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Pharmacy Technician

Overview and Key Facts

pharmacy technician explaining therapy details
Education
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Median Pay
Median Pay
$43,460
Job Growth
Job Growth
6.40%
(Above US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
521,799

What Do They Do?

A pharmacy technician could...

 
pharmacist organizing medications taking inventory
Organize and take inventory of medications in the pharmacy to alert pharmacist of any shortages of medications.
vitamins, pills, medications
Count, package and label prescriptions.
pharmacist answering questions helping customers
Assist customers in the pharmacy by answering phone calls, processing insurance claims, doing prescription intake, and answering medication questions and arranging for customers to speak with the pharmacist about health matters.
machine for aneshesia serum in operating room
Measure correct doses of IV (intra-venous) medications in a timely manner for immediate need in a hospital operating room.
 
pharmacist organizing medications taking inventory vitamins, pills, medications pharmacist answering questions helping customers machine for aneshesia serum in operating room

Overview Listen to this section

Pharmacy technicians play a very important role at a pharmacy. Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists in many different ways. They make sure a pharmacy runs smoothly every day. They may have a role in customer service by taking personal information, answering questions, and taking payments. A technician can measure or mix drugs and package and label containers. They may also count all of the medications to let the pharmacists know if there are low stock items. Pharmacy technicians can work in a hospital to make sure all patients are given the medications they need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmQM3R-Ijj4

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Pharmacy Technician?


  1. Active Listening: ?
  2. Speaking: ?
  3. Reading Comprehension: ?
  4. Critical Thinking: ?
  5. Service Orientation: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Pharmacy Technician might do:
  • 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.
  • Mix pharmaceutical preparations, according to written prescriptions.
  • Price and file prescriptions that have been filled.
  • 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.
  • Prepack bulk medicines, fill bottles with prescribed medications, and type and affix labels.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Pharmacy Technician Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Pharmacy Technician jobs (6.40%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Pharmacy Technician

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

Most states regulate pharmacy technicians, which is a process that may require passing an exam or completing a formal education or training program.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) accredits pharmacy technician programs that include at least 600 hours of instruction over a minimum of 15 weeks.

Requirements for pharmacy technicians in the states that regulate them typically include some or all of the following:

  • High school diploma or GED
  • Formal education or training program
  • Exam
  • Fees
  • Continuing education
  • Criminal background check

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: High school diploma or equivalent ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

Pharmacy technicians usually need a high school diploma or equivalent and typically learn their duties through on-the-job training.

Other pharmacy technicians enter the occupations after completing postsecondary education programs in pharmacy technology. These programs are usually offered by vocational schools or community colleges. Most programs award a certificate after 1 year or less, although some programs last longer and lead to an associate's degree. They cover a variety of subjects, such as arithmetic used in pharmacies, recordkeeping, ways of dispensing medications, and pharmacy law and ethics. Technicians also learn the names, uses, and doses of medications. Most programs also include clinical experience opportunities, in which students gain hands-on experience in a pharmacy.

Companies That Hire Pharmacy Technicians

  • CVS Health
  • United Health Group
  • Walgreens
  • Hospital Corporation of America
  • Defense Health Agency
  • Kaiser Permanente

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

My Life as a Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy techs are absolutely critical for a hospital to run. We're kinda like the elves, you don't see us, but everything that we do is extremely important. You couldn't have your surgery, really, without having the doses being prepared...so I think we're really, really fundamental to a hospital.  
- Emma Robinson, Pharmacy Technician
Career Profile: Pharmacy Technician
Being a Pharmacy Technician is really fast paced. It allows me to switch from different parts of the pharmacy throughout the day. I like flexibility, so I really enjoy the fact that I can move around from station to station and walk around and move and not just sit all day long. 
- Adria Horrocks, Pharmacy Technician

Nature of the Work

Pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of a pharmacist. They often act as a link between the pharmacist and the customer. First, a pharmacist will review and approve a medication. Then, a pharmacy technician will prepare a medication to give to the patient. They may use a computer system to update patient records, take payment for a medication and to bill insurance companies. They can use patient records to make sure a new medication does not interfere with current medications. This helps to make sure that the new medication is safe for the patient to take. In this role you may also answer customer phone calls, take and organize inventory of the pharmacy, and refer customers to the pharmacist. After taking inventory of the medications in the pharmacy, the technician can alert the pharmacist to medications they are out of or those that are in low supply.

In most states, technicians can prepare some medications. This may include calling doctors to approve a prescription refill. To prepare medications a pharmacy technician may need to count, retrieve, weigh, pour and even mix a medication. Technicians may need to operate equipment when filling prescription orders.

Pharmacy technicians working in medical buildings, like a hospital, prepare different types of medications. One common way to dispense medication in a hospital is intravenous (IV) medications. They may walk around the hospital to give medications to patients. A technician will make medications for surgery or take care of the laboratory preparation. As patients leave the hospital, they can pick up needed medications from a pharmacy technician.

Work Environment

Pharmacy technicians work in clean, well-lit and well-ventilated areas. Many community and hospital pharmacies are open for extended hours, so pharmacy technicians may be required to work nights, weekends, and holidays. Many pharmacy technicians spend most of their workday on their feet and may wear gloves, masks, and other protective equipment.

Pharmacy technicians working in hospitals and other medical facilities prepare a greater variety of medications, such as intravenous medications. They may make rounds in the hospital, giving medications to patients.

More Information

Ask Questions

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Additional Resources

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