All About Pharmacy Technicians
Job Description & Duties 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.
Pharmacy Technician Responsibilities
- Deliver medications or pharmaceutical supplies to patients, nursing stations, or surgery.
- Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
- Clean and help maintain equipment or work areas and sterilize glassware, according to prescribed methods.
- Price and file prescriptions that have been filled.
- Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
- Compute charges for medication or equipment dispensed to hospital patients and enter data in computer.
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Skills Needed to be a Pharmacy Technician
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
- Drug Coordinator
- Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
- Accredited Pharmacy Technician
- Technician, Inventory Specialist
- Pharmacist Assistant
Job Demand 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. There will be an estimated 37,500 positions for Pharmacy Technician per 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.
How Much Does a Pharmacy Technician Make?
The average yearly salary of a Pharmacy Technician ranges between $22,740 and $48,010.

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 do Pharmacy Technicians Use?
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 do I Become a Pharmacy Technician?
Are there Pharmacy Technicians education requirements?

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

Where Pharmacy Technicians Work

The table below shows the approximate number of Pharmacy Technicians employed by various industries.

Related Careers
Those interested in being a Pharmacy Technician may also be interested in:
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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