For people who want to work in healthcare but don’t want to be involved in direct patient care, being a pharmacy technician is an excellent choice.
It’s a rapidly expanding and gratifying sector in which you can assist people in receiving the meds they require to be healthy.
However, before you enroll in classes, you’ll undoubtedly want to know what the average pharmacy technician’s income is and how you can make the most money in this position.
The amount of money you make as a Pharmacy Technician is determined by a number of factors, including your experience, where you work, your educational background, PTCB certification, the industry you work in, and your specific job responsibilities.
So, whether you’re a high school student considering a career as a pharmacy technician or a hardworking pharmacy technician on the job looking for a raise, you’ll find useful information (updated 2022) on this page that will give you an in-depth look at a Pharmacy Technician’s latest salary.
We are factoring in the location of work, type of employer, and employment outlook, giving you some food for thought and assisting you in learning everything you need to know about the field.
This article is for you if you’re considering a fulfilling career as a pharmacy technician and want to learn more about the income you can expect.
What Is a Pharmacy Technician?
A pharmacy technician, also known as a certified pharmacy technician (CPHT), is an allied healthcare professional who works in a pharmacy and assists with pharmacy-related tasks under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
They are necessary for ensuring that operations in the pharmacy or compounding pharmacy operate smoothly and efficiently.
You’ll need to complete either a certificate or diploma program or an associate’s degree program to work as a pharmacy technician. A high school diploma or GED is usually required for both.
Pharmacy technicians operate in several medical settings, handling and dispensing drugs. Most pharmacists work in hospital pharmacies, drug stores, or grocery stores.
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Pharmacy Technicians Job Description
You’ve probably seen a pharmacy tech in action if you’ve ever picked up a prescription at a drugstore.
Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists in ensuring that patients and families receive the correct prescriptions filled in the precise amount per the prescription.
A pharmacy technician’s other responsibilities include:
- Receive and process prescriptions that have been sent electronically, over the phone, or as a drop-off prescription.
- Fill prescription bottles with the proper pills and dosages, then label them.
- Medication should be mixed (if state law and pharmacy policy allow).
- Give them their medication and go through any instructions or any information they need.
- Assist patients with drug payments.
- Organize and maintain patient medical records.
- Keep track of in-house drugs and make sure the stock is up to date.
- Assisting and resolving issues with the insurance companies of patients.
- Obtain permission from doctors to refill prescriptions.
- Take care of any complaints or difficulties that patients may have.
- Assist with other tasks connected to the pharmacy.
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How Much Does a Pharmacy Technician Make in the US?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 415,310 pharmacy technicians working in the United States in May 2020, with 279,806 of them being PTCB certified.
Because employers prefer PTCB-certified pharmacy technicians, an increasing number of pharmacy technicians are becoming PTCB certified each year.
A starting salary of $25,400 is expected when you begin your career as a pharmacy technician.
If you attend an accredited pharmacy technician school, you can expect to start with a higher salary.
In both hospital and retail pharmacies, entry-level pharmacy technicians are in high demand.
Although a pharmacy technician’s starting salary is lower than that of other healthcare professions, you can use the experience you gain as an entry-level pharmacy technician to pursue a career in pharmacy or a specialty in pharmacy technology.
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What Does a Pharmacy Technician Make on Average in the US?
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, a Pharmacy Technician earns an average of $36,450 per year, with an hourly wage of $17.52. The highest-paid earned $47,620 per year, while the lowest-paid earned $30,370.
However, the profession has a promising future, with a projected growth rate of 4% between 2019 and 2029.
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Hourly Salary of a Pharmacy Technician:
The average hourly wage for a pharmacy technician is $17.52. Most pharmacy technicians earning this wage work part-time and have little experience.
Working in a Mail Order Pharmacy or Long-Term Care may pay slightly more. Working in California will pay you the maximum hourly compensation of $22.89 while working in Kentucky will pay you only $14.60 per hour.
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Monthly Salary of a Pharmacy Technician:
In the United States, a pharmacy technician can expect to make $3,040 a month on average. California has the highest, at $3,970, and Kentucky has the lowest, at $2,530.
