Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Pharmacy Technician in California is $184,634 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $89.
However, a Lead Pharmacy Technician's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI-Powered Talent
AI Onboarding
Lead Pharmacy Technician Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $194,055 | $16,171 | $3,732 | $93 |
| Average | $184,634 | $15,386 | $3,551 | $89 |
| 25th Percentile | $175,327 | $14,611 | $3,372 | $84 |
HAIG PHARMACY - Glendale, CA
National Pharmacy - Los Angeles, CA
MVP Compounds Inc - Santa Monica, CA
Adventist Health System - Tehachapi, CA
A Lead Pharmacy Technician'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
Experience is a primary driver of a Lead Pharmacy Technician'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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Lead Pharmacy Technician | $182,049 |
| Intermediate Level Lead Pharmacy Technician | $182,437 |
| Senior Level Lead Pharmacy Technician | $183,084 |
| Specialist Level Lead Pharmacy Technician | $184,635 |
| Expert Level Lead Pharmacy Technician | $188,307 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Lead Pharmacy Technicians. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Lead Pharmacy Technician roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit and Healthcare sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Lead Pharmacy Technician positions in Biotechnology or Pharmaceuticals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Lead Pharmacy Technician as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit | $221,561 | $107.0 | 20% |
| Healthcare | $203,098 | $98.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Lead Pharmacy Technician'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $194,055 | $16,171 | $3,732 | $93 |
| Average | $184,634 | $15,386 | $3,551 | $89 |
| 25th Percentile | $175,327 | $14,611 | $3,372 | $84 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Lead Pharmacy Technician job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Adventist Health
Tehachapi, CA
Adventist Health | Tehachapi, CA
Pharmacy Technician. Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley has been providing high-quality healthcare services since 1934. We are comprised of a 25-bed hospita... more
9 Days Ago
Prime Healthcare
Chino, CA
Prime Healthcare | Chino, CA
Prime Healthcare - JobID: 249254 [Pharmacy Tech] As a Pharmacy Technician at Prime Healthcare, you'll: Assist the Pharmacist, under his or her supervision,... more
8 Days Ago
Providence Health & Services
Orange, CA
Providence Health & Services | Orange, CA
Pharmacy Technician. Pharmacy Technician - Pharmacy at Providence St. Joseph Hospital Orange in Orange, CA. This position is Full-time and will work 8-hour... more
8 Days Ago
3B Healthcare, Inc.
San Luis Obispo, CA
3B Healthcare, Inc. | San Luis Obispo, CA
3B Healthcare, Inc. Responsibilities: Fills and delivers unit dose cassettes from patient profiles under pharmacist supervision. Maintains floor stock and ... more
9 Days Ago
Cedars-Sinai
Beverly Hills, CA
Cedars-Sinai | Beverly Hills, CA
Cedars-Sinai - 8700 Beverly Boulevard - Responsibilities: Assist in determining medication orders and patient needs. Support distribution of medications an... more
10 Days Ago
Cedars Sinai
West Hollywood, CA
Cedars Sinai | West Hollywood, CA
Pharmacy Technician. When the work you do every single day has a crucial impact on the lives of others, every effort, every detail, and every second matter... more
10 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
