Are you searching for a significant healthcare position that you can begin immediately? For you, a job as a pharmacy technician can be perfect! Working with licensed pharmacists, a pharmacy technician will precisely and safely fill medications for patients. Labeling bottles and counting pills, preparing injectable drugs, managing the supply chain, and submitting and monitoring insurance claims are just a few of the other duties that can fall under the purview of a pharmacy technician (PT). If any of these characteristics apply to you, keep reading to find out everything there is to know about becoming a pharmacy technician in this article, from duties to necessary courses, pay, and all about the pharmacy technician certification board.
How Much Do Pharmacy Technicians Make in the US?
A Certified Pharmacy Technician’s responsibilities include recording and verifying information regarding patients’ prescriptions and refills. They typically assist a licensed pharmacist with the auxiliary chores required for prescription filling. As well as receiving and storing incoming supplies, a licensed pharmacy technician may be responsible for labeling and standard prepared orders. The duties of a Certified Pharmacy Technician may also include office administration.
To enter and work as a pharmacy technician, you must have a diploma or GED. Furthermore, they frequently report to a higher-up in the firm. To be eligible, you may also need to be a Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). A Certified Pharmacy Technician should have a strong foundation in the principles of the profession and be able to perform duties under the close supervision of more senior employees in the same area. This position may require between zero and one year of work experience.
However, how much pharmacy technicians make each hour or annually is impacted by a variety of circumstances. That will be covered in the following section. What matters is that by investing in your professional growth, you may increase your earning potential and strengthen your position as a job prospect.
What Exactly Is a Pharmacy Technician?
You’ve probably interacted with a pharmacy technician if you’ve ever gone to your local drugstore to pick up a prescription. A pharmacy technician’s responsibilities include working under the supervision of a pharmacist, assisting both the pharmacist and the customer, and frequently serving as a liaison between the two.
Depending on the context, a Pharmacy technician’s responsibilities include measuring, mixing, and compounding drugs, contacting doctors’ offices to confirm dosing instructions, or confirming their acceptance of prescription renewals.
Pharmacy technicians work in a range of venues, such as supermarkets and department stores. Many physical therapist positions are available at local and national drug shops. These medical specialists are also used by health systems with inpatient and outpatient pharmacies to help with prescription processing.
Duties of a Pharmacy Technician
Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists with a wide range of tasks, including drug preparation and distribution, drug inventory management, and patient and pharmacy record maintenance, in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local rules and regulations, as well as pharmacy policies and procedures. In other words, all pharmacy technician work must be overseen by a qualified pharmacist.
Most states require pharmacy technicians to obtain a high school diploma and a valid license before working in the sector. Many people who work in pharmacies opt to become Certified Pharmacy Technicians by meeting certain requirements and passing an examination. Excellent communication skills and attention to detail are required of pharmacy technicians.
What are the typical responsibilities of a Pharmacy Technician?
- Prepare and package any medications that require special handling, such as chemotherapy, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Assisting with the filling, processing, and distribution of medications
- Examine and grasp medicine orders from a doctor.
- Prescription medications are labeled and repackaged.
- Maintain safety procedures to ensure that patients receive high-quality care.
- Use inventory control measures to aid in the maintenance of the drug inventory.
- You can give customer service by returning phone calls politely and promptly.
- Sort requests by significance.
- Check the expiration dates on your prescriptions on a regular basis.
What Are the Typical Qualifications for Positions as a Pharmacy Technician?
- A high school diploma or a general education diploma (GED) is required.
- Current pharmacy technician registration or certification
- Obtaining a pharmacy technician license in your state of employment
- Basic math skills, such as the ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measurement, are required.
- Strong keyboarding and computer skills Working knowledge of pharmacy information systems
- Strong oral and written communication skills, the ability to prioritize activities, and the ability to make independent and effective decisions are all required.
- Knowledge of tools such as cash registers, scanners, tablet counters, and computers
- Understanding of pharmacy practice environments, legal requirements and limits, prescription information and computations, drug identification and generic counterparts, drug manufacture, packing, and labeling information, and proper drug handling and storage practices.
How Much Do Pharmacy Technicians Earn in Texas?
