Pharmacy Technician Salary in Hilton Head Island, SC: $42,566 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacy technician in Hilton Head Island, SC earns a median $42,566/year (≈ $20.47/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Once you factor in Hilton Head Island's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 98.0), that paycheck buys what $43,427 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.3% above the South Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, pharmacy technicians can expect a median annual salary of $42,566 in 2026, reflecting a modest but noteworthy difference compared to the national figure of $48,239. The local salary range for these professionals spans from $37,948 at the 10th percentile to $56,895 at the 90th percentile, indicating a diverse spectrum of earning potential. This compensation data, derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), reveals that while the area offers competitive pay, it still falls short of the national average by about 11.76%. The robust healthcare sector in this coastal city, characterized by both hospital inpatient and retail pharmacy settings, influences the local job market, demonstrating the demand for skilled pharmacy technicians.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37,948 | $18.24 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $39,825 | $19.15 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $42,566 | $20.47 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $51,149 | $24.59 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $56,895 | $27.35 |
Median Salary Position
11.76% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Hilton Head Island
In Hilton Head Island, SC, the pharmacy technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $18,947 (2026 est.). At $42,566, the local median is 11.76% below the national median of $48,239.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Hilton Head Island: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Hilton Head Island Pharmacy Technician Pay Compares
Hilton Head Island median: $42,566/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Hilton Head Island Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina Average | $42,020 | +1.30% more |
| National Average | $48,239 | -11.76% less |
Pharmacy Technicians in Hilton Head Island, SC earn a median of $42,566 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.76% lower than the national median of $48,239 and 1.30% above the South Carolina state average of $42,020.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Hilton Head Island has a cost of living 1.98% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Hilton Head Island, SC has a cost-of-living index of 98.017 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacy technician earning $42,566 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $43,427 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.02% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$29,230
2025 BLS Actual
$40,370
2026 Current Est.
$42,566
2019–2027 Growth
+53.5%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Hilton Head Island (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $29,230 | Actual |
| 2020 | $31,270 | Actual |
| 2021 | $36,570 | Actual |
| 2022 | $36,190 | Actual |
| 2023 | $37,360 | Actual |
| 2024 | $38,200 | Actual |
| 2025 | $40,370 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $42,566 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $44,882 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Hilton Head Island metropolitan area, the median pharmacy technician salary grew 38.1% from $29,230 (2019) to $40,370 (2025). At a 5.44% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $44,882 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,652 (53.55%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Hilton Head Island 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) | $37,948 – $39,825 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $39,825 – $42,566 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $42,566 – $51,149 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $51,149 – $56,895 |
CPhT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacy technician compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacy Technician Job Market in Hilton Head Island
A strong employment presence, with 290 pharmacy technicians in Hilton Head Island, underlines the local job market's stability. Given the cost of living index of 98.017, which is slightly below the national average, pharmacy technicians may have better take-home purchasing power than in other markets with higher living costs. Top salaries are typically found within hospital inpatient pharmacies and specialty pharmacies, which often provide better compensation than retail chains like CVS and Walgreens. Various factors contribute to the wage dispersion, including certifications like the CSPT credential, which can yield stipends, as well as different pay scales for shifts and settings. To maximize earnings, pharmacy technicians should consider pursuing additional certifications and gaining experience in higher-paying environments such as sterile compounding, which commands a premium in this market. By focusing on building skills in USP <797> and <800> compliance, technicians can enhance their marketability and earning potential in Hilton Head Island, SC.
More salary data for Hilton Head Island, SC:
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 $40,370 for pharmacy techniciansin the Hilton Head Island 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