Pharmacy Technician Salary in Ames, IA: $41,448 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacy technician in Ames, IA earns a median $41,448/year (≈ $19.93/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Once you factor in Ames's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 88.8), that paycheck buys what $46,660 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 10.4% below the Iowa state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Ames, Iowa, the projected salary for pharmacy technicians in 2026 stands at $41,448, reflecting a disparity when compared to the national median of $48,239. This salary encompasses a range from $35,333 at the lower end (P10) to $52,699 at the upper tier (P90). The data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, indicates a noticeable pay gradient between those employed in hospital sterile compounding roles and those in retail settings. The local job market presents varying compensation scales, with hospital positions typically offering higher remuneration due to specialized responsibilities and compliance requirements, such as those outlined by USP <797> and <800>.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $35,333 | $16.99 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $39,255 | $18.87 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $41,448 | $19.93 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $50,843 | $24.44 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $52,699 | $25.34 |
Median Salary Position
14.08% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Ames
In Ames, IA, the pharmacy technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $17,366 (2026 est.). At $41,448, the local median is 14.08% below the national median of $48,239.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Ames: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Ames Pharmacy Technician Pay Compares
Ames median: $41,448/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Ames Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $46,259 | -10.40% less |
| National Average | $48,239 | -14.08% less |
Pharmacy Technicians in Ames, IA earn a median of $41,448 per year (2026 est.), which is 14.08% lower than the national median of $48,239 and 10.40% below the Iowa state average of $46,259.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Ames has a cost of living 11.17% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Ames, IA has a cost-of-living index of 88.83 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacy technician earning $41,448 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $46,660 in an average-cost city — an effective 12.57% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$32,220
2025 BLS Actual
$39,310
2026 Current Est.
$41,448
2019–2027 Growth
+35.6%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Ames (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $32,220 | Actual |
| 2020 | $33,930 | Actual |
| 2021 | $36,630 | Actual |
| 2022 | $37,210 | Actual |
| 2023 | $39,540 | Actual |
| 2024 | $40,030 | Actual |
| 2025 | $39,310 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $41,448 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $43,703 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Ames metropolitan area, the median pharmacy technician salary grew 22.0% from $32,220 (2019) to $39,310 (2025). At a 5.44% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $43,703 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,483 (35.64%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Ames 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $35,333 – $39,255 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $39,255 – $41,448 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $41,448 – $50,843 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $50,843 – $52,699 |
CPhT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacy technician compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacy Technician Job Market in Ames
With 140 pharmacy technicians currently employed in Ames, the local job market demonstrates a modest but encouraging growth trajectory, projected at 5.44% annually over the next five years. The area's cost of living index of 88.83 suggests that the purchasing power for pharmacy technicians is relatively favorable, allowing for a decent quality of life despite lower wages compared to national averages. Among local employers, hospital pharmacies, particularly those engaged in sterile compounding, tend to offer the most competitive salaries, surpassing retail chains like CVS and Walgreens. Factors influencing salary disparities include certifications such as the CSPT credential, shift differentials for night hours, and varying wage structures between retail and hospital settings. To enhance earnings in Ames, pharmacy technicians should consider pursuing additional certifications, gaining experience in specialized roles, and leveraging any available stipends or bonuses associated with their specific work environment.
More salary data for Ames, 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
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 BLS reported a median annual salary of $39,310 for pharmacy techniciansin the Ames metropolitan area. A 5.44% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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