Pharmacy Technician Salary in Monroe, LA: $41,290 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacy technician in Monroe, LA earns a median $41,290/year (≈ $19.85/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Once you factor in Monroe's price level (16% below national, BEA RPP 83.6), that paycheck buys what $49,392 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 10.4% below the Louisiana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Monroe, Louisiana, the estimated median annual salary for pharmacy technicians is $41,290, signaling a notable pay gap when compared to the national median of $48,239. The salary range reflects this variation, with entry-level technicians starting at approximately $32,307, while more experienced professionals could earn as much as $50,896. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected to 2026, reveals a significant disparity in compensation based on the work setting. Hospital sterile compounding roles typically offer higher pay than retail positions, which have seen pressure on wages after the influx of certified technicians driven by recent public health needs, reflecting broader trends in the industry.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $32,307 | $15.53 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $38,538 | $18.53 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $41,290 | $19.85 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $48,682 | $23.41 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $50,896 | $24.47 |
Median Salary Position
14.41% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Monroe
In Monroe, LA, the pharmacy technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $18,589 (2026 est.). At $41,290, the local median is 14.41% below the national median of $48,239.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Monroe: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Monroe Pharmacy Technician Pay Compares
Monroe median: $41,290/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Monroe Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Average | $46,083 | -10.40% less |
| National Average | $48,239 | -14.41% less |
Pharmacy Technicians in Monroe, LA earn a median of $41,290 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.41% lower than the national median of $48,239 and 10.40% below the Louisiana state average of $46,083.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Monroe has a cost of living 16.40% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Monroe, LA has a cost-of-living index of 83.597 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacy technician earning $41,290 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $49,392 in an average-cost city — an effective 19.62% 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
$32,130
2025 BLS Actual
$39,160
2026 Current Est.
$41,290
2019–2027 Growth
+35.5%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Monroe (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $32,130 | Actual |
| 2020 | $33,420 | Actual |
| 2021 | $29,650 | Actual |
| 2022 | $34,930 | Actual |
| 2023 | $36,130 | Actual |
| 2024 | $36,820 | Actual |
| 2025 | $39,160 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $41,290 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $43,536 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Monroe metropolitan area, the median pharmacy technician salary grew 21.9% from $32,130 (2019) to $39,160 (2025). At a 5.44% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $43,536 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,406 (35.50%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Monroe 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) | $32,307 – $38,538 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $38,538 – $41,290 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $41,290 – $48,682 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $48,682 – $50,896 |
CPhT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacy technician compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacy Technician Job Market in Monroe
With around 380 pharmacy technicians employed in Monroe, the local market shows signs of growth, estimated at an annual increase rate of 5.44%. Despite the lower cost-of-living index of 83.597, which enhances the purchasing power for employees, many pharmacists may find that obtaining specialized certifications—like the CSPT—and working in hospital settings rather than retail can significantly affect income potential. Notably, employers such as hospital inpatient pharmacies typically offer superior salaries compared to retail chains like CVS or Walgreens. Moreover, compensation variations can stem from a complex mix of factors including certification stipends, shift differentials for overnight shifts, and pay structures that favor hospital settings. For pharmacy technicians seeking to maximize their pay in Monroe, focusing on achieving additional qualifications, pursuing roles in sterile compounding, and considering a shift to hospital employment may yield the best financial returns.
More salary data for Monroe, LA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do pharmacy technicians make in Monroe, LA in 2026?
Is Monroe, LA a good place to work as a pharmacy technician?
Can pharmacy technicians make $100K in Monroe?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted pharmacy technician salary in Monroe?
How much does a pharmacy technician make per hour in Monroe?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Louisiana
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 $39,160 for pharmacy techniciansin the Monroe 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