Pharmacy Technician Salary in Syracuse, NY: $43,684 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacy technician in Syracuse, NY earns a median $43,684/year (≈ $21.00/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Once you factor in Syracuse's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 95.7), that paycheck buys what $45,627 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the New York state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Pharmacy technicians in Syracuse, New York, can expect a median annual salary of $43,684 in 2026, which reflects a competitive market for these professionals within the region. The salary range for this occupation spans from $36,408 at the 10th percentile to $61,746 at the 90th percentile, illustrating the variability in compensation based on factors such as experience and workplace setting. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected to 2026, highlights a gap in earnings compared to the national median of $48,239. In Syracuse, achieving a CSPT (Certified Sterile Compounding Technician) certification can significantly impact earning potential, often leading to higher pay in sterile compounding settings that comply with USP standards. Given these dynamics, the job market for pharmacy technicians exhibits a growing need, indicating a robust opportunity for those looking to enter or advance in this field.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $36,408 | $17.50 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $38,654 | $18.59 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $43,684 | $21.00 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $50,211 | $24.15 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $61,746 | $29.68 |
Median Salary Position
9.44% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Syracuse
In Syracuse, NY, the pharmacy technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $25,338 (2026 est.). At $43,684, the local median is 9.44% below the national median of $48,239.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Syracuse: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Syracuse Pharmacy Technician Pay Compares
Syracuse median: $43,684/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Syracuse Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $48,239 | -9.44% less |
Pharmacy Technicians in Syracuse, NY earn a median of $43,684 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.44% lower than the national median of $48,239.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Syracuse has a cost of living 4.26% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Syracuse, NY has a cost-of-living index of 95.742 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacy technician earning $43,684 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $45,627 in an average-cost city — an effective 4.45% 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
$33,360
2025 BLS Actual
$41,430
2026 Current Est.
$43,684
2019–2027 Growth
+38.1%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Syracuse (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $33,360 | Actual |
| 2020 | $32,820 | Actual |
| 2021 | $36,360 | Actual |
| 2022 | $36,350 | Actual |
| 2023 | $36,980 | Actual |
| 2024 | $38,700 | Actual |
| 2025 | $41,430 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $43,684 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $46,060 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Syracuse metropolitan area, the median pharmacy technician salary grew 24.2% from $33,360 (2019) to $41,430 (2025). At a 5.44% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $46,060 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,700 (38.07%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Syracuse 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) | $36,408 – $38,654 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $38,654 – $43,684 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $43,684 – $50,211 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $50,211 – $61,746 |
CPhT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacy technician compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacy Technician Job Market in Syracuse
Approximately 890 pharmacy technicians are currently employed in Syracuse, and the cost of living index for the area stands at 95.742, which is below the national average. This means that, despite lower pay compared to the national figures, technicians may enjoy relatively better purchasing power locally. Among the various types of employers, those working in hospitals or specialized compounding settings typically earn the highest wages, with notable opportunities provided by mail-order operations and long-term care pharmacies as well. The spread between the lower and higher ends of pharmacy technician pay in Syracuse can be attributed to several factors, including the prevalence of specialized certifications such as CSPT and various shift differentials often found in retail and hospital environments. To maximize pay in this market, aspiring technicians should consider pursuing the CSPT credential, seek positions in high-demand settings like hospitals, and remain flexible regarding shifts that may offer bonuses for overnight work.
More salary data for Syracuse, NY:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do pharmacy technicians make in Syracuse, NY in 2026?
Is Syracuse, NY a good place to work as a pharmacy technician?
Can pharmacy technicians make $100K in Syracuse?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted pharmacy technician salary in Syracuse?
How much does a pharmacy technician make per hour in Syracuse?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in New York
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 $41,430 for pharmacy techniciansin the Syracuse 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