716 – $39,804 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $39,804 – $48,344 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $48,344 – $50,812 |
CPhT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacy technician compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacy Technician Job Market in Paducah
The local job market for pharmacy technicians in Paducah is relatively stable, with approximately 210 individuals currently employed in this field. With a cost-of-living index of 86.084, the purchasing power for pharmacy technicians is somewhat higher compared to many other regions, allowing for a more comfortable lifestyle despite a lower salary compared to national figures. Among employers, hospital inpatient pharmacies often provide the highest pay, particularly for those holding certifications such as CSPT or working overnight shifts, which can introduce shift differentials. Retail pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens generally offer lower salaries, influenced by recent layoffs and the evolving role of pharmacy technicians in vaccination efforts. To maximize earnings in Paducah, pursuing additional certifications and focusing on specialized roles can provide significant advantages, especially in high-demand areas such as compounding pharmacies or mail-order operations.
More salary data for Paducah, KY:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do pharmacy technicians make in Paducah, KY in 2026?
Is Paducah, KY a good place to work as a pharmacy technician?
Can pharmacy technicians make $100K in Paducah?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted pharmacy technician salary in Paducah?
How much does a pharmacy technician make per hour in Paducah?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
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 $37,750 for pharmacy techniciansin the Paducah 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, 2-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