Certified pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists in dispensing medications to customers. Their principal responsibilities are carried out behind the scenes at hospitals and pharmacies. They are typically patients’ first point of contact and can take prescriptions in person or over the phone.
But how much do pharmacy technicians make in Texas? In Texas, the median yearly pay for a certified pharmacy technician is $34,734, or $16.70 per hour. Full-time salaries start at $31,200 per year and can reach $45,523 per year for people with substantial experience.
What Is the Highest Paying Pharmacy Technician Position?
The median annual compensation 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, according to the BLS. However, the pay for pharmacy technicians varies greatly from state to state. Regardless, the highest-paying state’s average salary for a pharmacy technician is about $10,000 greater than the national average.
The following are the top 10 states in terms of average pharmacy technician salaries.
- Alaska: $43,150.
- State of California: $42,610
- Washington State: $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 Pharmacy Technicians Earn Per Hour?
As of May 21, 2023, the average hourly wage for a pharmacy technician in the United States is $19.16. While hourly compensation ranges from $13.22 to $25.00, the majority of pharmacy technician salaries in the United States today range from $16.59 to $20.43 (25th to 75th percentiles). The average compensation for pharmacy technicians is between $3.85 and $3.85. This suggests that there may be various opportunities for advancement and increased income based on experience, location, and skill level.
According to recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, there is a high need for pharmacy technicians in Los Angeles and the surrounding area. The hourly wage for a pharmacy technician in this area is $19, which is $0.15 (1%) less than the national average of $19.16. In terms of pharmacy technician pay, California ranks 40th out of 50 states.
What Do Pharmacy Technicians Earn in California?
Before beginning your career as a pharmacy technician in California, you should know how much you will make in one of the most expensive states to live in. Oakland, San Francisco, Hayward, and Santa Rosa are the major cities with the highest pay for pharmacy technicians. Pharmacy technicians in California earn an average of $49,990 per year. Despite a 9.61% increase in employment, pharmacy technologists’ salaries in the state increased by 25.73% between 2017 and 2021. However, PTCB board accreditation is held by 19,846 of the 38,220 pharmacy technicians now working in the state.
The need to care for a large elderly population has increased the demand for pharmacy technicians in the state of California. Furthermore, as these medications are dispensed, new pharmaceutical technology advances will raise the demand for pharmacy technicians. According to the projections of employment by occupation, the employment of pharmacy technicians in California will increase by 14.75% between 2020 and 2030.
How Much Do Certified Pharmacy Technicians Earn in Maryland?
A pharmacy technician’s annual pay in Maryland is $36,434, with a total annual compensation of $38,257. The median income, in this case, is based on user-submitted salary data and is the midpoint of the ranges given by Glassdoor’s proprietary Total Pay Estimate algorithm. The additional remuneration is estimated to be approximately $1,823 per year. Additional compensation can take the form of cash incentives, commissions, tips, or profit-sharing. The numbers in the “Most Likely Range” fall between the 25th and 75th percentiles of all available pay information for this role.
How Much Do Pharmacy Technicians Earn in Florida?
As of May 21, 2023, the average annual pay for a registered pharmacy technician in Florida is $27,689 per year. If you need a quick pay calculator, that works out to roughly $13.31 per hour. This translates into $532 each week or $2,307 per month.
While salaries for Registered Pharmacy Technicians in Florida range from $22,702 (25th percentile) to $28,279 (75th percentile), with top earners (90th percentile) making $31,863 yearly, ZipRecruiter cites earnings as high as $38,236 and as low as $16,330.
The salary for Registered Pharmacy Techs varies widely depending on skill level, location, and years of experience (up to $5,577), indicating that there may be various opportunities for advancement and increased pay.
According to recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, few firms are hiring right now, making Florida’s job market for registered pharmacy technicians rather quiet.
Florida ranks 45th out of 50 states regarding the highest pay for registered pharmacy technicians.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Pharmacist Jobs
Pharmacists can work in various positions, with salaries varying based on the position. The following are the top ten highest-paying pharmacist jobs:
#1. Hospital Pharmacist
As a hospital pharmacist, you are responsible for ensuring that the medications administered to patients are both safe and effective. To do so, you must be well-versed in pharmacology and medical chemistry. You must also be able to properly communicate with doctors and patients.