Annual Salary of a Pharmacy Technician:
The average yearly compensation of a pharmacy technician is $36,450, which is lower than other healthcare professions.Â
Your yearly income will be larger if you work full-time than if you work part-time because benefits and allowances will be added to your annual salary, which a part-time employee may not receive.Â
If you work full-time for the federal government or an outpatient care center in San Francisco or even the state of California, you could earn the highest pharmacy technician salary in the country!
To increase your chances of a higher salary, opt for a Master’s degree. These 20 Best Medical Schools in the US 2022 will help you achieve that.
Factors Affecting Pharmacy Technician Salary
The amount of money you can make as a pharmacy technician depends on several factors. Let’s look at three of the most important: experience, workplace, and skills.
Years of Professional Experience
As a pharmacy technician, you will have more opportunities to earn more than you advance in the business and accumulate more years of experience.
Your company may even provide incentives or hourly salary increases if you show a strong work ethic, a willingness to learn as much as possible, and a friendly attitude.
After a few months on the job, you may want to get feedback from your boss to ensure that your work is meeting expectations. Always pay attention to comments, especially if it’s constructive criticism; there’s always something new to learn.
Your perseverance may even propel you to a higher-level or supervisory position. You will earn more money by taking on more leadership and administrative responsibilities.
The average salary for a certified pharmacy technician (CPHT) with years of experience ranged from $14.29 per hour for entry-level pharmacy techs to $18.06 per hour for CPHTs with 20+ years of experience, according to Payscale.
Working Environment
Pharmacy technicians can earn up to 20% more in a hospital than in a drugstore, according to some estimates.
Keep in mind that many hospitals will only hire people with prior work experience and national certification. Before transferring to a hospital, it might be a good idea to get your foot in the door and acquire experience in a pharmacy setting.
Set of abilities
Your skill level, according to Payscale, is a criterion that can influence your compensation. You may be able to earn a better income if you have prior work experience with any of the following abilities.
Salary of a Pharmacy Technician by City and State In the United States
Where you live has a significant impact on your earning potential and can affect how much you make in comparison to the national average.
In some circumstances, pharmacy technicians utilize the information below to choose where it is best to live and work.
We found six states where a Pharmacy Technician’s average compensation is higher than the national average. New York is at the top of the list, followed by New Hampshire and Vermont in second and third place, respectively. Vermont outperforms the national average by 3.3 percent, while New York continues the trend with a $4,038 (12.7 percent) increase over the national average of $31,748.
Significantly, the employment market for Pharmacy Technicians in New York is highly active, with several organizations now hiring for this position.
What Is The Annual Salary Of A Pharmacy Technician?
The average annual wage for a Pharmacy Technician in the United States is $31,748 as of April 9, 2022.
If you need a quick salary calculator, that works out to about $15.26 per hour. This works out to $611 per week or $2,646 per month.
While yearly wages as high as $41,500 and as low as $19,500 have been reported on ZipRecruiter, the bulk of Pharmacy Technician salaries in the United States now range from $27,000 (25th percentile) to $34,500 (75th percentile), with the top earners (90th percentile) making $39,500.
The typical compensation for a Pharmacy Technician ranges widely (up to $7,500), implying that there may be several prospects for growth and higher pay dependent on skill level, location, and years of experience.
What Does a Monthly Salary for a Pharmacy Technician Look Like in the Us?
The average monthly income for a Pharmacy Technician in the United States is $2,646 as of April 9, 2022.
While monthly salaries for Pharmacy Technicians range from $2,250 (25th percentile) to $2,875 (75th percentile) on ZipRecruiter, the majority of Pharmacy Technician salaries now range from $2,250 (25th percentile) to $2,875 (75th percentile) in the United States.
However, the typical salary for a Pharmacy Technician ranges significantly (up to $625), implying that there may be several prospects for growth and better pay dependent on skill level, location, and years of experience.
What Does a Weekly Salary for a Pharmacy Technician Look Like in the US?
The average weekly income for a Pharmacy Technician in the United States is $611 per week as of April 9, 2022.
While ZipRecruiter reports weekly incomes as high as $798 and as low as $375, the bulk of Pharmacy Technician salaries in the United States now varies from $519 (25th percentile) to $663 (75th percentile).
The typical compensation for a Pharmacy Technician ranges widely (up to $144), implying that there may be many prospects for growth and increased pay dependent on skill level, location, and years of experience.
What Is The Hourly Salary For A Pharmacy Technician?
