PayByState

Massachusetts · BLS SOC 29-2052

Pharmacy Technician salary in Massachusetts

Median $47,550 · Top 10% earn $70,600+ · Roughly 11,290 workers in Massachusetts. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Massachusetts median
$47,550
$22.86/hr
Top 10%
$70,600
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$34,090
Entry-level range
Real pay
$42,993
CoL-adjusted (RPP 110.6)

Massachusetts pays meaningfully above the U.S. median for pharmacy technicians — $47,550 versus the national median of $40,300. After adjusting for Massachusetts's high cost of living, the pay edge narrows to about $2,693 above U.S. average buying power. The state employs roughly 11,290 pharmacy technicians.

What drives pharmacy technician pay in Massachusetts

Massachusetts sits in the top quartile of U.S. pharmacy technician pay. The structural drivers are typical of high-pay states for this occupation: strong hospital system concentration, limited credential supply, or regulatory frameworks that compress labor availability.

Top-paying metros in Massachusetts

Massachusetts-area metropolitan areas with the highest pharmacy technician medians.

Massachusetts metros

10 highest-paying metropolitan areas. Source: BLS OEWS metro tables, May 2024.

Rank Metro Median
1 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $48,900

Massachusetts ranks #4 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. Massachusetts
#3 New York $48,360 +$810
#2 District of Columbia $48,760 +$1,210
#1 California $49,170 +$1,620
#4 Massachusetts (this page) $47,550 —
#7 Oregon $46,350 −$1,200
#8 Hawaii $45,540 −$2,010
#9 Connecticut $45,540 −$2,010
See all 50 states →

Find Pharmacy Technician programs near you

We surface accredited programs by state — community college, online, and accelerated. Compare tuition, length, and start dates.

Compare programs

Sponsored. We may earn a commission if you enroll. Prices and availability vary by school and state.

Education path for Massachusetts

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 Massachusetts median of $47,550, payback periods are typically 0.5 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 Massachusetts selected.

Pharmacy Technician salary in Massachusetts — FAQ

What is the average pharmacy technician salary in Massachusetts?
The median pharmacy technician salary in Massachusetts is $47,550 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $34,090; the top 10% earn $70,600 or more. About 11,290 people work in this role across the state.
How does Massachusetts pharmacy technician pay compare to the national average?
Massachusetts's median of $47,550 is $7,250 above the U.S. national median of $40,300. After adjusting for Massachusetts's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 110.6), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $42,993.
Where does Massachusetts pay pharmacy technicians the most?
Top-paying metros in Massachusetts include Boston-Cambridge-Newton at $48,900. These metros consistently pay 10–25% above the state median due to higher concentration of large hospital systems and specialty employers.
Is pharmacy technician a good career in Massachusetts?
On the data: Massachusetts employs roughly 11,290 pharmacy technicians, with a median wage of $47,550 and the top decile clearing $70,600. 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 Massachusetts?
At the Massachusetts median of $47,550 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $22.86/hr. The top 10% earn around $33.94/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $16.39/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

Massachusetts-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 Massachusetts's RPP is 110.6 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.