PayByState

Washington · BLS SOC 29-2052

Pharmacy Technician salary in Washington

Median $47,550 · Top 10% earn $70,600+ · Roughly 9,935 workers in Washington. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024.

Washington median
$47,550
$22.86/hr
Top 10%
$70,600
90th percentile
Bottom 10%
$34,090
Entry-level range
Real pay
$43,306
CoL-adjusted (RPP 109.8)

Washington pays meaningfully above the U.S. median for pharmacy technicians — $47,550 versus the national median of $40,300. Real purchasing power tracks roughly the U.S. average. The state employs roughly 9,935 pharmacy technicians.

What drives pharmacy technician pay in Washington

Washington 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 Washington

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

Washington metros

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

Rank Metro Median
1 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $56,200

Washington ranks #5 of 50 states

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

Rank State Median vs. Washington
#3 New York $48,360 +$810
#2 District of Columbia $48,760 +$1,210
#1 California $49,170 +$1,620
#5 Washington (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 →

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Education path for Washington

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 Washington 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 Washington selected.

Pharmacy Technician salary in Washington — FAQ

What is the average pharmacy technician salary in Washington?
The median pharmacy technician salary in Washington 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 9,935 people work in this role across the state.
How does Washington pharmacy technician pay compare to the national average?
Washington's median of $47,550 is $7,250 above the U.S. national median of $40,300. After adjusting for Washington's cost of living (Regional Price Parity 109.8), the real-purchasing-power equivalent is $43,306.
Where does Washington pay pharmacy technicians the most?
Top-paying metros in Washington include Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue at $56,200. 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 Washington?
On the data: Washington employs roughly 9,935 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 Washington?
At the Washington 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

Washington-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 Washington's RPP is 109.8 (U.S. = 100). Last reviewed: May 2026.