Just over 460,000 pharmacy technicians were working in the U.S. as of May 2023 according to data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Pharmacy technicians work in varied settings, including health and personal care stores, hospitals, food and general merchandise stores with pharmacy services, and other businesses involved in the distribution of pharmacy products. Pharmacy technicians typically earn lower salaries and wages than workers in most other healthcare occupations.  According to BLS estimates, as of May 2023, the national mean wage for pharmacy technicians was $43,330 per year.  Pharmacy technician pay varies considerably from state to state.  Based on annual mean wage levels, BLS data indicated that as of May 2023 these were the ten best and worst states for pharmacy technician pay:

The Best and Worst States for Pharmacy Technician Pay

Best Paying States
California	$55,710
Washington	$55,390
District of Columbia	$54,030
Oregon	$50,440
Alaska	$49,810
Colorado	$47,150
Massachusetts	$46,450
Minnesota	$46,430
North Dakota	$45,870
Utah	$45,400

Worst Paying States
Georgia	$39,740
Louisiana	$39,540
Pennsylvania	$39,250
Tennessee	$38,940
Kentucky	$38,570
Mississippi	$38,260
West Virginia	$37,910
Oklahoma	$37,410
Arkansas	$37,170
Alabama	$37,030

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 6, 2024

More than 331,000 pharmacists working in the U.S. as of May 2023 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  Pharmacists work in varied settings, including health and personal care stores, hospitals, food and general merchandise stores with pharmacy services, and other businesses involved in the distribution of pharmacy products. Like many other healthcare professionals with advanced technical training and skills, pharmacists typically earn higher salaries and wages than most workers in other occupations.  According to BLS estimates, as of May 2023, the national mean wage for pharmacists was $134,790 per year.  While a well-paying occupation, there is considerable variation from state to state in how much pharmacists earn.  Per BLS data, as of May 2023, these were the ten best and worst states for pharmacist pay based on annual mean wage levels:

The Best and Worst States for Pharmacist Pay

Best Paying States
California	$157,280
Alaska	$151,600
Oregon	$149,550
Washington	$148,550
Minnesota	$143,210
Colorado	$141,670
Vermont	$140,010
Wisconsin	$139,980
New Hampshire	$139,560
Hawaii	$138,390

Worst Paying States
Iowa	$127,780
North Dakota	$127,260
Alabama	$126,960
Oklahoma	$125,710
Mississippi	$125,330
Ohio	$124,850
Louisiana	$124,770
Tennessee	$122,820
West Virginia	$121,000
Rhode Island	$113,110

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 6, 2024

Nursing assistants work in varied healthcare settings, including skilled nursing facilities, hospitals, assisted living facilities, home healthcare agencies, and other individual and family service environments.  As of May 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated that approximately 1,352,000 nursing assistants were employed in the U.S., making it one of the largest healthcare occupations in the U.S.  The BLS further estimated that, as of May 2023, the national mean wage for nursing assistants was $39,610 per year.  From state to state there was considerable disparity in nursing assistants' mean annual wages, with nursing assistants in some regions of the country earning 50% or more than their counterparts elsewhere.  Per BLS data as of May 2023, based on annual mean wage levels the ten best and worst states for nursing assistant pay were:

The Best and Worst States for Nursing Assistant Pay

Best Paying States
District of Columbia	$47,860
Alaska	$47,080
California	$47,070
Oregon	$46,970
Washington	$46,430
New York	$46,020
New Hampshire	$45,090
Hawaii	$44,990
Massachusetts	$44,750
Colorado	$43,580

Worst Paying States
North Carolina	$35,340
West Virginia	$35,340
Georgia	$34,890
Tennessee	$34,850
South Carolina	$34,590
Oklahoma	$33,090
Arkansas	$32,050
Alabama	$31,280
Louisiana	$30,420
Mississippi	$29,660

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on May 6, 2024