Pharmacy Tech Pay

Longview vs Seattle: Pharmacy Technician Salary (2026)

Compare pharmacy technician salaries between Longview, WA and Seattle, WA. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Longview, WA
$61,419
$29.53/hr
Seattle, WA
$64,656
$31.08/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricLongview, WASeattle, WA
Median Salary$61,419$64,656
Hourly Rate$29.53$31.08
Entry Level (P10)$49,789$50,611
25th Percentile$52,562$55,514
75th Percentile$65,320$76,982
Top Earner (P90)$69,812$86,503
Total Employed1004,630
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Longview ($61,419) and Seattle ($64,656) pharmacy technician salaries.LongviewSeattleMedian Salary$61,419$64,656Entry Level (P10)$49,789$50,611Top Earner (P90)$69,812$86,503US Median $48,239

Verdict

Seattle, WA offers better overall compensation for pharmacy technicians, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Longview.

The salary gap between Longview and Seattle is $3,237 (5.27%). Seattle's median is +34.03% compared to the US national median of $48,239.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Longview spans $20,023,Seattle spans $35,892. Seattle has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced pharmacy technicians.

Longview
P10 (Entry)$49,789
P25$52,562
Median$61,419
P75$65,320
P90 (Top)$69,812
Seattle
P10 (Entry)$50,611
P25$55,514
Median$64,656
P75$76,982
P90 (Top)$86,503

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Longview ($62,965 effective) pays 8.23% more than Seattle ($58,179 effective).

Longview
Nominal: $61,419
CoL Index: 97.545
Adjusted: $62,965
Seattle
Nominal: $64,656
CoL Index: 111.133
Adjusted: $58,179

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Longview if…

  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $62,965)
  • You prefer the Washington area and lifestyle

Choose Seattle if…

  • Higher median salary ($64,656/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($86,503)
  • Larger job market (4,630 employed)
  • You prefer the Washington area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, pharmacy technician salaries in Longview grew 32.5% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 37.1% growth in Seattle over the same period.

Longview, WA

+32.5%

$43,960 (2019) → $58,250 (2025)

Seattle, WA

+37.1%

$44,730 (2019) → $61,320 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays pharmacy technicians more: Longview or Seattle?

Seattle has a higher median pharmacy technician salary at $64,656/year, compared to Longview at $61,419/year — a difference of $3,237 (5.27%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Longview and Seattle?

Longview pharmacy technicians earn $29.53/hr while Seattle hygienists earn $31.08/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Longview to Seattle as a pharmacy technician?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Longview and Seattle. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Longview = $62,965, Seattle = $58,179), job availability (100 vs 4,630 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level pharmacy technicians earn in Longview vs Seattle?

Entry-level (10th percentile) pharmacy technicians earn $49,789 in Longview and $50,611 in Seattle. The Seattle area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

ET

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.

Clinically reviewed by David Kim, CPhTData verified by Fatima Hassan, CPhT

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 5.44% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Emily Tran, PharmD, a licensed pharmacy technician with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov