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Pharmacist Tech Schools, Salaries, and Job Data

Pharmacy Technicians Job Overview

Pharmacy technicians help licensed pharmacists supply medicines and other health care products to patients. They usually do routine tasks like preparing prescribed medication, counting tablets and labeling bottles. They also perform administrative duties like answering phones, stocking shelves and operating cash registers. Pharmacy technicians obtain written prescriptions or requests for prescription refills from patients, verify that the information is complete and accurate and then retrieve, count, pour, weigh, measure or mix the medication. Lastly, they may have to price and file the prescription, which is first checked by a pharmacist before it is given to the patient.

Pharmacy Technicians Schools and Degrees

Pharmacy technician programs last one to two years. Two-year programs grant an associate’s degree and one-year programs grant a certificate. Some candidates complete a formal training program where they are taught medical terminology, pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacy record keeping and medication background. There are many hospitals, proprietary schools, vocational or technical colleges, colleges and universities and community colleges that offer formal education programs. Experience managing inventories, counting tablets, measuring dosages and using computers is useful, along with a background in chemistry, English and health education.

Job Requirements

Employers usually prefer pharmacy technicians with formal training and certification. Many training programs include internships where students gain hands-on experience in actual pharmacies Pharmacy technicians should have strong customer service skills and teamwork skills because pharmacy technicians interact with patients, co-workers and health care professionals.

Nature of Work

Pharmacy technicians work in clean, organized, well-lighted and well-ventilated areas. They spend most of their day standing on feet. They might have to lift heavy boxes or use stepladders to retrieve supplies from high shelves. Their working hours may vary. Technicians also fill out insurance claim forms. In addition, they take inventory of prescription and over-the-counter drugs and enter this information into the computer so it can be reviewed while ordering supplies. Some technicians clean and maintain pharmacy equipment. In hospitals, they read patient charts, prepare and deliver the medicine to patients and copy the information into the patient's profile. Technicians may also put together a 24-hour supply of medicine for patients, package and label each dose separately and also make up intravenous (IV) packs for patients.

Pharmacy Technicians Jobs and Outlook

According to research from 2006, pharmacy technicians held about 285,000 jobs in the U.S. That number is expected to grow by 32% over the next ten years. Employment is highest in the following industries:

  • Department Stores
  • General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
  • Grocery Stores
  • Health and Personal Care Stores
  • Other General Merchandise Stores

The mean hourly wage for pharmacy technicians in the US is about $13.25, while the mean annual wages are around $27,560.

Job Numbers and Growth

The official count of pharmacist techs in 2008 was 285,000. Workers have recently faced a very low level of unemployment. The unemployment rate for employees? About 2% recently.

Area Job Conditions

You'll see a lot of employees in Gadsden (Alabama), Madera (California), and Kokomo (Indiana), and comparatively fewer in Framingham (Massachusetts), Oxnard (California), and Portsmouth (New Hampshire).

Wages for Pharmacist techs are highest in San Francisco (California), San Jose (California), and Oakland (California), and lowest in Rocky Mount (North Carolina), Weirton (West Virginia), and Owensboro (Kentucky).

Training and Education

Workers normally have moderate-term on-the-job training before landing a job. Degrees are held by 16% of current employees. Post-secondary schooling was enough for 57% of pharmacist techs. Education topped out at high school for 27% of workers. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.

Part-Time Work and Self-Employment

Part-time work suffices for 21% of pharmacist techs.

Pharmacist Techs by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)

In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.

Alabama

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anniston$22,000120+20%
Auburn$24,000140+48%
Birmingham$24,0001,890+49%
Decatur$24,000220+90%
Dothan$24,000230+78%
Florence$25,000210+94%
Gadsden$22,000210+204%
Huntsville$27,000510+4%
Mobile$25,000490+14%
Montgomery$26,000570+43%
Tuscaloosa$25,000250+24%

Alaska

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anchorage$37,000420+12%
Fairbanks$37,00050-25%

Arizona

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Flagstaff$30,000100-15%
Kingman$30,000150+38%
Phoenix$29,0004,690+3%
Prescott$33,000210+56%
Tucson$28,0001,270+43%
Yuma$27,000110-16%

Arkansas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Fayetteville$26,000510+10%
Fort Smith$25,000230-14%
Hot Springs$28,000170+123%
Jonesboro$23,000210+101%
Little Rock$24,000860+5%
Pine Bluff$22,000100+47%

