Texas pharmacy tech salary by percentile
Texas pharmacy technicians earn $37,730 to $48,960 in the middle half of the range, and the 90th percentile reaches $59,260.[1] The Texas distribution tracks the national one closely at every point, which is unusual for a state this large: the 10th percentile is $35,920 against $36,020 nationally. Texas has 41,740 pharmacy technician jobs, the most of any state.[2]
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Take-home* |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $35,920 | $17.27 | $31,042 |
| 25th | $37,730 | $18.14 | $32,496 |
| Median (50th) | $45,900 | $22.07 | $39,061 |
| 75th | $48,960 | $23.54 | $41,519 |
| 90th | $59,260 | $28.49 | $49,795 |
*Single filer, 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare; before state tax.
Pharmacy technician salary by Texas city
Texas metro areas pay pharmacy techs within a narrow band: Killeen-Temple, TX leads at a $47,400 median, while Texarkana, TX-AR is lowest at $38,190.[1] The five biggest metros all sit near the state median: Houston $46,400, Dallas $46,260, San Antonio $47,050, Austin $47,010, El Paso $40,200. The Rio Grande Valley and El Paso pay the least.
| Area | Median | Hourly | 10th pct. | 90th pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killeen-Temple, TX | $47,400 | $22.79 | $35,690 | $61,610 |
| Eagle Pass, TX | $47,100 | $22.64 | $37,790 | $56,700 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $47,050 | $22.62 | $35,450 | $58,670 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $47,010 | $22.60 | $37,400 | $58,790 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $46,400 | $22.31 | $35,430 | $61,120 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $46,260 | $22.24 | $36,390 | $60,630 |
| Midland, TX | $45,790 | $22.01 | $37,160 | $58,340 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $45,610 | $21.93 | $34,480 | $56,070 |
| Border Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $45,400 | $21.83 | $36,120 | $58,410 |
| San Angelo, TX | $44,720 | $21.50 | $32,660 | $55,420 |
| Odessa, TX | $44,620 | $21.45 | $37,030 | $60,720 |
| Coastal Plains Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $44,440 | $21.37 | $30,930 | $54,980 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | $43,980 | $21.14 | $34,510 | $54,570 |
| Amarillo, TX | $43,960 | $21.13 | $35,280 | $52,720 |
| Laredo, TX | $43,800 | $21.06 | $31,510 | $51,880 |
| Tyler, TX | $43,690 | $21.00 | $35,570 | $54,120 |
| Northwestern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $43,680 | $21.00 | $33,480 | $58,710 |
| Eastern Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $43,350 | $20.84 | $35,530 | $51,630 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $43,160 | $20.75 | $35,130 | $52,260 |
| Victoria, TX | $43,050 | $20.70 | $34,410 | $48,670 |
| Hill Country Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $43,030 | $20.69 | $30,930 | $54,290 |
| Waco, TX | $42,850 | $20.60 | $35,600 | $59,300 |
| Lubbock, TX | $42,570 | $20.47 | $31,930 | $54,580 |
| North Region of Texas nonmetropolitan area | $42,570 | $20.47 | $35,560 | $50,390 |
| Abilene, TX | $42,560 | $20.46 | $34,540 | $49,160 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | $42,510 | $20.44 | $37,080 | $49,990 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $42,140 | $20.26 | $34,240 | $56,340 |
| Longview, TX | $41,070 | $19.75 | $35,090 | $50,070 |
| El Paso, TX | $40,200 | $19.33 | $32,160 | $53,540 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $38,490 | $18.50 | $31,150 | $48,410 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $38,280 | $18.40 | $30,610 | $52,090 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | $38,190 | $18.36 | $31,530 | $49,380 |
Take-home pay with no state income tax
Texas levies no personal income tax, so a single Texas pharmacy tech at the state median keeps about $39,061 a year ($3,255 a month) after 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare.[3][4][5] That is more than a California tech keeps at a similar gross, which is why comparing take-home pay matters more than comparing salaries. The national take-home picture is on pharmacy technician salary, and the highest-paying state market is on pharmacy technician salary in California.
Texas vs neighboring states
Texas pays pharmacy technicians more than Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas at the median, but less than New Mexico.[1][2]
| State | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $45,900 | $22.07 | 41,740 |
| Oklahoma | $40,500 | $19.47 | 5,500 |
| Louisiana | $44,410 | $21.35 | 6,700 |
| New Mexico | $46,630 | $22.42 | 2,550 |
| Arkansas | $38,680 | $18.60 | 4,560 |
Pharmacy technician license in Texas (TSBP registration)
Texas requires every pharmacy technician and technician trainee to hold an active registration with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy (TSBP). A full technician registration needs a current PTCB or NHA ExCPT certification and a high school diploma or GED (or working toward one); trainees can work while they prepare, under a one-time trainee registration.[6][7]
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Credential | Pharmacy technician registration; pharmacy technician trainee registration |
| National certification | Required for technician registration: current PTCB or ExCPT (the only two TSBP recognizes) |
| Education | High school diploma or GED, or currently working toward one |
| Trainee registration | Up to 2 years, cannot be renewed, issued only once |
| Fees | $88 technician registration ($80 application + $3 Texas OnLine + $5 Office of Patient Protection); $55 trainee registration |
| Renewal | $85 every 2 years ($40 penalty if late), with 20 hours of continuing education or a current PTCB certification |
Because Texas requires PTCB or ExCPT for full registration, certification is not optional here the way it is in Florida or Pennsylvania. The national exam fees are added up on pharmacy tech certification cost, and every state's rules are compared on pharmacy technician license.
Texas pharmacists vs pharmacy techs
Texas pharmacists earn a $138,260 median, 3.0 times the state's technician median, and the state employs 24,700 of them.[8][2] The path from technician to pharmacist is on how to become a pharmacist.
Frequently asked questions
How much do pharmacy techs make in Texas?
$45,900 a year at the median (BLS, May 2025), or $22.07 an hour. The middle half earn $37,730 to $48,960.
What is the pharmacy technician salary in Houston?
$46,400 at the median in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands metro area ($22.31 an hour).
What is the pharmacy technician salary in Dallas?
$46,260 at the median in the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area.
Do you need a license to be a pharmacy technician in Texas?
Yes. Texas requires registration with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy. A full pharmacy technician registration needs a current PTCB or ExCPT certification; before that, you can hold a one-time trainee registration that lasts up to two years.
Sources
- Local Wages: 29-2052.00 Pharmacy Technicians (state and metro percentiles)
- OEWS employment by state, May 2025 (series OEUS…29205201 and OEUS…29105101)
- IRS releases tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026 (Rev. Proc. 2025-32)
- Contribution and Benefit Base ($184,500 for 2026)
- Texas Taxes (Texas does not have a state personal income tax)
- Pharmacy Technician and Trainee Registration (PTCB or ExCPT required)
- Fee schedule (pharmacy technician and trainee registration)
- Local Wages: 29-1051.00 Pharmacists (state and metro percentiles)