Pharmacy Technician Salary in Richmond, VA: $46,425 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacy technician in Richmond, VA earns a median $46,425/year (≈ $22.32/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Once you factor in Richmond's price level (2% below national, BEA RPP 97.9), that paycheck buys what $47,441 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.6% above the Virginia state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, pharmacy technicians in Richmond, Virginia, are expected to earn a median annual salary of $46,425, which is slightly below the national median of $48,239. With a salary range extending from $39,055 at the 10th percentile to $54,228 at the 90th percentile, pay can vary significantly based on factors like experience and work setting. The compensation figures presented here are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, and reflect the local job market, which offers potential for growth driven by an annual growth rate of 5.44%. In a city with competitive salaries, particularly for overnight shifts or roles in specialized settings, Richmond's pharmacy technician job market presents intriguing opportunities for those entering the field.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $39,055 | $18.78 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $39,688 | $19.08 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $46,425 | $22.32 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $50,706 | $24.38 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $54,228 | $26.08 |
Median Salary Position
3.76% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Richmond
In Richmond, VA, the pharmacy technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $15,173 (2026 est.). At $46,425, the local median is 3.76% below the national median of $48,239.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Richmond: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Richmond Pharmacy Technician Pay Compares
Richmond median: $46,425/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Richmond Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Average | $46,148 | +0.60% more |
| National Average | $48,239 | -3.76% less |
Pharmacy Technicians in Richmond, VA earn a median of $46,425 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.76% lower than the national median of $48,239 and 0.60% above the Virginia state average of $46,148.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Richmond has a cost of living 2.14% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Richmond, VA has a cost-of-living index of 97.858 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacy technician earning $46,425 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $47,441 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.19% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$33,210
2025 BLS Actual
$44,030
2026 Current Est.
$46,425
2019–2027 Growth
+47.4%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Richmond (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $33,210 | Actual |
| 2020 | $33,930 | Actual |
| 2021 | $36,640 | Actual |
| 2022 | $37,820 | Actual |
| 2023 | $40,790 | Actual |
| 2024 | $41,400 | Actual |
| 2025 | $44,030 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $46,425 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $48,951 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Richmond metropolitan area, the median pharmacy technician salary grew 32.6% from $33,210 (2019) to $44,030 (2025). At a 5.44% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $48,951 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,741 (47.40%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Richmond 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) | $39,055 – $39,688 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $39,688 – $46,425 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $46,425 – $50,706 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $50,706 – $54,228 |
CPhT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacy technician compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacy Technician Job Market in Richmond
Richmond's job market currently employs approximately 2,020 pharmacy technicians, which provides a solid employment landscape for aspiring professionals. The cost-of-living index in Richmond is 97.858, indicating that living expenses are slightly below the national average, ultimately enhancing take-home pay for technicians. Among local employers, hospital inpatient pharmacies and specialty pharmacies often pay the highest wages, particularly those adhering to USP <797> and <800> compliance for sterile compounding. Pay disparities arise from various factors, including setting, certifications like CSPT, and any shift differentials. To maximize earnings, pharmacy technicians in the Richmond area should consider pursuing additional certifications, such as those from the PTCB or NHA ExCPT, to better position themselves for higher-paying roles, especially in a market where retail and hospital wage scales can differ dramatically.
More salary data for Richmond, VA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do pharmacy technicians make in Richmond, VA in 2026?
Is Richmond, VA a good place to work as a pharmacy technician?
Can pharmacy technicians make $100K in Richmond?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted pharmacy technician salary in Richmond?
How much does a pharmacy technician make per hour in Richmond?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Virginia
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 $44,030 for pharmacy techniciansin the Richmond 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