How much money does a pharmacy tech make? What does a pharmacy technician do on the job? What are the education requirements to become a pharmacy tech. This article will provide a general job overview for pharmacy techs, as well as the education requirements and detailed state salary information.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 20 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. Therefore, this position does have a positive job outlook.
What Does a Pharmacy Tech Do?
Pharmacy technicians help licensed pharmacists dispense prescription medication to customers or health professionals. They work in retail pharmacies and hospitals.
Pharmacy techs will often do the following tasks on the job:
- Take the information needed to fill a prescription from customers or health professionals
- Measure amounts of medication for prescriptions
- Package and label prescriptions
- Organize inventory and alert pharmacists to any shortages of medications or supplies
- Accept payment for prescriptions and process insurance claims
- Enter customer or patient information, including any prescriptions taken, into a computer system
- Answer phone calls from customers
- Arrange for customers to speak with pharmacists if customers have questions about medications or health matters
- Many pharmacy technicians learn how to perform their duties through on-the-job training. These programs vary in length and subject matter according to the employer’s requirements.
Pharmacy Tech Education Requirements
In order to become a pharmacy tech, individuals must first obtain a high school diploma or GED equivalent. After that, individuals must apply to a diploma or certification program, which usually lasts about a year or so. These certifications are usually offered by technical schools or community colleges. Some associates degree programs are also available.
The certificate program covers a variety of subjects, such as arithmetic used in pharmacies, recordkeeping, ways of dispensing medications, and pharmacy law and ethics. Technicians also learn the names, uses, and doses of medications. Most programs also include clinical experience opportunities, in which students gain hands-on experience in a pharmacy.
After completing the certificate program, some states may require licensing or registration. Consult your state’s Board of Pharmacy for its particular regulations.
Pharmacy Tech Salary Information
In 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average hourly wage for a pharmacy tech was $14.95. The average salary was $31,090. Here is a table with more information:
| Employment | Employment RSE | Mean hourly wage | Mean annual wage | Wage RSE |
| 368,760 | 0.8 % | $14.95 | $31,090 | 0.3 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $9.97 | $11.76 | $14.33 | $17.60 | $21.10 |
| Annual Wage | $20,730 | $24,470 | $29,810 | $36,600 | $43,900 |
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Health and Personal Care Stores | 192,290 | 18.84 | $14.04 | $29,200 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 58,090 | 1.11 | $17.22 | $35,820 |
| Other General Merchandise Stores | 27,910 | 1.56 | $14.23 | $29,610 |
| Grocery Stores | 26,540 | 1.02 | $13.97 | $29,060 |
| Department Stores | 15,060 | 1.07 | $13.84 | $28,780 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 5,920 | 0.30 | $19.94 | $41,480 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 3,850 | 0.55 | $19.11 | $39,750 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 70 | 0.01 | $18.98 | $39,480 |
| Offices of Physicians | 5,790 | 0.24 | $18.39 | $38,250 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | n/a | n/a | $18.33 | $38,120 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage |
| Washington | 7,180 | 2.48 | 0.91 | $19.38 | $40,300 |
| Alaska | 660 | 2.04 | 0.75 | $19.22 | $39,980 |
| California | 33,360 | 2.21 | 0.81 | $19.09 | $39,710 |
| Hawaii | 1,520 | 2.49 | 0.91 | $17.50 | $36,400 |
| Oregon | 4,780 | 2.84 | 1.04 | $17.44 | $36,270 |
Lowest paying states:
| West Virginia | 12.75 | 26510 |
| Alabama | 12.94 | 26920 |
| Kentucky | 13.06 | 27170 |
Pharmacy Tech Salary by State:
| State: | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage | Annual median wage |
| Alabama | 12.94 | 26,920 | 26,060 |
| Alaska | 19.22 | 39,980 | 39,940 |
| Arizona | 15.99 | 33,270 | 32,160 |
| Arkansas | 13.14 | 27,330 | 26,420 |
| California | 19.09 | 39,710 | 38,020 |
| Colorado | 16.02 | 33,320 | 32,940 |
| Connecticut | 15.60 | 32,450 | 30,690 |
| Delaware | 14.60 | 30,370 | 28,000 |
| District of Columbia | 16.62 | 34,560 | 33,960 |
| Florida | 13.90 | 28,900 | 28,160 |
| Georgia | 13.46 | 27,990 | 27,200 |
| Guam | 13.47 | 28,010 | 27,000 |
| Hawaii | 17.50 | 36,400 | 35,920 |
| Idaho | 15.16 | 31,530 | 31,070 |
| Illinois | 13.95 | 29,020 | 27,750 |
| Indiana | 13.82 | 28,750 | 28,170 |
| Iowa | 14.10 | 29,320 | 28,650 |
| Kansas | 13.80 | 28,700 | 28,080 |
| Kentucky | 13.06 | 27,170 | 25,800 |
| Louisiana | 14.39 | 29,920 | 29,000 |
| Maine | 14.17 | 29,480 | 28,910 |
| Maryland | 15.40 | 32,030 | 31,870 |
| Massachusetts | 15.29 | 31,800 | 30,900 |
| Michigan | 14.02 | 29,160 | 28,760 |
| Minnesota | 15.34 | 31,900 | 31,210 |
| Mississippi | 13.36 | 27,780 | 26,860 |
| Missouri | 13.73 | 28,560 | 27,350 |
| Montana | 16.06 | 33,410 | 32,860 |
| Nebraska | 13.87 | 28,840 | 28,230 |
| Nevada | 16.15 | 33,600 | 32,920 |
| New Hampshire | 13.63 | 28,350 | 27,280 |
| New Jersey | 15.21 | 31,650 | 30,450 |
| New Mexico | 14.92 | 31,030 | 30,170 |
| New York | 15.40 | 32,030 | 30,770 |
| North Carolina | 13.50 | 28,080 | 27,500 |
| North Dakota | 17.36 | 36,120 | 35,690 |
| Ohio | 13.43 | 27,930 | 27,000 |
| Oklahoma | 13.68 | 28,450 | 27,790 |
| Oregon | 17.44 | 36,270 | 36,130 |
| Pennsylvania | 14.19 | 29,510 | 28,730 |
| Puerto Rico | 10.80 | 22,460 | 20,580 |
| Rhode Island | 15.05 | 31,300 | 28,880 |
| South Carolina | 13.76 | 28,620 | 27,810 |
| South Dakota | 14.15 | 29,430 | 28,760 |
| Tennessee | 14.24 | 29,630 | 28,650 |
| Texas | 15.30 | 31,830 | 31,620 |
| Utah | 16.32 | 33,940 | 33,400 |
| Vermont | 15.67 | 32,600 | 32,010 |
| Virgin Islands | 13.60 | 28,290 | 28,150 |
| Virginia | 13.88 | 28,860 | 27,620 |
| Washington | 19.38 | 40,300 | 40,140 |
| West Virginia | 12.75 | 26,510 | 25,740 |
| Wisconsin | 14.21 | 29,550 | 28,850 |
| Wyoming | 16.29 | 33,880 | 34,250 |
References:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Pharmacy Tech, on the Internet at bls.gov.