Pharmacy Technician Salary in Scranton, PA: $38,254 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacy technician in Scranton, PA earns a median $38,254/year (≈ $18.39/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Once you factor in Scranton's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.6), that paycheck buys what $40,889 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.2% below the Pennsylvania state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Scranton, Pennsylvania, the 2026 median salary for pharmacy technicians is projected at $38,254, a figure notably below the national median of $48,239. This salary reflects a range that spans from $33,203 at the 10th percentile to $48,924 at the 90th percentile, illustrating a considerable variance in pay within the profession as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The earning potential can vary significantly based on whether technicians work in hospital settings, particularly in sterile compounding roles compliant with USP <797> and <800>, or in retail environments, with the latter generally paying less. With nearly 940 pharmacy technicians employed in the area, job availability is robust, aligning with a moderate growth rate of 5.44% over the next five years.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $33,203 | $15.96 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $37,357 | $17.96 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $38,254 | $18.39 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $46,510 | $22.36 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $48,924 | $23.52 |
Median Salary Position
20.7% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Scranton
In Scranton, PA, the pharmacy technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $15,721 (2026 est.). At $38,254, the local median is 20.7% below the national median of $48,239.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Scranton: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Scranton Pharmacy Technician Pay Compares
Scranton median: $38,254/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Scranton Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Average | $39,518 | -3.20% less |
| National Average | $48,239 | -20.70% less |
Pharmacy Technicians in Scranton, PA earn a median of $38,254 per year (2026 est.), which is 20.70% lower than the national median of $48,239 and 3.20% below the Pennsylvania state average of $39,518.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Scranton has a cost of living 6.44% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Scranton, PA has a cost-of-living index of 93.556 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacy technician earning $38,254 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $40,889 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.89% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$29,100
2025 BLS Actual
$36,280
2026 Current Est.
$38,254
2019–2027 Growth
+38.6%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Scranton (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $29,100 | Actual |
| 2020 | $33,880 | Actual |
| 2021 | $36,640 | Actual |
| 2022 | $36,300 | Actual |
| 2023 | $34,480 | Actual |
| 2024 | $35,250 | Actual |
| 2025 | $36,280 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $38,254 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $40,335 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Scranton metropolitan area, the median pharmacy technician salary grew 24.7% from $29,100 (2019) to $36,280 (2025). At a 5.44% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $40,335 by 2027 — a total increase of $11,235 (38.61%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Scranton 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) | $33,203 – $37,357 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $37,357 – $38,254 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $38,254 – $46,510 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $46,510 – $48,924 |
CPhT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacy technician compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacy Technician Job Market in Scranton
The local cost-of-living index in Scranton stands at 93.556, suggesting that the purchasing power of pharmacy technicians may be more favorable than in higher-cost cities. Employers that tend to offer higher wages include hospital inpatient pharmacies and specialty pharmacies such as Accredo and CVS Specialty, where the skills required often align with compliance standards and specialized treatments. Understanding the factors that influence pay can help technicians maximize their income; those with CSPT credentials or who are willing to work night shifts in retail or hospital environments can take advantage of additional stipends and differential wages. As the demands for pharmacy services evolve, especially post-2020, technicians are encouraged to explore various opportunities, especially in sterile compounding, to enhance their careers and earning potential in Scranton, PA.
More salary data for Scranton, PA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Can pharmacy technicians make $100K in Scranton?
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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 $36,280 for pharmacy techniciansin the Scranton 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