PayByState

North Carolina · BLS SOC 29-2052

Pharmacy Technician salary in North Carolina

Median $37,480 · Top 10% earn $50,030+ · Roughly 14,451 workers in North Carolina. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

North Carolina median
$37,480
$18.02/hr
Top 10%
$50,030
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$26,860
Entry-level range
Real pay
$40,431
CoL-adjusted (RPP 92.7)

North Carolina pays modestly below the U.S. median for pharmacy technicians — $37,480 versus the national median of $40,300. Real purchasing power tracks roughly the U.S. average. The state employs roughly 14,451 pharmacy technicians.

What drives pharmacy technician pay in North Carolina

North Carolina 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.

North Carolina ranks #34 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. North Carolina
#33 Ohio $37,880 +$400
#32 New Mexico $37,880 +$400
#31 Florida $37,880 +$400
#34 North Carolina (this page) $37,480 —
#36 Georgia $37,080 −$400
#37 South Carolina $36,670 −$810
#38 Indiana $36,670 −$810
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Education path for North Carolina

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 North Carolina median of $37,480, payback periods are typically 1.5 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 North Carolina selected.

Pharmacy Technician salary in North Carolina — FAQ

What is the average pharmacy technician salary in North Carolina?
The median pharmacy technician salary in North Carolina is $37,480 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2024). The bottom 10% earn around $26,860; the top 10% earn $50,030 or more. About 14,451 people work in this role across the state.
How does North Carolina pharmacy technician pay compare to the national average?
North Carolina's median of $37,480 is $2,820 below the U.S. national median of $40,300. After adjusting for North Carolina's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 92.7), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $40,431.
Is pharmacy technician a good career in North Carolina?
On the data: North Carolina employs roughly 14,451 pharmacy technicians, with a median wage of $37,480 and the top decile clearing $50,030. 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 North Carolina?
At the North Carolina median of $37,480 annually, the equivalent hourly rate is approximately $18.02/hr. The top 10% earn around $24.05/hr, while entry-level roles typically pay $12.91/hr or slightly above.

Methodology note

North Carolina-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 North Carolina's RPP is 92.7 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.