Entry-Level Pharmacy Technician Salary in Burlington, IA: $36,918 (2026)
Quick Answer:New pharmacy technicians entering the Burlington, IA job market in 2026 can expect a starting salary around $36,918 (BLS 10th-percentile benchmark for SOC 29-2052, projected from 2025 OEWS data). Stripping out Burlington's local price level (BEA RPP 90.4 — 10% below national), a first-year paycheck buys what $40,838 would in average-cost America. Most reach the city median ($44,420) within a few years of clinical practice.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
For those entering the pharmacy technician field in Burlington, Iowa, 2026 offers a promising but realistic expectation for starting salaries. New graduates can anticipate earning around $36,918, significantly lower than the city’s median annual salary of $44,420. However, early-career pharmacy technicians can gradually increase their earnings over the first few years, with opportunities to climb to $37,656 at the 25th percentile before ultimately aligning closer to the median within 3 to 5 years. Given the expected annual growth rate of 5.44% in this sector, Burlington can be viewed as a solid market for new graduates seeking to establish their careers, especially against a backdrop of a pharmacy workforce growth trend.
About the Burlington Market
Salary estimated from Iowa average ($40,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Career Earnings Timeline in Burlington
New Graduate
Early Career
Mid Career
Experienced
Salary progression estimated from BLS percentile data. Actual progression varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Burlington
Entry-level pharmacy technicians in Burlington, IA typically start between $36,918 and $37,656 per year (2026 est.). The full salary range spans $19,048 from the 10th to 90th percentile, with the local median at $44,420 — 7.92% below the national median.
Return on Investment
The average pharmacy program cost in Iowa of $5,000 represents just 13.54% of the starting pharmacy technician pay ($36,918/year) in Burlington. Most graduates begin earning back their investment from day one, though actual ROI varies based on living expenses, loan interest, and the 2-year opportunity cost of schooling.
Program cost estimates based on ASHP/ACPE-accredited pharmacy technician program data and community college tuition surveys. Tuition-only averages; actual costs vary by institution (community college vs. private vocational school) and program length.
CPhT Salary Negotiation Tips for New Graduates in Burlington
- 1Research the Burlington market: entry-level pharmacy technician pay ranges from $36,918 to $37,656, so aim for at least the 25th percentile if you have strong credentials.
- 2Highlight any additional certifications or specialty training within the pharmacy field — employers in IA often pay a premium for expanded scope of work.
- 3Evaluate the full compensation package — in Burlington, benefits like health insurance, continuing-education allowances, and schedule flexibility can add 20-30% to your effective compensation.
- 4Consider starting with a larger hospital system or multi-site employer in Burlington for competitive entry-level pay and structured mentorship, then move to a smaller employer once you have 2-3 years of experience.
- 5Burlington's below-average cost of living means your starting salary goes further here compared to many larger metro areas.
Pharmacy Technician Compensation Range
The pharmacy technician wage spread in Burlington is $19,048 ( 51.60%) between entry-level and top earners. Starting at $36,918, experienced hygienists can earn up to $55,966.
Represents the current salary spread across experience levels, not projected career growth rate.
2019 BLS Actual
$23,446
2025 BLS Actual
$35,013
2026 Current Est.
$36,918
2019–2027 Growth
+66.0%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Burlington (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $23,446 | Actual |
| 2020 | $24,690 | Actual |
| 2021 | $27,937 | Actual |
| 2022 | $28,811 | Actual |
| 2023 | $31,805 | Actual |
| 2024 | $29,607 | Actual |
| 2025 | $35,013 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $36,918 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $38,926 | Projected |
Entry-level pharmacy technician compensation (10th percentile) in Burlington, IA grew 49.3% over 7 years based on actual BLS metropolitan area surveys, rising from $23,446 in 2019 to $35,013 in 2025. By 2027, starting salaries are projected to reach $38,926. New graduates entering the Burlington job market can expect continued year-over-year gains.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Burlington metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.44% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Starting Your pharmacy Career in Burlington
When considering employment opportunities in Burlington, various employers play a significant role in absorbing new graduates into the workforce. Retail chains such as CVS and Walgreens are among the primary sources for entry-level positions, often providing paid training for the PTCB certification. These roles can be quite accessible, despite the competitive nature of the local job market. In contrast, hospital systems, which generally prefer experienced technicians, provide rewarding training programs like sterile compounding in compliance with USP <797>/<800>. To enhance starting pay in Iowa, having a high school diploma, completing state-approved training, obtaining a PTCB CPhT or NHA ExCPT certification, and registering for state pharmacy technician licenses are essential steps for new pharmacy technicians. A strategic approach for the first few years involves remaining informed about the evolving industry, particularly in light of the wage increases in retail positions as they escalated in response to the pandemic's demands. Though some retail tech roles faced instability in 2024, the continued growth of sterile compounding positions in hospitals offers higher pay tiers that can be an appealing career direction for ambitious pharmacy technicians.
More salary data for Burlington, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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.
Methodology & Data Source
Entry-level salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The 10th percentile (entry-level) is used as the starting salary benchmark for new pharmacy graduates. A 5.44% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 entry-level compensation in Burlington. Program costs are averages and actual tuition varies by institution. ROI calculations are simplified estimates.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Burlington is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.44%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for pharmacy technicians (SOC 29-2052).
Compiled and verified by Emily Tran, PharmD, a licensed pharmacy technician with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov