Pharmacy Counter Assistant Salary in the United States
How much does a Pharmacy Counter Assistant make in the United States?
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Pharmacy Counter Assistant in the United States is $35,747 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $17.
However, a Pharmacy Counter Assistant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $43,694
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $31,590 to $39,907
Key Factors That Influence Pharmacy Counter Assistant Salaries
A Pharmacy Counter Assistant's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education
and company size
can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Pharmacy Counter Assistant Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Pharmacy Counter Assistant's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
How Do Pharmacy Counter Assistant Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Pharmacy Counter Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $39,579.
California: $39,429.
Massachusetts: $38,904.
District of Columbia$39,579
California$39,429
Massachusetts$38,904
Washington$38,761
New Jersey$38,746
Alaska$38,696
Connecticut$38,203
New York$38,003
Hawaii$37,363
Rhode Island$37,063
Maryland$36,859
Minnesota$36,580
Colorado$36,473
Illinois$36,437
Oregon$36,301
Delaware$36,201
New Hampshire$36,138
Virginia$35,997
Pennsylvania$35,586
Nevada$35,379
North Dakota$35,311
Michigan$35,204
Wisconsin$35,165
Vermont$35,086
Texas$34,868
Maine$34,854
Arizona$34,832
Ohio$34,807
Georgia$34,478
Indiana$34,314
Wyoming$34,282
Utah$34,232
Iowa$34,210
Kansas$34,038
Louisiana$33,988
North Carolina$33,971
Missouri$33,963
Florida$33,824
Montana$33,749
Nebraska$33,677
Kentucky$33,638
South Carolina$33,495
Tennessee$33,406
Idaho$33,370
New Mexico$33,109
Oklahoma$33,052
Alabama$32,841
South Dakota$32,487
Arkansas$32,294
West Virginia$32,190
Mississippi$31,879
Top Paying Cities for Pharmacy Counter Assistants
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $45,088
San Francisco: $44,594
Oakland: $43,654
San Jose, CA$45,088
San Francisco, CA$44,594
Oakland, CA$43,654
New York, NY$41,159
Paramus, NJ$40,659
Queens Village, NY$40,657
Passaic, NJ$40,623
Bergenfield, NJ$40,620
Stamford, CT$40,541
Huntington, NY$40,526
Newark, NJ$40,262
Bridgeport, CT$40,187
Vallejo, CA$40,116
New Brunswick, NJ$40,101
Petaluma, CA$40,080
Middlesex, NJ$40,012
Somerset, NJ$39,987
Santa Cruz, CA$39,940
Boston, MA$39,722
Monterey, CA$39,597
Seattle, WA$39,515
Santa Rosa, CA$39,508
Los Angeles, CA$39,497
Juneau, AK$39,404
Washington, DC$39,365
Orange, CA$39,238
Santa Ana, CA$39,143
Long Beach, CA$39,107
Anaheim, CA$39,100
Anchorage, AK$39,082
Santa Maria, CA$38,975
Everett, WA$38,968
Danbury, CT$38,842
Bremerton, WA$38,793
Tacoma, WA$38,664
New Suffolk, NY$38,663
Sacramento, CA$38,653
Santa Barbara, CA$38,614
Trenton, NJ$38,575
San Diego, CA$38,575
Brockton, MA$38,535
Fairbanks, AK$38,448
Lompoc, CA$38,357
Lowell, MA$38,328
Ventura, CA$38,321
Nashua, NH$38,314
Stockton, CA$38,310
Modesto, CA$38,049
Poughkeepsie, NY$37,971
Olympia, WA$37,903
Kennewick, WA$37,903
New Haven, CT$37,888
Lawrence, MA$37,760
Hartford, CT$37,724
Riverside, CA$37,717
New Bedford, MA$37,681
Richland, WA$37,681
Bakersfield, CA$37,631
San Bernardino, CA$37,617
New Britain, CT$37,613
Atlantic City, NJ$37,613
New London, CT$37,599
Norwich, CT$37,588
Portsmouth, NH$37,581
Boulder, CO$37,505
Portland, OR$37,456
Worcester, MA$37,452
Minneapolis, MN$37,342
Philadelphia, PA$37,291
Honolulu, HI$37,174
Saint Paul, MN$37,156
Vineland, NJ$37,148
Providence, RI$37,045
Chicago, IL$36,941
Bellingham, WA$36,898
Springfield, MA$36,870
Baltimore, MD$36,859
Chico, CA$36,770
Pittsfield, MA$36,673
Manchester, NH$36,605
Spokane, WA$36,448
Denver, CO$36,444
Albany, NY$36,276
Troy, NY$36,262
Nassau, NY$36,224
Schenectady, NY$36,187
Wilmington, DE$36,158
Burlington, VT$36,108
Salem, OR$36,094
Portland, ME$35,983
Yakima, WA$35,947
Rochester, MN$35,837
Reno, NV$35,819
Fresno, CA$35,819
Milwaukee, WI$35,787
Detroit, MI$35,751
Ann Arbor, MI$35,745
Allentown, PA$35,740
Colorado Springs, CO$35,679
Syracuse, NY$35,661
Carson City, NV$35,661
Houston, TX$35,611
Eugene, OR$35,593
Gary, IN$35,551
Springfield, OR$35,522
Bismarck, ND$35,515
Galveston, TX$35,490
Medford, OR$35,436
Fort Collins, CO$35,422
Concord, NH$35,404
Austin, TX$35,393
Mesa, AZ$35,318
Reading, PA$35,315
Phoenix, AZ$35,311
Dallas, TX$35,300
Saint Cloud, MN$35,266
Madison, WI$35,218
Utica, NY$35,122
Rochester, NY$35,064
Des Moines, IA$35,061
Raleigh, NC$35,057
Atlanta, GA$35,004
Battle Creek, MI$34,993
Salt Lake City, UT$34,982
Lancaster, PA$34,929
Harrisburg, PA$34,879
Kansas City, MO$34,843
Champaign, IL$34,836
Kansas City, KS$34,836
Fort Worth, TX$34,832
Columbus, OH$34,826
Boca Raton, FL$34,818
Pittsburgh, PA$34,803
Richmond, VA$34,789
Indianapolis, IN$34,782
Cleveland, OH$34,778
Las Vegas, NV$34,736
Cincinnati, OH$34,736
Petersburg, VA$34,682
Huntsville, AL$34,628
Lansing, MI$34,604
Lebanon, PA$34,600
Pueblo, CO$34,596
Appleton, WI$34,585
Buffalo, NY$34,571
Dayton, OH$34,560
Racine, WI$34,553
Charlotte, NC$34,550
Saint Louis, MO$34,539
York, PA$34,517
Elkhart, IN$34,517
Gastonia, NC$34,511
Billings, MT$34,502
Beaumont, TX$34,492
Lorain, OH$34,485
Benton Harbor, MI$34,478
Toledo, OH$34,471
Binghamton, NY$34,453
Rock Hill, SC$34,450
Rockford, IL$34,432
Springfield, IL$34,417
Elyria, OH$34,414
Fargo, ND$34,414
Flagstaff, AZ$34,389
Fort Lauderdale, FL$34,367
Duluth, MN$34,346
Miami, FL$34,346
Cheyenne, WY$34,321
Grand Forks, ND$34,321
Bangor, ME$34,242
Cedar Rapids, IA$34,203
Durham, NC$34,188
Louisville, KY$34,185
Grand Rapids, MI$34,178
Hialeah, FL$34,174
Casper, WY$34,124
Scranton, PA$34,081
New Orleans, LA$34,071
Virginia Beach, VA$34,067
Akron, OH$34,049
Peoria, IL$34,003
Sarasota, FL$33,996
Nashville, TN$33,971
Omaha, NE$33,971
Green Bay, WI$33,971
Baton Rouge, LA$33,953
Charleston, SC$33,946
Jamestown, NY$33,928
Davenport, IA$33,928
Tucson, AZ$33,910
Saint Petersburg, FL$33,888
Tampa, FL$33,881
Evansville, IN$33,860
Port Arthur, TX$33,860
Bradenton, FL$33,845
Santa Fe, NM$33,781
Orlando, FL$33,717
Clearwater, FL$33,706
Canton, OH$33,631
La Crosse, WI$33,631
Albuquerque, NM$33,610
Newport News, VA$33,606
High Point, NC$33,595
Ogden, UT$33,581
Corpus Christi, TX$33,552
Norfolk, VA$33,531
Laramie, WY$33,531
Rock Island, IL$33,509
Saginaw, MI$33,502
Jacksonville, FL$33,499
Salisbury, NC$33,492
Boise, ID$33,484
Moline, IL$33,467
Fort Myers, FL$33,456
Memphis, TN$33,449
Tulsa, OK$33,431
Waterloo, IA$33,409
Spartanburg, SC$33,374
Lincoln, NE$33,356
Fort Wayne, IN$33,349
Provo, UT$33,345
Cedar Falls, IA$33,302
San Antonio, TX$33,288
Greensboro, NC$33,273
South Bend, IN$33,270
Savannah, GA$33,231
Muskegon, MI$33,216
Birmingham, AL$33,213
Winston Salem, NC$33,195
Lake Charles, LA$33,109
Anderson, IN$33,102
Lexington, KY$33,091
Augusta, GA$33,080
Greenville, SC$33,080
Lima, OH$33,052
Wichita, KS$33,048
Tuscaloosa, AL$33,048
Columbia, SC$33,016
Springfield, OH$33,009
Asheville, NC$32,952
Bloomington, IN$32,927
Knoxville, TN$32,798
Shreveport, LA$32,794
Wilmington, NC$32,748
Roanoke, VA$32,748
Topeka, KS$32,684
Frankfort, KY$32,680
Oklahoma City, OK$32,655
Chillicothe, OH$32,641
Longview, TX$32,637
Melbourne, FL$32,634
Sioux Falls, SD$32,576
Mobile, AL$32,573
Terre Haute, IN$32,559
Altoona, PA$32,537
Amarillo, TX$32,512
Killeen, TX$32,501
Fayetteville, AR$32,473
Chattanooga, TN$32,462
Sioux City, IA$32,430
Idaho Falls, ID$32,423
Lynchburg, VA$32,394
Gainesville, FL$32,348
Portsmouth, OH$32,330
Little Rock, AR$32,323
Lafayette, LA$32,308
Youngstown, OH$32,308
Daytona Beach, FL$32,287
Clarksville, TN$32,283
Pensacola, FL$32,280
Temple, TX$32,277
Hopkinsville, KY$32,172
Erie, PA$32,165
Florence, SC$32,151
Charleston, WV$32,094
Great Falls, MT$32,076
Macon, GA$32,026
Tallahassee, FL$32,022
Fayetteville, NC$32,015
Waco, TX$32,008
Helena, MT$31,983
Pine Bluff, AR$31,969
Vincennes, IN$31,926
Lubbock, TX$31,912
Alamogordo, NM$31,890
Twin Falls, ID$31,858
Rapid City, SD$31,847
Jackson, MS$31,783
Huntington, WV$31,780
Greenville, MS$31,779
Parkersburg, WV$31,743
Montgomery, AL$31,736
Wichita Falls, TX$31,701
Springfield, MO$31,701
Biloxi, MS$31,683
Monroe, LA$31,647
Johnstown, PA$31,622
Sumter, SC$31,608
Columbus, GA$31,604
Pascagoula, MS$31,536
Abilene, TX$31,536
Kingsport, TN$31,443
Albany, GA$31,443
Gulfport, MS$31,433
Alexandria, LA$31,315
Fort Smith, AR$31,225
El Paso, TX$31,129
Las Cruces, NM$30,968
Harlingen, TX$30,877
Pocatello, ID$30,871
Florence, AL$30,825
Brownsville, TX$30,818
Mcallen, TX$30,743
Dothan, AL$30,693
Columbus, MS$30,480
Altus, OK$30,314
Lawton, OK$30,246
Pierre, SD$30,117
What Skills Can Increase a Pharmacy Counter Assistant's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Teamwork (Mentioned in 30.26% Job Postings): Teamwork is a skill consist of interrelated abilities that let you work effectively in an organized group. Teamwork skills are vital to employers, as teams are a basic organizational unit within many companies.
Work Ethic (Mentioned in 1.87% Job Postings): A belief that work and diligence have a moral benefit and an inherent ability, virtue or value to strengthen character and individual abilities. A set of values centered on importance of work and manifested by determination or desire to work hard.
Inventory Management (Mentioned in 0.85% Job Postings): Overseeing and controlling supplies and stock to ensure that an organization maintains an adequate stock quantity.
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Pharmacy Counter Assistant's salary.
Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Interviewing: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Talent Acquisition: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Pharmacy Counter Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Pharmacy Counter Assistant roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Retail & Wholesale and MFG Nondurable
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average.
