Pharmacy Technician Salary
The pharmacy technician salary range averages between $25,000 to $30,000 per year (hourly rate is generally between $10 to $18 per hour) and grows as you gain experience. In fact in this in demand profession pharmacy technicians with years of experience can even make a salary of even $40,000 annually. In addition, pharmacy technician salary varies depending on where you’re located. Also, pharmacy technician salary will be different depending on the setting you are working in, such as drug stores, hospitals etc. A pharmacy technician salary can also be higher if they have higher education (college degree) and are certified. Like most jobs their are part time and full time positions (with full benefits) available depending on what you’re looking for, and you often get a choice of first or second shifts. In addition you’ll have the opportunity to work overtime and on holidays if you desire to further raise the pharmacy technician salary. Some companies even offer tuition reimbursement which is a really nice perk if you’re a student, and will save you thousands of dollars. This is an especially great job for students due to the schedule flexibility it offers.
The table below displays the average annual salary for each state in the U.S.
| State | Salary | State | Salary |
| Alabama | $24,670 | Montana | $29,850 |
| Alaska | $37,190 | Nebraska | $26,500 |
| Arizona | $30,150 | Nevada | $33,960 |
| Arkansas | $24,100 | New Hampshire | $28,630 |
| California | $36,800 | New Jersey | $29,480 |
| Colorado | $32,000 | New Mexico | $29,320 |
| Connecticut | $31,460 | New York | $30,330 |
| Delaware | $28,590 | North Carolina | $26,060 |
| District of Columbia | $33,020 | North Dakota | $30,410 |
| Florida | $27,660 | Ohio | $26,050 |
| Georgia | $27,410 | Oklahoma | $24,170 |
| Hawaii | $35,130 | Oregon | $33,560 |
| Idaho | $29,700 | Pennsylvania | $27,140 |
| Illinois | $28,560 | Rhode Island | $30,230 |
| Indiana | $27,250 | South Carolina | $25,390 |
| Iowa | $27,220 | South Dakota | $28,040 |
| Kansas | $25,820 | Tennessee | $27,540 |
| Kentucky | $24,480 | Texas | $29,100 |
| Louisiana | $27,180 | Utah | $31,100 |
| Maine | $27,850 | Vermont | $28,470 |
| Maryland | $30,620 | Virginia | $27,390 |
| Massachusetts | $31,350 | Washington | $36,670 |
| Michigan | $27,910 | West Virginia | $23,760 |
| Minnesota | $30,980 | Wisconsin | $28,140 |
| Mississippi | $24,370 | Wyoming | $30,400 |
| Missouri | $25,190 |
Find a Pharmacy Technician School online or near you
To become a pharmacy technician you should complete a formal program. The programs generally last six months to a year (varies by program). The best thing to do is to research and contact pharmacy technician programs. Their are many great programs, and many can be found on this site. They will provide you with valuable information such as cost and requirements, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a pharmacy technician. One of the great things about becoming a pharmacy technician is that it does not have high education requirements such as a bachelors or masters degree, you only need a high school diploma to join a pharmacy technician school.
Demand for Pharmacy Technicians is growing nationwide
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that more than 285,000 professional pharmacy technicians currently work full- or part-time. The field is popular for several reasons and is expected to grow far faster than the national average, so those entering the field can expect excellent job prospects. Due to increased demand nationwide, pharmacy Technician salary’s are on the rise which is great news for anyone thinking about becoming one – this is an excellent time to do it (2011/2012).
Pharmacy Technician Salary is rising
In this unstable economy it’s important to be part of a field that is virtually recession proof, aka healthcare. People will always be sick, and thus their will always be a need for skilled healthcare professionals that can take care of them. Luckily if you’re not a a fan of blood or prefer to have more flexibility in your work schedule then their are many professions suitable for you that you’d enjoy and make a good living. The pharmacy technician is one such field and as pharmacy technician salarys rise you can have confidence that your job is secure and you’ll make a good income, especially since the pharmacy technician salary is rising nationwide.
Career Outlook
Due to the increasing demand for pharmacy technicians nationwide, you will likely get a job with ease and in your local area. You won’t have to worry about losing your job compared to other fields such as sales and retail as pharmacy technicians are important employees and their services are absolutely necessary to run a pharmacy. As you gain experience you can get promoted to supervisor, nuclear pharmacy technician or even management. If you want to go for the gold and decide to become a pharmacist then this work experience will help you immensely in getting admission to a pharmacy school.
Here are a couple of great reasons to become a pharmacy technician:
- The profession is virtually recession proof, pharmacy technician will always be in demand and needed – you don’t need to worry about losing your job
- You are important and help people with their medication, wearing a white coat is a plus
- Lots of opportunities and diverse working conditions
- A wide range of responsibilities
- If you’re thinking of becoming a pharmacist in the future, this will help immensely
- Income potential – pharmacy technician salary is rising nationwide