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Pharmacy Technician Career Guide

Do you want to help people, but you don’t want an extensive educational commitment? Do you have excellent communication skills and the ability to pay excellent attention to detail?

If the answer is yes, then you may thrive as a pharmacy technician!

Pharmacy technicians are key members of any pharmaceutical team. They work under the supervision of experienced pharmacists to organize, distribute and stock prescription medication. Pharmacy technicians do not need a bachelor’s degree and can qualify in under a year!

 

You’ll be able to find a job anywhere. Every state in the country needs Pharmacy Technicians. So if you find that you need to move, know that finding a job will be relatively easy.

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Pharmacy Technician Career Ratings

(What these ratings mean)

Income

Career
Growth

Personal Growth

Contribution

Influence

Job Profiles

Real-Life Pharmacy Technician Job Profiles

Below is a list of links to anonymous job profiles of REAL PEOPLE who have filled out our survey and offered to share their insights with our users about their job in the Pharmacy Technician field.
ID Job Title Gender Age Earnings City & State Date
33771 Pharmacy Technician Female 28 $23,000 Mays Landing, NJ 01/01/2010
33568 Pharmacy Technician Female 25 $27,000 Kentwood, MI 01/01/2010
33513 Certified Pharmacy Technician Female 44 $37,000 RENICK, MO 01/01/2010
33412 Pharmacy Technician Female 25 $30,000 GrandRapids, MI 01/01/2010
32742 Pharmacy Technician Female 32 $30,000 roseville, MI 01/01/2010

Overview

What a Pharmacy Technician does

Not to be confused with pharmacy assistants, who perform more clerical functions (e.g., answering phones or greeting customers), pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of pharmacists to organize, distribute, and stock prescription medication. Pharmacy technicians are needed anywhere that handle prescription medication, from grocery stores to hospitals to drug stores and retail stores. Regardless of where they work, the typical duties of a pharmacy technician include:

  • Collecting the necessary information needed to fill a prescription from customers or health professionals
  • Measuring the amount of medication for prescriptions
  • Packaging and labelling prescriptions
  • Alerting pharmacists to any shortages of medications or supplies
  • Accepting payment for prescriptions
  • Processing insurance claims
  • Entering customer or patient information
  • Answering phone calls from customers
  • Arrange for customers to speak with pharmacists if required

Why they are needed

Pharmacy technicians are essential members of a pharmacy team. They are needed to ensure the smooth running of a pharmacy, and the safe distribution of medicines. Without pharmacy technicians, pharmacists would be working in overdrive. They would be stressed, worn-out and spreading themselves too thin. When this happens, mistakes (e.g., wrong dosage of medicines given) will occur. Pharmacy technicians take the pressure off pharmacists and help share the workload.

The pros and cons of a career as a pharmacy technician

Pros:

  • It is an accessible career as training can be completed quickly
  • There are lot of job opportunities as pharmacy technicians can work in a variety of settings
  • Pharmacy technicians get to help lots of different people
  • Pharmacy technicians often work in a good environment and are part of a cohesive team
  • Pharmacy technicians will have good job stability as the demand for skilled pharmacy technicians is at an all time high

Cons:

  • Pharmacy technicians may have to work with difficult patients
  • Pharmacy technicians may have to work long hours
  • It can be a physically demanding job as pharmacy technicians are required to be on their feet all day
  • Pharmacy technicians may feel under appreciated in comparison to more qualified pharmacists
  • Continuous education is required to keep up with the ever-changing world of medicine

Employability

Job Market

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 4 percent from 2019 to 2029. This employment growth is expected for a number of reasons such as:

  • The aging population will create an increased demand for prescription medicines
  • Higher rates of chronic diseases (eg., diabetes) will create an increased demand of prescriptions
  • More advanced pharmaceutical researching will create more prescription medications that can be used to fight diseases
  • Pharmacists are increasingly performing more patient care activities (e.g., giving shocks) so technicians will be needed to perform pharmacy duties (e.g., collecting information, preparing medications).

Career paths

In general, pharmacy technicians need a high school diploma or equivalent and typically learn their duties through on-the-job training. Their training period will vary in length and subject matter according to the employer’s requirements.

However, some pharmacy technicians enter the occupation after completing postsecondary education programs in pharmacy technology that is accredited by The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP). 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.

Example Job Titles for Pharmacy Technician

Below is a list of common job titles in the Pharmacy Technician field. Click the links below for more information about these job titles, or view the next section for actual real-life job profiles.

Benefits & Conditions

Income and benefits

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in the United states was $33,950 in 2019. The lowest 10% earned less than $24,120 per year, and the highest 10% earned more than $49,130 per year.

The top paying industry was hospitals, which has a median annual salary of $38,310. This was followed by pharmacies and drug stores ($31,840) and food and beverage stores ($31,610).

Autonomy and flexibility

Pharmacy technicians often work under qualified and experienced pharmacists. They will have some control over their decisions, but it is likely that they will often take instructions from pharmacists. As a result, it is likely that pharmacy technicians will have low autonomy.

Furthermore, pharmacy technicians are likely to work long hours. They will be employed by someone and therefore are unlikely to have control over their schedule and thus pharmacy technicians will have little flexibility.

Locations and commute

According to Zippia, the best states to be a pharmacy technician, based on average annual salary and number of job opportunities available, are:

  1. Alaska, where the average annual salary is $47,658
  2. Mississippi, where the average annual salary is $43,497
  3. Maine, where the average annual salary is $42,282
  4. West Virginia, where the average annual salary is $39,189
  5. Oregon, where the average annual salary is $43,432

The worst states, according to Zippia, are Alabama, Missouri, Virginia, Oklahoma and Florida.

