Pharmacy Tech Pay

Prescott Valley vs Surprise: Pharmacy Technician Salary (2026)

Compare pharmacy technician salaries between Prescott Valley, AZ and Surprise, AZ. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Prescott Valley, AZ
$49,557
$23.83/hr
Surprise, AZ
$49,449
$23.78/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricPrescott Valley, AZSurprise, AZ
Median Salary$49,557$49,449
Hourly Rate$23.83$23.78
Entry Level (P10)$39,709$39,351
25th Percentile$42,988$41,036
75th Percentile$55,736$54,869
Top Earner (P90)$64,825$67,428
Total Employed29031
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Prescott Valley ($49,557) and Surprise ($49,449) pharmacy technician salaries.Prescott ValleySurpriseMedian Salary$49,557$49,449Entry Level (P10)$39,709$39,351Top Earner (P90)$64,825$67,428US Median $48,239

Verdict

Prescott Valley, AZ offers better overall compensation for pharmacy technicians, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Surprise.

The salary gap between Prescott Valley and Surprise is $108 (0.22%). Prescott Valley's median is +2.73% compared to the US national median of $48,239.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Prescott Valley spans $25,116,Surprise spans $28,077. Surprise has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced pharmacy technicians.

Prescott Valley
P10 (Entry)$39,709
P25$42,988
Median$49,557
P75$55,736
P90 (Top)$64,825
Surprise
P10 (Entry)$39,351
P25$41,036
Median$49,449
P75$54,869
P90 (Top)$67,428

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Prescott Valley ($50,437 effective) pays 0.47% more than Surprise ($50,202 effective).

Prescott Valley
Nominal: $49,557
CoL Index: 98.255
Adjusted: $50,437
Surprise
Nominal: $49,449
CoL Index: 98.5
Adjusted: $50,202

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

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Prescott Valley if…

  • Higher median salary ($49,557/year)
  • Larger job market (290 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $50,437)
  • You prefer the Arizona area and lifestyle

Choose Surprise if…

  • Better top-earner potential ($67,428)
  • You prefer the Arizona area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, pharmacy technician salaries in Prescott Valley grew 2.0% from 2024 to 2025, compared to 13.6% growth in Surprise over the same period.

Prescott Valley, AZ

+2.0%

$46,080 (2024) → $47,000 (2025)

Surprise, AZ

+13.6%

$41,281 (2024) → $46,898 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays pharmacy technicians more: Prescott Valley or Surprise?

Prescott Valley has a higher median pharmacy technician salary at $49,557/year, compared to Surprise at $49,449/year — a difference of $108 (0.22%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Prescott Valley and Surprise?

Prescott Valley pharmacy technicians earn $23.83/hr while Surprise hygienists earn $23.78/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Prescott Valley to Surprise as a pharmacy technician?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Prescott Valley and Surprise. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Prescott Valley = $50,437, Surprise = $50,202), job availability (290 vs 31 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level pharmacy technicians earn in Prescott Valley vs Surprise?

Entry-level (10th percentile) pharmacy technicians earn $39,709 in Prescott Valley and $39,351 in Surprise. The Prescott Valley area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

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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