What You Need to Know About Pharmacy Technician
Occupation 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.
Pharmacy Technician Responsibilities
- Maintain and merchandise home healthcare products or services.
- Price stock and mark items for sale.
- Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.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.
- Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
- Clean and help maintain equipment or work areas and sterilize glassware, according to prescribed methods.
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Qualities of a Pharmacy Technician
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:
- Pharmacist Technician
- Pharmacy Technician (Pharmacy Tech)
- Lead Pharmacy Technician (Lead Pharmacy Tech)
- Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)
- Pharmacy Laboratory Technician
What Kind of Pharmacy Technician Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 402,500 jobs for Pharmacy Technician in 2016. 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.
Pharmacy Technician Salary
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 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 |
What Tools 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
Becoming a Pharmacy Technician
Education needed to be a Pharmacy Technician:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where 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:
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:
- 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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