PayByState

Kentucky · BLS SOC 29-2052

Pharmacy Technician salary in Kentucky

Median $35,870 · Top 10% earn $47,020+ · Roughly 6,322 workers in Kentucky. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Kentucky median
$35,870
$17.25/hr
Top 10%
$47,020
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$25,710
Entry-level range
Real pay
$40,761
CoL-adjusted (RPP 88.0)

Kentucky pays modestly below the U.S. median for pharmacy technicians — $35,870 versus the national median of $40,300. Kentucky's lower cost of living means the salary stretches further — real purchasing power is about $461 above the U.S. average. The state employs roughly 6,322 pharmacy technicians.

What drives pharmacy technician pay in Kentucky

Kentucky pays close to the U.S. median for pharmacy technicians. The state's pay landscape reflects typical national patterns — hospital and academic medical center roles paying above private practice, specialty credentials adding meaningful premiums, and metropolitan areas paying above rural ones.

Kentucky ranks #46 of 50 states

Where Kentucky sits in the national distribution for pharmacy technician pay, and the closest comparable states above and below.

Rank State Median vs. Kentucky
#43 Tennessee $36,670 +$800
#42 Idaho $36,670 +$800
#41 Missouri $36,670 +$800
#46 Kentucky (this page) $35,870 —
#47 Louisiana $35,460 −$410
#48 Alabama $34,660 −$1,210
#49 West Virginia $34,660 −$1,210
See all 50 states →

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Education path for Kentucky

The typical path is a high school diploma + employer training or postsecondary certificate, taking about 9 months. Tuition ranges from $600 (community college) to $8,000 (private accelerated). On the Kentucky median of $35,870, payback periods are typically 1.6 years or less from a starting income near minimum wage.

For full credentialing detail and the realistic career outlook, see the Pharmacy Technician salary overview. To run your own numbers, use the ROI calculator with Kentucky selected.

Pharmacy Technician salary in Kentucky — FAQ

What is the average pharmacy technician salary in Kentucky?
The median pharmacy technician salary in Kentucky is $35,870 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $25,710; the top 10% earn $47,020 or more. About 6,322 people work in this role across the state.
How does Kentucky pharmacy technician pay compare to the national average?
Kentucky's median of $35,870 is $4,430 below the U.S. national median of $40,300. After adjusting for Kentucky's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 88.0), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $40,761.
Is pharmacy technician a good career in Kentucky?
On the data: Kentucky employs roughly 6,322 pharmacy technicians, with a median wage of $35,870 and the top decile clearing $47,020. The role is projected to grow +7% nationally over the next decade. Whether it's "good" for you depends on whether the work suits you and whether you're positioned for the in-state metros that pay above the median.
What's the hourly rate for pharmacy technicians in Kentucky?
At the Kentucky median of $35,870 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $17.25/hr. The top 10% earn around $22.61/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $12.36/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Kentucky-level wage data sourced from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 release (SOC 29-2052: Pharmacy Technicians), with state pay indexes from BLS area-comparison tables. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities, 2023 release, where Kentucky's RPP is 88.0 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.