5 accredited schools across the San Diego metro area trained 113 pharmacy technicians in 2023–24. Here’s how they compare on cost, length and size, plus what the job pays locally.
Updated October 2026 · Data: IPEDS 2023–24, BLS May 2025
Sorted by number of 2023–24 graduates (IPEDS), a proxy for program size and stability.
Private for-profit two-year college in Chula Vista that reported 61 Pharmacy Tech graduates in 2023–24, the 5th-most in the state. Published tuition and fees plus books and supplies come to $18,269 for a program of about 9 months.
19 Pharmacy Tech credentials awarded in 2023–24 at this private for-profit career school.
18 Pharmacy Tech credentials awarded in 2023–24 at this private for-profit two-year college.
Public career school in Escondido that reported 10 Pharmacy Tech graduates in 2023–24.
5 Pharmacy Tech credentials awarded in 2023–24 at this public career school.
5 accredited schools in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area graduated 113 Pharmacy Tech students in 2023–24. The largest was Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista with 61.
Among schools that published a program price, Pima Medical Institute-Chula Vista in Chula Vista listed the lowest total: $18,269 for tuition, books and supplies.
Pharmacy Technicians in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro earn a median $54,500 a year ($26.20/hour), per BLS May 2025 data. That compares with $55,110 statewide and $45,750 nationally.
Certificate programs commonly take a few months to a year; associate-degree programs take about 2 years.