California

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bakersfield$35,000630-1%
Chico$36,000250+64%
El Centro$35,000100-8%
Fresno$32,000800+0%
Hanford$36,000130+123%
Madera$31,000190+153%
Merced$33,00090-27%
Modesto$36,000440+15%
Napa$36,000100-28%
Oakland$40,0001,860-26%
Oxnard$36,000300-58%
Redding$34,000210+45%
Riverside$33,0002,980-5%
Sacramento$36,0001,420-35%
Salinas$36,000260-28%
San Diego$36,0002,370-28%
San Francisco$43,0001,570-36%
San Jose$40,0001,460-35%
San Luis Obispo$36,000190-15%
Santa Ana$36,0002,620-30%
Santa Barbara$38,000250-36%
Santa Cruz$38,000190-3%
Santa Rosa$37,000260-40%
Stockton$36,000530+5%
Vallejo$36,000340+22%
Visalia$31,000290-6%
Yuba City$36,000110+37%

Colorado

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Boulder$32,000200-47%
Colorado Springs$30,000700+17%
Denver$33,0002,210-28%
Fort Collins$33,000300+9%
Grand Junction$30,000120-1%
Greeley$30,000120-27%
Pueblo$28,000170+48%

Connecticut

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bridgeport$30,000640-39%
Danbury$29,00090-42%
Hartford$31,0001,230-13%
New Haven$34,000570-15%
Norwich$29,000210-26%
Waterbury$32,000180+21%

Delaware

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Dover$25,000220+87%
Wilmington$28,0001,100+39%

District of Columbia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Washington$31,0003,430-40%

Florida

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Cape Coral$28,000570+15%
Deltona$26,000580+61%
Fort Lauderdale$30,0002,030+14%
Fort Walton Beach$25,000200+20%
Gainesville$27,000420+60%
Jacksonville$30,0001,500+2%
Lakeland$26,000470+3%
Miami$29,0002,590+7%
Naples$29,000340+24%
Ocala$29,000410+93%
Orlando$29,0002,460-4%
Palm Bay$26,000440-5%
Panama City$26,000160+6%
Pensacola$27,000420+21%
Port St Lucie$27,000420+45%
Punta Gorda$26,000190+132%
Sarasota$25,000570-9%
Sebastian$26,000150+47%
Tallahassee$27,000420+11%
Tampa$27,0003,780+27%
West Palm Beach$28,0001,470+13%

Georgia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albany$25,000230+75%
Athens$25,000220+33%
Atlanta$28,0005,090-13%
Augusta$26,000750+55%
Brunswick$27,00080-10%
Columbus$25,000320+29%
Dalton$25,00090-47%
Gainesville$27,000160+4%
Hinesville$29,00030+25%
Macon$28,000360+60%
Rome$24,000140+87%
Savannah$27,000330-5%
Valdosta$25,000130+9%
Warner Robins$23,000190+80%

Hawaii

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Honolulu$36,000660-37%

Idaho

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Coeur Dalene$31,000140+19%
Idaho Falls$28,000140+40%
Lewiston$27,00040-10%
Pocatello$29,00060-1%

Illinois

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bloomington$28,000160+4%
Champaign$26,000340+61%
Chicago$29,0009,700+3%
Danville$31,000100+97%
Decatur$28,000160+62%
Kankakee150+94%
Peoria$26,000740+86%
Rockford$27,000390+11%
Springfield$24,000440+89%

Indiana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anderson$25,000130+58%
Bloomington$24,000180+20%
Columbus$24,00090+2%
Elkhart$26,000160-46%
Evansville$25,000490+20%
Fort Wayne$25,000550+10%
Gary$27,000830+25%
Indianapolis$28,0002,410+10%
Kokomo$24,000180+148%
Lafayette$27,000230+38%
Michigan City$26,000100+11%
Muncie$25,000180+89%
South Bend$28,000260-17%
Terre Haute$26,000180+18%

Iowa

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Ames$26,00070-11%
Cedar Rapids$28,000330+6%
Davenport$24,000500+16%
Des Moines$27,000690-12%
Dubuque$27,000200+83%
Iowa City$31,000310+97%
Sioux City$27,000140-10%
Waterloo$25,0001900%

Kansas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lawrence$24,000120+26%
Topeka$25,000390+55%
Wichita$26,000750+2%

Kentucky

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bowling Green$23,000180+46%
Elizabethtown$25,000150+65%
Lexington$25,000920+60%
Louisville$26,0001,920+28%
Owensboro$21,000200+96%

