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All About Pharmacy Technicians

Pharmacy Technician Job 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.

A Day in the Life of a Pharmacy Technician

  • Prepare and process medical insurance claim forms and records.
  • Clean and help maintain equipment or work areas and sterilize glassware, according to prescribed methods.
  • Price stock and mark items for sale.
  • Price and file prescriptions that have been filled.
  • Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
  • Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.

Pharmacy Technician Required 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.

  • Billing and Quality Technician
  • Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
  • Accredited Pharmacy Technician
  • Lead Pharmacy Tech, Certified Pharmacy Technician (Lead Pharmacy Tech, CPhT)
  • Pharmacy Laboratory Technician

Are There Job Opportunities for Pharmacy Technicians?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 402,500 jobs in the United States for Pharmacy Technician. 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.

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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.

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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

Tools & Technologies Used by Pharmacy Technicians

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

Individuals working as a Pharmacy Technician have obtained the following education levels:

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What work experience do I need to become a Pharmacy Technician?

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Where Pharmacy Technicians Are Employed

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Below are examples of industries where Pharmacy Technicians work:

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You May Also Be Interested In…

Those thinking about becoming a Pharmacy Technician might also be interested in the following careers:

Are you already one of the many Pharmacy Technician in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:

References:

Image Credit: Ryan Conroy via Public domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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