Pharmacy Technician Salary in Eau Claire, WI: $48,956 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacy technician in Eau Claire, WI earns a median $48,956/year (≈ $23.53/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Once you factor in Eau Claire's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 92.8), that paycheck buys what $52,757 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.2% above the Wisconsin state average.
Official BLS data · View source
Pharmacy technician pay in Eau Claire, WI, presents an attractive median annual salary of $48,956, which is slightly higher than the national median of $48,239. The salary spectrum ranges from $36,809 at the 10th percentile to as high as $64,108 at the 90th percentile, according to estimates based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. This data highlights the distinct pay gradient existing between hospital settings, particularly those involved in sterile compounding, and retail pharmacy roles. The wage difference reflects both the higher skill requirements and compliance standards, including USP <797> and <800>, that govern hospital pharmacy technicians, making them some of the best compensated in the local job market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $36,809 | $17.69 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $40,384 | $19.41 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $48,956 | $23.53 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $55,630 | $26.75 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $64,108 | $30.82 |
Median Salary Position
1.49% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Eau Claire
In Eau Claire, WI, the pharmacy technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $27,299 (2026 est.). At $48,956, the local median is 1.49% above the national median of $48,239.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Eau Claire: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Eau Claire Pharmacy Technician Pay Compares
Eau Claire median: $48,956/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Eau Claire Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Average | $47,902 | +2.20% more |
| National Average | $48,239 | +1.49% more |
Pharmacy Technicians in Eau Claire, WI earn a median of $48,956 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.49% higher than the national median of $48,239 and 2.20% above the Wisconsin state average of $47,902.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Eau Claire has a cost of living 7.20% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Eau Claire, WI has a cost-of-living index of 92.796 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacy technician earning $48,956 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $52,757 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.76% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$33,800
2025 BLS Actual
$46,430
2026 Current Est.
$48,956
2019–2027 Growth
+52.7%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Eau Claire (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $33,800 | Actual |
| 2020 | $34,580 | Actual |
| 2021 | $36,040 | Actual |
| 2022 | $37,140 | Actual |
| 2023 | $38,180 | Actual |
| 2024 | $44,030 | Actual |
| 2025 | $46,430 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $48,956 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $51,619 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Eau Claire metropolitan area, the median pharmacy technician salary grew 37.4% from $33,800 (2019) to $46,430 (2025). At a 5.44% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $51,619 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,819 (52.72%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Eau Claire 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) | $36,809 – $40,384 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $40,384 – $48,956 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $48,956 – $55,630 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $55,630 – $64,108 |
CPhT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacy technician compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacy Technician Job Market in Eau Claire
In Eau Claire, approximately 280 pharmacy technicians are employed, a number supported by a cost-of-living index of 92.796, which suggests that the purchasing power in the area is favorable compared to national averages. The highest salaries typically come from hospital pharmacies and specialty operations, with retail chains like Walgreens and CVS lagging behind, particularly affected by significant layoffs in 2024 impacting retail roles. Factors contributing to salary variances include certifications like the CSPT, differential pay for night shifts in hospitals versus retail, and varying scales used by chain versus hospital employers. To maximize earning potential in Eau Claire's market, technicians may consider pursuing additional certifications and seeking employment in settings that cater specifically to sterile compounding, where the pay scale tends to be more lucrative.
More salary data for Eau Claire, WI:
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 $46,430 for pharmacy techniciansin the Eau Claire 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