As examined in Pharmacy Technician Pay in the Top 20 Metropolitan Areas last December, the largest U.S. metropolitan markets are top centers for pharmacy technician employment. Nonetheless, a deeper look at U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data reveals that smaller metro areas frequently provide pharmacy technicians with better pay opportunities. A review of May 2019 BLS data shows us that just three of the top 20 U.S. metropolitan areas were among the 20 best metro areas for pharmacy technician pay:
| Metropolitan Area | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward (#) | 4,500 | $51,090 | ||
| 2 | Santa Rosa, CA | 410 | $50,790 | ||
| 3 | Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 330 | $50,070 | ||
| 4 | Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 410 | $49,280 | ||
| 5 | Salinas, CA | 390 | $49,060 | ||
| 6 | Napa, CA | 110 | $49,040 | ||
| 7 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,050 | $48,550 | ||
| 8 | Madera, CA | 140 | $47,380 | ||
| 9 | Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade | 2,300 | $47,090 | ||
| 10 | Olympia-Tumwater, WA | 260 | $45,620 | ||
| 11 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | 670 | $45,380 | ||
| 12 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (#) | 12,710 | $45,270 | ||
| 13 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | 120 | $45,220 | ||
| 14 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue (#) | 3,960 | $44,940 | ||
| 15 | Chico, CA | 240 | $44,590 | ||
| 16 | Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | 270 | $44,510 | ||
| 17 | Modesto, CA | 420 | $44,500 | ||
| 18 | Redding, CA | 190 | $44,280 | ||
| 19 | Corvallis, OR | 80 | $44,240 | ||
| 20 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | 200 | $44,070 | ||
| National | 417,780 | $35,250 | |||
(#) a top 20 U.S metro population area
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on December 12, 2020