Pharmacy Technicians

Overview

Introduction

Pharmacy technicians provide technical assistance for pharmacists and work under their direct supervision. They are typically employed in chain or independent drug stores, hospitals, community ambulatory care centers, home health care agencies, nursing homes, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facilities, as well as by the pharmaceutical industry. They perform a wide range of technical support functions and tasks related to the pharmacy profession. They maintain patient records; count, package, and label medication doses; prepa...

Quick Facts


Median Salary

$40,300

Employment Prospects

Excellent

Minimum Education Level

High School Diploma|Some Postsecondary Training


Experience

Externship


Skills

Math|Organizational|Scientific


Personality Traits

Conventional|Organized|Technical

Earnings

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, pharmacy technicians had median annual earnings of $40,300 in May 2023. The lowest paid 10 percent of technicians earned less than $32,720, while the highest paid 10 percent made $57,130 or more. Fifty percent of pharmacy technicians earned between and $36,290 and $47,680. Pharmacy technicians who were employed by health and personal care retailers ear...

Work Environment

Pharmacy technicians work in clean, well-lit, pleasant, professional surroundings that can often become hectic, particularly in hospital and retail settings. They may wear scrubs or other uniforms in hospitals, especially in the IV room. In a retail drugstore, a technician may be allowed to wear casual clothing along with a smock. The job of pharmacy technician, like any other occupation that d...

Outlook

The U.S. Department of Labor projects faster-than-average employment growth for pharmacy technicians through 2033. As the role of the pharmacist shifts to consultation, more technicians will be needed to assemble and dispense medications. Furthermore, new employment avenues and responsibilities will mirror that of the expanding and evolving role of the pharmacist. A strong demand is emerging fo...