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Pharmacy Technicians in Iowa

Thinking about a career as a Pharmacy Technicians in Iowa? Below are the key facts. 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.

What do Pharmacy Technicians Make in Iowa?

For a pharmacy technicians working in Iowa, the typical annual salary is $41,380 per year (or about $19.90/hour).Annual wages span from $34,880 at the 10th percentile to $52,530 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$34,880	$16.77
25th percentile	$37,240	$17.91
Median (50th)	$41,380	$19.90
75th percentile	$47,230	$22.71
90th percentile	$52,530	$25.26

The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Iowa compared to the national average — is 0.91.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, pharmacy technicians earn a median of $72,773 per year ($34.99/hour), lower than the Iowa median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 2,505,396 pharmacy technicians in the U.S.. In Iowa alone, about 4,480 people work in this role. That’s fewer than the typical state, which employs around 6,030 pharmacy technicians.

Top Iowa Metros for Pharmacy Technicians

The metro areas below employ the most pharmacy technicians in Iowa.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	1,030	$43,610
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	530	$40,760
Iowa City, IA	460	$40,960
Cedar Rapids, IA	370	$40,980
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	310	$39,380
Dubuque, IA	230	$39,300
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	210	$41,860
Ames, IA	160	$40,030

Top States for Pharmacy Technicians Employment

The table below shows the states where the most pharmacy technicians work.

State	Number Employed
California	45,210
Texas	41,610
Florida	38,950
New York	26,450
Illinois	22,790
Ohio	20,100
Pennsylvania	19,630
North Carolina	16,600
Georgia	15,780
Michigan	14,610
New Jersey	14,130
Tennessee	12,350
Massachusetts	11,980
Missouri	11,420
Virginia	11,260
Arizona	11,260
Indiana	11,040
Kentucky	10,040
Washington	9,260
Wisconsin	8,840

Highest-Paying States for Pharmacy Technicians

These states pay the most for pharmacy technicians.

State	Annual Median Salary
Washington	$56,140
Oregon	$51,210
Alaska	$50,440
California	$49,640
Minnesota	$48,560
Colorado	$48,070
Arizona	$47,620
North Dakota	$47,600
Montana	$46,980
Utah	$46,760

Skills

The most important pharmacy technicians skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Top abilities for pharmacy technicians, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
• Enter prescription information into computer databases.
• Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
• Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
• Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.
• Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
• Assist customers by answering simple questions, locating items, or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information.
• Operate cash registers to accept payment from customers.
• Price and file prescriptions that have been filled.
• Mix pharmaceutical preparations, according to written prescriptions.
• Order, label, and count stock of medications, chemicals, or supplies and enter inventory data into computer.
• Clean and help maintain equipment or work areas and sterilize glassware, according to prescribed methods.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Working with Computers
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Processing Information
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Training and Teaching Others

Tools & Technology

Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Apple Safari, MEDITECH software In-demand technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Related college programs include:

• Allied Health Services

Related Careers

Related occupations to pharmacy technicians include:

• Medical and Health Services Managers
• Pharmacists
• Anesthesiologist Assistants
• Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists
• Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
• Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

Also Known As

Accredited Pharmacy Technician, Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), Chemotherapy Pharmacy Technician (Chemo Pharmacy Technician), Compounding Pharmacy Tech (Compounding Pharmacy Technician), Compounding Technician, Drug Coordinator, Hospital Pharmacy Tech (Hospital Pharmacy Technician), Inpatient Pharmacy Tech (Inpatient Pharmacy Technician), OR Pharmacy Tech (Operating Room Pharmacy Tech), Pharmacist Assistant, Pharmacist Technician, Pharmacy Clerk, Pharmacy Laboratory Technician, Pharmacy Service Associate, Pharmacy Technician (Pharm Tech).

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 29-2052.00