Hospital pharmacists are among the highest-paid in the country. This is due in part to their high level of responsibility. Furthermore, they usually have more experience than individuals who operate in other contexts.
#2. Retail Pharmacist
Retail pharmacists are in charge of distributing prescription drugs to patients. They also advise patients on how to utilize their prescriptions correctly. Meanwhile, the average retail pharmacist’s compensation is roughly $127,000.
#3. Clinical Pharmacologist
A clinical pharmacologist is a medical specialist who studies how medications work in the body. They work at hospitals, universities, and pharmaceutical businesses to assist in the development of new drugs as well as the testing of the safety and effectiveness of existing drugs. Clinical pharmacologists also work with patients to help them get the most out of their medications.
Clinical pharmacologists are among the highest-paid pharmacists, earning an average of $127,000 a year. Because of their specific expertise and talents, they are in high demand, and they frequently work long hours. However, the profession is extremely gratifying and has the potential to make a huge difference in the lives of patients.
#4. Staff Pharmacist
A staff pharmacist is employed in a retail context, such as a grocery store or a hospital pharmacy. They dispense prescriptions and provide guidance on how to utilize them properly. They may also be in charge of pharmacy technicians and other support personnel. Their typical annual salary is $129,000.
#5. Ambulatory Care Pharmacist
An ambulatory care pharmacist is a pharmacist who works in a clinic or other outpatient setting. They educate patients on pharmaceutical use and give guidance on how to take medications correctly. They may also administer vaccinations and other injections. Their annual compensation is approximately $133,000.
#6. Informaticist Pharmacist
A pharmacist who specializes in medical informatics, or the study of how information is collected, managed, and used in healthcare, is known as a pharmacy informaticist. They apply their expertise in pharmacy and computer science to help improve the pharmacy profession’s efficiency and safety.
The demand for pharmaceutical informaticists, on the other hand, is likely to rise in the coming years. This means that electronic health records and other digital tools are becoming increasingly important in the healthcare profession. Furthermore, pharmacy informaticists make a competitive income, making them one of the highest-paid jobs in the industry.
#7. Pharmacometrician
A pharmacometrician is an expert in the discipline of pharmacometrics, which is the study of medication effects on the human body. Pharmacometricians apply their knowledge of pharmacology, physiology, and statistics to the development of novel medications and the optimization of existing ones.
As the population ages and the prevalence of chronic diseases rises, the demand for pharmacometricians is likely to rise in the coming years. With a typical compensation of $150,000, they are among the highest-paid pharmacists.
#8. Consultant Pharmacist
Pharmacist consultants are in charge of offering expert advice on medicine selection, dosage, and administration. They collaborate with other healthcare professionals to create and carry out treatment regimens. A pharmacist consultant, on the other hand, earns an average salary of $143,000.
#9. Pharmaceutical Doctor
Pharmaceutical physicians are in charge of doing research into the safety and efficacy of new pharmaceuticals. They also collaborate with pharmaceutical companies to develop new therapies and oversee new drug clinical studies. A pharmaceutical physician’s average annual compensation is $152,500.
#10. Hospital Pharmacist
In a hospital, an inpatient pharmacist is in charge of the patient’s medication needs. They collaborate with medical professionals to ensure that patients receive the proper prescriptions and take them correctly. They also make roughly $131,000 each year.
How much does a CVS pharmacy tech make in NYC?
The national average for CVS Health Pharmacy Technician hourly salary is roughly $18.14 in New York.
What to expect at a CVS interview?
- Why would you like to work with CVS?
- How does CVS distinguish itself from its competitors?
- Do you think of yourself as a people person?
- How would you characterize your teamwork abilities?
- Assume you’re the sole cashier at a register, and it suddenly becomes busy.
Conclusion
Finally, pharmacists earn a respectable living. They earn an annual salary of $139,346 and an hourly wage of $55.82. The pay of pharmacists, on the other hand, varies greatly. Some earn as low as $52,000 a year, while others earn as much as $140,000.
However, while a pharmacy technician’s salary may vary significantly depending on a number of important factors such as education, certifications, state, cities, credentials, additional skills, and work experience, the above does show how much pharmacy techs in the United States may make annually or hourly.
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