What You Need to Know About Pharmacy Technician
Career Description Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.
Life As a Pharmacy Technician: What Do They Do?
- Prepack bulk medicines, fill bottles with prescribed medications, and type and affix labels.
- Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
- Transfer medication from vials to the appropriate number of sterile, disposable syringes, using aseptic techniques.
- Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
- Assist customers by answering simple questions, locating items, or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information.
- Compute charges for medication or equipment dispensed to hospital patients and enter data in computer.
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Pharmacy Technician Needed Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Pharmacy Technicians say are important on the job.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Billing and Quality Technician
- Accredited Pharmacy Technician
- Pharmacy Technician (Pharmacy Tech)
- Pharmacy Laboratory Technician
- Technician
Job Outlook for Pharmacy Technicians
There were about 402,500 jobs for Pharmacy Technician in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 11.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 47,600 new jobs for Pharmacy Technician by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 37,500 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Pharmacy Technician are Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Illinois, or Wisconsin. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Pharmacy Technician
The salary for Pharmacy Technicians ranges between about $22,740 and $48,010 a year.
Pharmacy Technicians who work in Alaska, Washington, or Oregon, make the highest salaries.
How much do Pharmacy Technicians make in each U.S. state?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $30,040 |
| Alaska | $43,150 |
| Arizona | $35,090 |
| Arkansas | $29,640 |
| California | $42,610 |
| Colorado | $36,880 |
| Connecticut | $34,530 |
| Delaware | $34,470 |
| District of Columbia | $39,980 |
| Florida | $32,090 |
| Georgia | $30,240 |
| Hawaii | $38,720 |
| Idaho | $35,920 |
| Illinois | $33,140 |
| Indiana | $31,160 |
| Iowa | $32,560 |
| Kansas | $32,940 |
| Kentucky | $29,270 |
| Louisiana | $32,700 |
| Maine | $31,690 |
| Maryland | $33,880 |
| Massachusetts | $37,110 |
| Michigan | $32,660 |
| Minnesota | $37,670 |
| Mississippi | $31,440 |
| Missouri | $32,090 |
| Montana | $34,780 |
| Nebraska | $33,270 |
| Nevada | $37,620 |
| New Hampshire | $32,370 |
| New Jersey | $33,070 |
| New Mexico | $33,710 |
| New York | $34,640 |
| North Carolina | $30,890 |
| North Dakota | $39,770 |
| Ohio | $30,500 |
| Oklahoma | $30,790 |
| Oregon | $40,920 |
| Pennsylvania | $30,000 |
| Rhode Island | $37,410 |
| South Carolina | $31,530 |
| South Dakota | $32,720 |
| Tennessee | $32,980 |
| Texas | $34,290 |
| Utah | $37,190 |
| Vermont | $34,070 |
| Virginia | $32,370 |
| Washington | $42,470 |
| West Virginia | $28,650 |
| Wisconsin | $32,750 |
| Wyoming | $37,460 |
What Tools & Technology do Pharmacy Technicians Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Pharmacy Technicians:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Database software
- MEDITECH software
- Medical condition coding software
- Point of sale POS software
- Inventory management software
- Pyxis MedStation software
- Patient record maintenance software
- Prescription processing software
- Label-making software
How to Become a Pharmacy Technician
What education or degrees do I need to become a Pharmacy Technician?
What work experience do I need to become a Pharmacy Technician?
Where do Pharmacy Technicians Work?
Pharmacy Technicians work in the following industries:
Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Pharmacy Technician might also be interested in the following careers:
Those who work as a Pharmacy Technician sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
- Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
- Respiratory Therapy Technicians
- Cytotechnologists
References:
Image Credit: Ryan Conroy via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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