Louisiana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Alexandria$26,000200+55%
Baton Rouge$26,000770-13%
Houma$24,000200-6%
Lafayette$25,000330-1%
Lake Charles$26,000250+29%
Monroe$25,000250+44%
New Orleans$28,0001,180-5%
Shreveport$26,000440+7%

Maine

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bangor$28,000140+1%
Lewiston$27,000120+15%
Portland$27,000430-10%

Maryland

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Baltimore$30,0002,790-13%
Bethesda$32,000940-32%
Cumberland$26,000130+79%
Hagerstown$26,000250+12%
Salisbury$28,000130+16%

Massachusetts

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Barnstable Town$31,000170-25%
Boston$33,0003,020-28%
Brockton$29,000270+36%
Framingham$28,000190-50%
Haverhill$28,000200+17%
Lawrence$27,000100-19%
Leominster$26,000170+60%
Lowell$28,000290+5%
New Bedford$26,000200+42%
Springfield$28,000670-7%
Worcester$31,000530-10%

Michigan

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Ann Arbor$31,000600+55%
Battle Creek$26,000160+55%
Bay City$27,000150+111%
Detroit$30,0002,210+28%
Flint$26,000560+77%
Grand Rapids$29,000750-18%
Holland$28,000150-35%
Jackson$28,000220+99%
Kalamazoo$25,000430+37%
Lansing$31,000530+17%
Monroe$26,000100+22%
Muskegon$27,000220+69%
Niles$27,000110-18%
Saginaw$29,000240+43%
Warren$27,0002,640-7%

Minnesota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Duluth$30,000510+74%
Minneapolis$31,0004,170-5%
Rochester$34,000420+102%
St Cloud$30,000250+8%

Mississippi

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Gulfport$27,000270+9%
Hattiesburg$23,000250+105%
Jackson$26,000490-19%
Pascagoula$27,000120+21%

Missouri

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Columbia$23,000370+103%
Jefferson City$24,000110-27%
Joplin$22,000300+69%
Kansas City$25,0003,370+34%
Springfield$24,000820+79%
St Joseph$25,000210+98%
St Louis$26,0004,970+50%

Montana

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Billings$27,000200+12%
Great Falls$27,00090+28%
Missoula$29,000100-9%

Nebraska

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lincoln$24,000350-8%
Omaha$27,0001,130+1%

Nevada

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Carson City$32,000100+86%
Las Vegas$34,0001,880-17%
Reno$32,000400-18%

New Hampshire

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Manchester$31,000210-12%
Nashua$27,000310-3%
Portsmouth$32,00050-59%
Rochester$23,000120-2%

New Jersey

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Atlantic City$28,000190-45%
Camden$28,0001,210-6%
Edison$29,0001,790-29%
Newark$29,0002,230-10%
Ocean City$28,00080-7%
Trenton$28,000370-27%
Vineland$28,00090-27%

New Mexico

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albuquerque$29,0001,340+42%
Farmington$29,000100-10%
Las Cruces$31,000100-25%
Santa Fe$28,000110-20%

New York

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Albany$29,000800-24%
Binghamton$29,000180-25%
Buffalo$26,0001,120-14%
Elmira$27,00050-31%
Glens Falls$29,000120+7%
Ithaca$27,00070-21%
Kingston$28,000100-22%
Nassau$30,0002,030-34%
New York$31,0006,860-45%
Poughkeepsie$27,000460-19%
Rochester$25,0001,050-13%
Syracuse$27,000540-27%
Utica$30,000240-18%

North Carolina

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Asheville$27,000530+27%
Burlington$25,000140+10%
Charlotte$25,0002,080-4%
Durham$28,000780+20%
Fayetteville$28,000370+33%
Goldsboro$25,000110+42%
Greensboro$25,000700-22%
Greenville$24,000290+85%
Hickory$26,000500+32%
Jacksonville$23,000100+19%
Raleigh$27,0001,020-18%
Rocky Mount$22,000140+11%
Wilmington$24,000290-13%
Winston Salem$27,000690+36%

North Dakota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bismarck$29,00090-25%
Fargo$28,000250-5%
Grand Forks$33,000110+8%

Ohio

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Akron$25,000670-17%
Canton$26,000450+11%
Cincinnati$25,0002,650+4%
Cleveland$28,0002,770+7%
Columbus$26,0002,430+6%
Dayton$27,000990+5%
Lima$26,000130+17%
Mansfield$25,000150+36%
Sandusky$25,00070-3%
Springfield$27,000130+31%
Toledo$28,000940+26%
Youngstown$23,000660+19%

