Salary Source: OPM Federal Workforce Data (EHRI Snapshot, April 2026) Records included: 6,333 Redaction rate: 17.3%

GS-0661 Pharmacy Technician — Pay at a Glance

The GS-0661 Pharmacy Technician series showed 6,333 non-redacted federal employees in the April 2026 OPM snapshot. The verified average salary is $70,587/year (OPM FedScope, 2026). Use our GS Pay Calculator for your exact salary by grade, step, and location.

$71K
GS-0661 verified avg salary (2026)
6.3K
Non-redacted OPM records
GS-0661
OPM occupational series

Salary = base pay + locality pay; excludes benefits. REDACTED records (OPM data release policy) are excluded from averages. Pay plan: General Schedule (GS) / Title 38 (VA). View occupation salary detail on OPM FedScope →

Advertisement

GS-0661 Employment Overview

GS-0661 Pharmacy Technician workforce data. Source: OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026.
MetricValueSource & Notes
Avg Series Salary$70,587OPM EHRI Snapshot (April 2026). 6,333 non-redacted records. Base + locality pay; excludes benefits.
Non-redacted records (sample size)6,333OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026. REDACTED records excluded per OPM data release policy.
Redaction rate17.3%OPM redacts salary records for privacy-sensitive positions (DoD, law enforcement, intelligence). FedTools suppresses series averages when redaction exceeds 20%.
Pay plan(s)General Schedule (GS) / Title 38 (VA)Primary pay plan(s) used for this occupational series in the federal government.
Typical gradesGS-4 to GS-8Most common grade range for this series. Actual assignment depends on the position description and agency.
Locality pay17.06% – 44.15%Varies by duty station across 58 OPM pay areas. Rate × base pay = locality supplement. Included in the average salary above.
Pay cap (2026)$197,200Executive Schedule Level IV. Applies to GS employees whose locality-adjusted salary would exceed this amount. Title 38 and special pay plans may exceed this cap.

Top Agencies Employing GS-0661 Pharmacy Technicians

Based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026). Actual grade, step, and locality assignment varies by position and location.

  • Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
  • Department of Defense (DoD)
  • Indian Health Service (IHS / HHS)

Key Duties — GS-0661 Pharmacy Technician

Representative duties for the 0661 occupational series based on OPM classification standards. Specific responsibilities vary by position and agency.

  • Prescription filling and verification under pharmacist supervision
  • Medication dispensing and unit-dose preparation
  • Controlled substance inventory and documentation
  • Patient prescription profile maintenance
  • Automated dispensing cabinet management (Pyxis, Omnicell)

About the GS-0661 Pharmacy Technician Series

Federal pharmacy technicians support pharmacists at VA medical centers, military treatment facilities, and Indian Health Service hospitals. VA is by far the dominant employer, operating one of the most active inpatient pharmacy systems in the country. The $70,587 average reflects the GS-4 to GS-8 range typical of this paraprofessional clinical role, which sits between the nursing assistant ($55,810) and registered nurse ($131,998) averages. The 17.3% redaction is attributable primarily to DoD military treatment facility positions where pay data is partially suppressed in public OPM records.

Calculate Your Exact GS-0661 Salary

Your actual pay depends on your GS grade, step, and duty station locality. Use our free calculator for an instant, accurate result.