The average hourly income for a Pharmacy Technician in the United States is $15.26 per hour as of April 9, 2022.
While ZipRecruiter reports hourly wages as high as $19.95 and as low as $9.38, the bulk of Pharmacy Technician salaries in the United States is now between $12.98 (25th percentile) and $16.59 (75th percentile).
The average compensation for a Pharmacy Technician ranges significantly (up to $3.61). This implies that there may be many prospects for growth and increased pay dependent on skill level, location, and years of experience.
Industries with the Best Pharmacy Technician Salary
Your compensation as a pharmacy technician will be determined by your working environment. Outpatient Care Center Pharmacy Technicians earn the most money, with a salary of $49,690. This is due to the fact that federal government work environments have strict recruitment standards.
Following that are the Federal Government and Specialty hospitals, both of which require pharmacy technicians who are trained and skilled to fulfill the demands of their jobs.Â
Retail pharmacies and supermarket stores pay the least for pharmacy technicians, with yearly wages of $34,420 and $33,000 respectively.
| Rank | Industry | Hourly | Annual |
| 1 | Outpatient Care Centers | $23.89 | $49,690 |
| 2 | Federal Government | $22.93 | $47,690 |
| 3 | Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $19.89 | $41,380 |
| 4 | Hospitals | $19.80 | $41,180 |
| 5 | E-commerce and Mail-Order Houses | $18.33 | $38,120 |
| 6 | Wholesale Druggists | $17.98 | $37,410 |
| 7 | Retail Pharmacies | $16.55 | $34,420 |
| 8 | Grocery Stores | $15.87 | $33,000 |
| Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020 |
How to Make More Money as a Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians can earn greater pay in a variety of ways. It’s usually a matter of putting in a little more effort and being inventive, as well as thinking outside the box.
Some pharmacy technicians have pursued side hustles of some sort, but if you want to focus on making extra money in your current position as a pharmacy technician, here are a few alternatives for you to consider:
- Request extra duties and demonstrate that you are so important that they can’t function without you.
- Make a request for a raise.
- Obtain a national certification. Because you have the qualification to back up your talents, many institutions will pay you a few dollars more per hour.
- On your off days, look for per diem pharmacy tech jobs.
- Consider working as a travel pharmacy technician (you’ll get paid to travel around the country!)
Always do your homework on the salary scale in your city and the neighboring areas. It can make sense for you to relocate an hour away in order to be closer to a major metropolis that can pay you more.
Consider moving to a state with greater pay, especially one with a lower cost of living. Because it costs so much to live there, you may discover that you enjoy a higher quality of life even though the compensation isn’t that much higher.
If you live in an area where the cost of living is prohibitive, consider relocating to a location where it is. For example, many pharmacy technicians in California get the highest pay in the country, but the cost of living is so expensive that some are forced to leave. You just got yourself a bonus if you can save money on living expenses.
FAQs
In most parts of the United States, there is a great demand for pharmacy technicians. While some jurisdictions do not have tight application criteria and can accept people with no prior experience, having formal training and certification will improve a person’s chances of finding a job as a pharmacy technician.
Most pharmacy technicians work full-time and work up to 40 hours each week. Because some pharmacies are open 24 hours a day, pharmacy technicians are frequently required to work overnight and on weekends.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it pays an average hourly rate of $15.90 and an annual salary of $33,060.
Education can advance a pharmacy technician’s profession, such as certification in pharmaceutical compounding or specializing in nuclear pharmacy, to successfully handle radioactive medications. A pharmacy technician who works for a large retailer or a healthcare provider can work their way up to managerial positions.
Many elements in the healthcare industry influence the average pay in Canada. In Canada, expect the average hourly wage to be CAD$14.17.
Conclusion
When determining how much a pharmacy technician can earn, there are several elements to consider.
It is quite helpful to learn as much as possible about the elements that may affect your wage in order to make informed professional selections.
You may maximize your earning potential and make a wage that represents your hard work and skill level by understanding compensation ranges based on workplace factors, experience, and the state and city where you live.
References
- nurse.org – Pharmacy Technician Salary in 2022
- pharmacytechnicianguide.com – Pharmacy Technician Salary in 2022 (In-Depth Details)
- ziprecruiter.com – Pharmacy Technician Salary
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