In contrast, Pharmacy Counter Assistant positions in Hospitality & Leisure or MFG Durable typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Pharmacy Counter Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Pharmacy Counter Assistant
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Retail & Wholesale
$46,471
$22.0
30%
MFG Nondurable
$39,322
$19.0
10%
How Education impacts a Pharmacy Counter Assistant's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Pharmacy Counter Assistants enter the field with a No Diploma degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for a Pharmacy Counter Assistant with a No Diploma is between
$39,768
and $43,591).
Pharmacy Counter Assistant Salaries by Degree Level
Understanding how a Pharmacy Counter Assistant's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$31,590
Average$35,747/year
$39,907
$2,633
Average$2,979/month
$3,326
$608
Average$687/week
$767
$15
Average$17/hour
$19
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$39,907
$3,326
$767
$19
Average
$35,747
$2,979
$687
$17
25th Percentile
$31,590
$2,633
$608
$15
Salaries of Jobs related to Pharmacy Counter Assistant
Assistant Director Of Pharmacy$203,891
Assistant Pharmacy Manager$160,639
Assistant Vice President - Keenan Pharmacy Services$131,162
Assistant Professor, Pharmacy$101,139
Pharmacy Sales Assistant$54,147
Assistant Counter Manager$42,471
Retail Pharmacy Assistant$39,297
Pharmacy Assistant$38,699
Pharmacy Administrative Assistant$38,014
Pharmacy Dispensing Assistant$35,874
Counter Assistant$32,471
Salary Trends for Pharmacy Counter Assistant
Salaries for a Pharmacy Counter Assistant can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary increased from $29,495 in 2023
to around $29,589 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Pharmacy Counter Assistant salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Pharmacy Counter Assistant Over Time
$???
$29,495
$29,815
$29,589
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$29,495
2024
$29,815
2025
$29,589
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Pharmacy Counter Assistant
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for Pharmacy Counter Assistant
Here are companies hiring for Pharmacy Counter Assistant and their salaries, click below for more details.
S$57,183/per year
Subway IP LLCHospitality & Leisurethe United States
K$49,677/per year
KesemHospitality & Leisurethe United States
C$49,562/per year
Chili's Grill & BarHospitality & Leisurethe United States
I$49,371/per year
Inspire Brands IncHospitality & Leisurethe United States
C$49,286/per year
Compass Group North AmericaHospitality & Leisurethe United States
R$49,245/per year
RotiHospitality & Leisurethe United States
H$47,974/per year
Henn Na Hotel New YorkHospitality & Leisurethe United States
C$47,736/per year
Centennial Soccer Club IncHospitality & Leisurethe United States
R$47,307/per year
Raising Restaurants LLCHospitality & Leisurethe United States
D$46,626/per year
Darden Concepts IncHospitality & Leisurethe United States
P$45,430/per year
Paul CaffeHospitality & Leisurethe United States
N$45,191/per year
Numatec IncHospitality & Leisurethe United States
T$44,620/per year
The Lost Explorer MezcalHospitality & Leisurethe United States
B$43,911/per year
Bunker Hills Event CenterHospitality & Leisurethe United States
M$42,738/per year
MichealsHospitality & Leisurethe United States
F$42,556/per year
FA SelangorHospitality & Leisurethe United States
G$41,529/per year
Golden B EnterprisesHospitality & Leisurethe United States
G$41,484/per year
GNCC RacingHospitality & Leisurethe United States
T$40,926/per year
Tasty Restaurant Group LLCHospitality & Leisurethe United States
N$40,605/per year
nhl.com/predatorsHospitality & Leisurethe United States
W$39,699/per year
West SpartanburgHospitality & Leisurethe United States
N$38,510/per year
Northeast Nebraska Track and FieldHospitality & Leisurethe United States
B$38,475/per year
BattinoHospitality & Leisurethe United States
C$38,262/per year
Crofton Park TavernHospitality & Leisurethe United States
C$35,814/per year
Cherokee Nation Entertainment LLCHospitality & Leisurethe United States
Find Your Next Pharmacy Counter Assistant Job
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FAQ about Pharmacy Counter Assistant
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Pharmacy Counter Assistant?
The Retail & Wholesale industry offers the highest average compensation for Pharmacy Counter Assistant roles,
with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