GS-0661 Pharmacy Technician — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a GS-0661 Pharmacy Technician?
The verified average salary for the GS-0661 Pharmacy Technician series is $70,587 as of 2026, based on OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot data (6,333 non-redacted records; 17.3% redaction rate). Use our GS Pay Calculator to find your exact pay by grade, step, and duty station.
What GS grades apply to the 0661 series?
The GS-0661 Pharmacy Technician series typically spans GS-4 to GS-8. Actual grade assignment depends on the position description, agency, and your qualifications. Use our GS Pay Calculator to look up the exact salary for any grade, step, and locality.
Which agencies employ GS-0661 Pharmacy Technicians?
The largest federal employers of GS-0661 Pharmacy Technicians include: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Department of Defense (DoD), Indian Health Service (IHS / HHS). These figures are based on the OPM EHRI Employment Snapshot (April 2026).
How is federal pay determined for GS-0661 positions?
Federal civilian pay for GS positions = Base Pay (by grade and step) × (1 + Locality Rate). The GS table has 15 grades (GS-1 through GS-15) and 10 steps per grade. Locality adjustments range from 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) to over 44% in San Jose–San Francisco. Note: Some Pharmacy Technician positions (especially at VA) use Title 38 or special pay plans that allow above-GS-cap compensation. Use our GS Pay Calculator for an instant result.
Do GS-0661 federal employees receive FERS retirement benefits?
Yes, most GS-0661 positions qualify for the full federal benefits package: FERS pension (1–1.1% × High-3 Salary × Years of Service), TSP with up to 5% agency match, FEHB health insurance (government pays ~70% of premium), FEGLI life insurance, and FEDVIP dental/vision. Use our FERS Retirement Calculator to estimate your retirement income.

Related Federal Employee Tools

Other Federal Job Series Pay Pages

GS-0610NurseGS-0679Medical Support AssistanceGS-0602Medical OfficerGS-0962Contact RepresentativeGS-0105Social Insurance AdministrationGS-0185Social WorkGS-2152Air Traffic ControlGS-0996Veterans Claims ExaminingGS-0601General Health ScienceGS-0620Practical NurseGS-0660PharmacistGS-0621Nursing AssistantGS-0592Tax ExaminingGS-0462Forestry TechnicianGS-0089Emergency Management SpecialistGS-0180PsychologyGS-1224Patent ExaminingGS-0901General Legal and Kindred AdministrationGS-2101Transportation SpecialistGS-0570Financial Institution ExaminingGS-1862Consumer Safety InspectionGS-0456Wildland Fire ManagementGS-1825Aviation SafetyGS-0110EconomistGS-3566Custodial WorkingGS-0647Diagnostic Radiologic TechnologistGS-0644Medical TechnologistGS-7408Food Service WorkingGS-0404Biological Science TechnicianGS-0457Soil ConservationGS-1165Loan SpecialistGS-0649Medical Instrument TechnicianGS-0603Physician AssistantGS-7404CookingGS-0025Park RangerGS-0633Physical TherapistGS-0696Consumer SafetyGS-0622Medical Supply Aide And TechnicianGS-0630Dietitian And NutritionistGS-0685Public Health Program SpecialistGS-1109Grants ManagementGS-1530StatisticsGS-1001General Arts And InformationGS-1340MeteorologyGS-0665Speech Pathology And AudiologyGS-0107Health Insurance AdministrationGS-0680Dental OfficerGS-0631Occupational TherapistGS-0967Passport And Visa ExaminingGS-0486Wildlife BiologyGS-0403MicrobiologyGS-0460ForestryGS-0006Correctional Institution AdministrationGS-0482Fish BiologyGS-1980Agricultural Commodity GradingGS-1315HydrologyGS-0701Veterinary Medical ScienceGS-0662OptometristGS-0102Social Science Aid And TechnicianGS-1529Mathematical StatisticsGS-1316Hydrologic TechnicianGS-1421Archives TechnicianGS-0060ChaplainGS-0935Administrative Law JudgeGS-0638Recreation/Creative Arts TherapistGS-0858Bioengineering And Biomedical EngineeringGS-0408EcologyGS-1160Financial AnalysisGS-1176Building ManagementGS-0998Claims Assistance And ExaminingGS-1849Wage And Hour InvestigationGS-0668Podiatrist
Data Accuracy Notice (YMYL): Salary figures are from the OPM Federal Workforce Data portal (EHRI Employment Snapshot, April 2026). The annualized_adjusted_basic_pay field captures base pay + locality pay under all pay plans (GS, Title 38, special rates). REDACTED records are excluded per OPM data release policy. FedTools publishes series-specific averages only when the non-redacted sample is representative (redaction ≤ 20%, n ≥ 50). This page does not constitute financial or career advice. Always verify current pay rates with your agency HR office and OPM.gov.