All About Pharmacy Technicians
Position 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
- Price stock and mark items for sale.
- Clean and help maintain equipment or work areas and sterilize glassware, according to prescribed methods.
- Deliver medications or pharmaceutical supplies to patients, nursing stations, or surgery.
- Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
- Prepare and process medical insurance claim forms and records.
- Mix pharmaceutical preparations, according to written prescriptions.
Things a Pharmacy Technician Should Know How to Do
Pharmacy Technicians state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Types of Pharmacy Technician
- Pharmacy Laboratory Technician
- Pharmacy Technician (Pharmacy Tech)
- Technician
- Accredited Pharmacy Technician
- Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
What Kind of Pharmacy Technician Job Opportunities Are There?
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. The BLS estimates 37,500 yearly job openings in this field.
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.
How Much Does a Pharmacy Technician Make?
Pharmacy Technicians make between $22,740 and $48,010 a year.
Pharmacy Technicians who work in Alaska, Washington, or Oregon, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Pharmacy Technicians in different U.S. states.
| 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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Pharmacy Technicians
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Pharmacy Technicians may use on a daily basis:
- 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
Learn what Pharmacy Technician education requirements there are.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Pharmacy Technician?
Who Employs Pharmacy Technicians?
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.
Featured Pharmacy Schools
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