Work environment

51% of pharmacy technicians in the United States were employed by pharmacies and drug stores. 17% were employed by hospitals and 9% by food and beverage stores. In nearly all of these settings, pharmacy technicians will spend most of their workday on their feet. As a result, they need to have physical stamina.

Career Satisfaction

Common Matching Personality Types

Which personalities tend to succeed and thrive in Pharmacy Technician careers? Based on our research, there is a relatively strong positive correlation between the following personality types and Pharmacy Technician career satisfaction. This doesn’t mean that there aren’t many exceptions, of course, but if you fit into one of the following personality types then we suggest you give strong consideration to a career in Pharmacy Technician.

16 Types (Myers-Briggs)

Big Five (OCEAN)

  • None

DISC

Enneagram

  • None

Holland Codes (RIASEC)

Personality types

Pharmacy technicians are likely to have sociable personalities, as they are required to interact with patients everyday. Pharmacy technicians are also likely to be incredibly conscientious and conventional. This personality quality is absolutely essential, as pharmacy technicians must be able to gather the correct information and pay attention to the smallest of details on prescriptions.

Accomplishment and mastery

Pharmacy technicians are unlikely to feel as much accomplishment and mastery as those in other professions may feel. This is because they do not have to complete extensive training in order to land this position. Pharmacy technicians also have little autonomy and responsibility, which can hinder their feelings or accomplishment and mastery.

Meaning and contribution

As mentioned previously, pharmacy technicians are key members of a medical team.  Their work has great meaning and contribution to others as they help to ensure that drugs are administered correctly, and that patients are aware of their side effects.

Life fit

Most pharmacy technicians will work normal full time hours, which can provide an excellent life fit. However, because many pharmacies are open at all hours, some pharmacy technicians may have to work nights and weekends.

Who will thrive?

To thrive as a pharmacy technician, be detail oriented as this ensures accuracy when filling a prescription that will help patients avoid bad reactions to medicines. People who are great at multitasking and prefer a fast-paced work environment may be good candidates for pharmacy technicians. Additionally, because tasks such as counting pills may be tedious at times, people with patience are often better for pharmacy technician positions. Finally, excellent communication and computer skills are also necessary to thrive.

Who will struggle?

Firstly, those who seeking a career with more respect or reputation may struggle with being a technician and not having as much ‘power’. Furthermore, those who are not confident working with others may struggle as pharmacy technicians, who are responsible for interacting with patients and gathering their information!

Requirements

Quick Glance

Skills

Degrees

Skills and talents

Pharmacy technicians will need many skills, such as:

  • Attention to detail, as pharmacy technicians will need to ensure they gather all the correct information from patients and that they give out the correct prescriptions
  • Customer service skills, as pharmacy technicians will need to be able to interact with customers and create a good reputation
  • Mathematical skills, as pharmacy technicians need to have an understanding the the maths concepts used in pharmacies when counting pills and medications
  • Teamwork skills, as pharmacy technicians will need to be able to work in teams with pharmacists and other pharmacy technicians
  • Organizational skills, as pharmacy technicians need to keep their work environment clean, orderly and tidy

Education

Although some pharmacy technician jobs may only require a high school diploma, some better paying positions in top pharmacies or hospitals may require a post-secondary vocational certification or degree. Additionally, certain states have a certification process for pharmacy technicians, which usually involves completing a training program or passing an exam.

Certificates

In most states, pharmacy technicians will be regulated in some way. For specific information, you should consult your states Board of Pharmacy. However, in most states requirements for pharmacy technicians 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

Some states and employers require pharmacy technicians to be certified. Even where it is not required, certification may make it easier to get a job. Many employers of pharmacy technicians will pay for employees to take the certification exam. Two organizations offer certification: The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) and the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

How to Become

Pharmacy technicians are key members of any pharmaceutical team. They work under the supervision of experienced pharmacists to organize, distribute and stock prescription medication. They are needed anywhere that handle prescription medication, from grocery stores to hospitals to drug stores and retail stores.

Immediate action

Some pharmacy technician jobs require only a high school diploma. However, to have the best employment opportunities, aspiring pharmacy technicians may want to consider postsecondary education and achieving certification.

Education and learning

Although some pharmacy technician jobs may only require a high school diploma, some better paying positions in top pharmacies or hospitals may require a post-secondary vocational certification or degree. Additionally, certain states have a certification process for pharmacy technicians, which usually involves completing a training program or passing an exam.

Skill development

As the world of pharmaceuticals is constantly changing, pharmacy technicians will have to take training courses in order to keep up to date with new trends and developments.

FAQs

Ask a Question

Have a question about Pharmacy Technician careers? If so, our mentors would love to help! Just click on a mentor’s profile below and then fill out the “Ask a Question” form on that page. Your question will then be emailed to the mentor, who can then email you a reply.

ID Job Title Gender Age Earnings City & State Date
33771 Pharmacy Technician Female 28 $23,000 Mays Landing, NJ 01/01/2010
33568 Pharmacy Technician Female 25 $27,000 Kentwood, MI 01/01/2010
33513 Certified Pharmacy Technician Female 44 $37,000 RENICK, MO 01/01/2010
33412 Pharmacy Technician Female 25 $30,000 GrandRapids, MI 01/01/2010
32742 Pharmacy Technician Female 32 $30,000 roseville, MI 01/01/2010

Resources