Oklahoma

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Lawton$26,000130+72%
Oklahoma City$24,0001,590+16%
Tulsa$25,0001,040-1%

Oregon

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bend$34,000150+0%
Corvallis$31,00070+12%
Eugene$32,000440+27%
Medford$33,000200+7%
Portland$34,0002,440-4%
Salem$31,000360+3%

Pennsylvania

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Allentown$26,000950+17%
Altoona$26,000200+56%
Erie$28,000280-3%
Harrisburg$27,000670-12%
Johnstown$24,000170+40%
Lancaster$26,000520-7%
Lebanon$29,000120+24%
Philadelphia$27,0005,150+11%
Pittsburgh$26,0003,860+39%
Reading$26,000410+7%
Scranton$26,000610-1%
State College$27,00080-34%
Williamsport$24,00090-16%
York$25,000320-24%

Rhode Island

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Providence$30,0001,540+12%

South Carolina

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Anderson$26,000180+39%
Charleston$27,0001,000+43%
Columbia$25,000970+15%
Florence$25,000280+50%
Greenville$25,000860+18%
Myrtle Beach$26,0002700%
Spartanburg$26,000410+46%
Sumter$26,00090+27%

South Dakota

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Rapid City$30,000190+40%
Sioux Falls$28,000430+35%

Tennessee

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Chattanooga$27,000740+34%
Clarksville$26,000230+39%
Cleveland$26,000150+107%
Jackson$26,000180+46%
Johnson City$26,000290+77%
Kingsport$24,000480+84%
Knoxville$28,0001,180+47%
Memphis$28,0002,420+60%
Morristown$24,000190+93%
Nashville$30,0002,180+17%

Texas

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Abilene$27,000150+12%
Amarillo$28,000380+68%
Austin$30,0002,050+10%
Beaumont$28,000400+9%
Brownsville$25,000430+52%
College Station$28,000210+23%
Corpus Christi$26,000620+51%
Dallas$30,0005,270+2%
El Paso$25,000810+29%
Fort Worth$30,0002,040-3%
Houston$29,0006,830+8%
Killeen$29,000400+47%
Laredo$26,000210+14%
Longview$28,000170-19%
Lubbock$27,000360+30%
Mcallen$26,000870+68%
Midland$27,000130-10%
Odessa$28,000150+24%
San Angelo$29,000130+55%
San Antonio$29,0003,090+50%
Sherman$29,000100+23%
Texarkana$25,000190+64%
Tyler$27,000240+19%
Victoria$28,000120+23%
Waco$29,000180-17%
Wichita Falls$29,000130+5%

Utah

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Logan$29,000100+4%
Ogden$30,000520+11%
Provo$30,000350-9%
Salt Lake City$32,0001,360-11%
St George$30,000180+76%

Vermont

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Burlington$30,000220-12%

Virginia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Blacksburg$25,000210+60%
Charlottesville$29,000200-4%
Danville$25,00090+28%
Harrisonburg$26,000170+48%
Lynchburg$24,000260+15%
Richmond$28,0001,130-22%
Roanoke$27,000420+14%
Virginia Beach$27,0001,790-3%
Winchester$27,000160+44%

Washington

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Bellingham$34,000240+36%
Bremerton$37,000200+9%
Kennewick$32,000170-15%
Longview$34,000110+66%
Mount Vernon$37,000140+50%
Olympia$35,000160-24%
Seattle$37,0002,430-31%
Spokane$33,000530+7%
Tacoma$38,000620-4%
Wenatchee$34,00080-3%
Yakima$33,000180+2%

West Virginia

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Charleston$23,000440+31%
Huntington$24,000380+47%
Morgantown$27,000190+95%
Parkersburg$23,000200+32%
Weirton$22,000180+107%
Wheeling$25,000190+38%

Wisconsin

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Appleton$28,000240-8%
Eau Claire$26,000240+42%
Fond$28,000120+31%
Green Bay$27,000330-15%
Janesville$27,000180+27%
La Crosse$26,000230+53%
Madison$30,000910+14%
Milwaukee$29,0001,940-6%
Oshkosh$28,000200+7%
Racine$27,000210+24%
Sheboygan$26,000120-2%
Wausau$28,000120-18%

Wyoming

City and AreaMedian SalaryEmployeesJob Density
Casper$30,00080+3%
Cheyenne$30,000110+22%

Thanks to CityTownInfo.com for this pharmacist tech schools and jobs info.

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