Pharmacy Aides · California

Pharmacy Aides Salary in California

Pharmacy Aides in California earn a median annual wage of $42,200 —12.0% above the national median of $37,680. That ranks CA #6 of 48 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$42,200
Median hourly
$20.29
Entry level (P10)
$36,240
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$71,320
90th percentile
Employment
8,440
0.5 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+12.0%
U.S. $37,680

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$36,240
$37,390
$42,200
$57,820
$36,240$42,200$71,320
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $42,200.

Employment is 1.82× as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Highest-paying states for pharmacy aides

All 48 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$59,960$28.831200.68
2Utah$51,600$24.812500.56
3Hawaii$46,250$22.241100.70
4Washington$45,110$21.691,9902.21
5Arizona$43,360$20.858100.98
6California$42,200$20.298,4401.82
7Oregon$40,250$19.354500.91
8Pennsylvania$39,470$18.981,2100.78
9Nevada$39,080$18.794101.05
10Texas$38,630$18.572,9000.81

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

OccupationCalifornia medianU.S. median
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$34,320$35,800
Nursing Assistants$47,630$42,260
Medical Assistants$49,660$45,690
Dental Assistants$50,110$48,070
Phlebotomists$56,040$45,230
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$46,260$38,150

Frequently asked questions

How much do pharmacy aides make in California?

The median annual wage for pharmacy aides in California is $42,200, or $20.29 per hour. That is 12.0% above the national median of $37,680.

What is the entry-level pharmacy aides salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $36,240 per year ($17.42/hour). The 25th percentile is $37,390.

How many people work as pharmacy aides in California?

About 8,440 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.5 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for pharmacy aides?

California ranks #6 of 48 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.82x as concentrated as the national average, making California a strong market for this occupation.

Which state pays pharmacy aides the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $59,960 per year, followed by Utah ($51,600) and Hawaii ($46,250).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes