If you want to work in healthcare but aren’t interested in dealing directly with patients, being a pharmacy technician is an excellent option. A pharmacy technician’s job is crucial to the seamless operation of any pharmacy. They aid pharmacists in filling prescriptions for patients and medical professionals. And, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, this is a rapidly expanding and lucrative industry that is expected to grow by 7% from 2018 to 2028. If you will like a career in this field, we discuss in this guide how much pharmacy techs make annually and hourly, using California, Florida, and Texas as a case study. You can take the first step by reading this to the end.
Overview
The duties of a Certified Pharmacy Technician include taking down and verifying details about patients’ prescriptions and refills. They generally help a licensed pharmacist with the ancillary tasks necessary for filling prescriptions. Preparing labels and standard prepackaged orders may be part of a certified pharmacy technician’s responsibilities as taking in and storing incoming goods. A Certified Pharmacy Technician’s responsibilities may also include office administration.
However, it requires a diploma or GED to enter and become a pharmacy tech. Plus, they usually answer to a higher-up in the company. You might also need to possess a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) to be eligible. A Certified Pharmacy Technician should have a solid grounding in the fundamentals of the field and be able to perform duties under the tight supervision of more senior workers in the same field. Potentially, this job requires between zero and one year of work experience.
Regardless, considerable thought must be given to financial rewards before committing to a profession in healthcare. According to the BLS, pharmacy techs in the United States make a median yearly pay of $37,790.
However, how much pharmacy techs make hourly or annually can be affected by a number of factors. We will discuss that in the subsequent section. What’s important is, you may boost your earnings potential and strengthen your position as a job candidate by investing in your professional development.
Factors That Can Affect the Salary of a Pharmacy Technician
How much do pharmacy techs make? Whether hourly or annually, the compensation of a pharmacy technician depends on a number of things.
Regarding salaries, “certainly more education and experience translate to higher pay. However, that’s just two factors that can affect how much a pharmacy tech makes. If you’re considering a career as a pharmacy technician, you may consider the following aspects that can affect your earnings:
- Education
- Certification(s)
- Place of employment
- Years and type of experience
- The location where you work
- Type of role
Pharmacy Technician’s Duties
In accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local rules and regulations, as well as pharmacy policies and procedures, pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists with a wide variety of tasks, including the preparation and distribution of drugs, the maintenance of the drug inventory, and the maintenance of patient and pharmacy records. In other words, all work done by a pharmacy technician must be supervised by a registered pharmacist.
Most states require that pharmacy technicians have at least a high school diploma and a valid license before they may work in the field. Many people working in pharmacies also choose to pursue certification as Certified Pharmacy Technicians by satisfying specific prerequisites and taking an examination. Best pharmacy technicians have excellent communication skills and attention to detail.
But, what are the typical duties of a Pharmacy Technician?
- Prepare and package any medications requiring special handling, such as chemotherapy, in accordance with safety precautions.
- Assisting with medicine filling, processing, and dispensing
- Examine and comprehend a doctor’s medication orders
- Label and repackage prescription drugs.
- Follow safety procedures to guarantee that patients receive high-quality care.
- Utilize inventory control procedures to assist in maintaining the medicine inventory.
- Politely and promptly returning phone calls, you can provide customer service.
- Sort requests based on importance.
- Regularly check the expiration dates on your prescriptions.
What Are the Normal Requirements for Positions as a Pharmacy Technician?
- Requires a high school diploma or general education diploma (GED).
- Current registration or certification as a pharmacy technician
- Obtaining a pharmacy technician license in the state where you work
- Basic math abilities, including the ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measurement
- Strong keyboarding and computer capabilities Working understanding of pharmacy information systems
- Strong oral and written communication skills; the capacity to prioritize tasks; and the capacity for independent and effective decision-making
- Ability to use tools like cash registers, scanners, tablet counters, and computers
- Understanding of pharmacy practice environments, legal requirements and restrictions, prescription information and computations, drug identification, and generic counterparts, information on drug manufacture, packaging, and labeling, and correct drug handling and storage techniques.
How Much Do Pharmacy Techs Make an Hour
The average hourly wage for a pharmacy technician in the United States as of May 21, 2023, is $19.16.
While ZipRecruiter reports hourly pay ranges from $13.22 to $25.00, the bulk of Pharmacy Technician salaries in the US are now between $16.59 and $20.43 (25th to 75th percentiles). The wide range in average salary for pharmacy technicians—up to $3.85. This nevertheless indicates that there may be numerous prospects for growth and higher pay based on experience, location, and skill level.
According to recent job ads on ZipRecruiter, there is a strong demand for Pharmacy Technicians in both Los Angeles, California, and the surrounding region. The average hourly pay for a pharmacy technician in this area is $19, $0.15 (1%) less than the $19.16 nationwide average. Regarding how much pharmacy techs make nationwide, California comes in at 40 out of 50 states.
How Much Do Pharmacy Techs Make in California
It is imperative that you would want to know how much you will make in one of the most costly states to live in before starting your career as a pharmacy technician in California. The major cities that pay pharmacy technicians the most are Oakland, San Francisco, Hayward, and Santa Rosa. In California, pharmacy techs make, on average, $49,990 a year. Despite a 9.61% increase in employment, earnings for pharmacy technologists in the state climbed by 25.73% between 2017 and 2021. However, 19,846 of the 38,220 pharmacy technicians currently working in the state hold a PTCB board certification.
The requirement to care for a sizable aging population has led to an increase in demand for pharmacy techs in the state of California. In addition, as these medications are administered, new developments in pharmaceutical technology will increase the need for pharmacy technicians. The Projections of Employment by Occupation predict that between 2020 and 2030, the employment of pharmacy technicians will increase by 14.75% in California.
How Much Do Pharmacy Techs Make in Florida
The average annual salary for a Registered Pharmacy Technician in Florida is $27,689 as of May 21, 2023. That comes out to about $13.31 an hour, in case you need a quick pay calculator. This also amounts to $532 per week or $2,307 per month.
While salaries for Registered Pharmacy Technicians range from $22,702 (25th percentile) to $28,279 (75th percentile), with top earners (90th percentile) making $31,863 yearly in Florida, ZipRecruiter reports incomes as high as $38,236 and as low as $16,330.
According to skill level, location, and years of experience, how much Registered Pharmacy Techs make can vary greatly (up to $5,577), indicating that there may be numerous prospects for growth and increased pay.
According to recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, there aren’t many employers hiring right now, making Florida’s job market for Registered Pharmacy Technicians very quiet.
In ranking where Registered Pharmacy Technicians get the highest salaries, Florida comes at number 45 out of 50 states.
How Much Do Pharmacy Techs Make in Texas
Certified pharmacy technicians work with pharmacists to dispense drugs to customers. Their primary duties are performed behind the scenes in healthcare facilities and pharmacies. They are generally the initial point of contact for patients and can take prescriptions in person or over the phone.
how ever, how much do pharmacy techs make in Texas? The median annual salary for a certified pharmacy technician in the Lone Star State is $34,734, or $16.70 per hour. Salary ranges for full-time employees begin at $31,200 per year and go up to $45,523 per year for those with extensive expertise.
What Is the Highest Paid Pharmacy Technician?
According to the BLS, the median yearly salary for pharmacy technicians is $37,790, which is more than $14,170 less than the median annual salary for all occupations, which is $51,960. However, how much pharmacy techs make varies widely from one state to the next. Regardless, the average compensation for a pharmacy technician in the highest-paying state is roughly $10,000 higher than the national average.
Here are the top ten states in terms of average salary for pharmacy technicians.
- Alaska: $43,150
- California: $42,610
- Washington: $42,470
- Oregon: $40,920
- North Dakota: $39,770
- Hawaii: $38,720
- Minnesota: $37,670
- Nevada: $37,620
- Wyoming: $37,460
- Rhode Island: $37,410
How Much Do Certified Pharmacy Techs Make in Maryland?
The median annual salary for a Pharmacy Technician in the State of Maryland is $36,434, with a total annual compensation of $38,257. The median salary here is based on user-submitted salary data and is the middle value of the ranges generated by Glassdoor’s unique Total Pay Estimate algorithm. The extra compensation is thought to be worth $1,823 annually. Cash bonuses, commissions, tips, and profit sharing are all possible forms of additional compensation. The values in the “Most Likely Range” fall between the 25th and the 75th percentile of all the pay information that is currently available for this role.
Is It Stressful Being a Pharmacy Tech?
Your work as a pharmacy technician may be demanding. In your position, pressure would certainly be a factor. One of these is the constant pressure to complete tasks promptly to meet patients’ demands. It only takes one slip-up to put your life in jeopardy.
How Much Do Pharmacy Techs Make at Walmart?
The normal pay for a Pharmacy Technician at Walmart averages stands at $18 an hour. This, however, is the median value in a range of values derived from the salaries provided by Glassdoor users and used in the Total Pay Estimate algorithm. The base wage is anticipated to be USD 16 per hour while the expected additional pay is $2 hourly. Bonuses, stocks, commissions, profit-sharing, and tips are all possible forms of additional pay. The values in the “Most Likely Range” fall between the 25th and the 75th percentile of all the pay information that is currently available for this role.
How Much Do Pharmacy Techs Make at Walgreens?
As of May 1, 2023, Walgreens’ average hourly compensation for a pharmacy technician in the United States is $19; however, the range is normally between $17 and $21. The hourly wage might vary significantly depending on a variety of significant aspects, including education, credentials, additional talents, and the length of time you have been in your line of work.
Bottom Line
Pharmacy technicians provide health care by assisting pharmacists with various tasks connected to dispensing medication. Pharmacy technicians can find employment in a wide range of settings, including but not limited to community pharmacies, retail pharmacies, hospitals, pharmaceutical businesses, insurance agencies, software developers, universities, and government agencies. Employees in this field are responsible for dispensing and advising patients on using pharmaceuticals and medical equipment properly.
However, while a pharmacy technician’s salary might vary significantly depending on a variety of significant aspects, including education, certifications, state, cities, credentials, additional skills, and work experience, the above do shows how much pharmacy techs in the United States might make annually or hourly.
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