Record drugs delivered to the pharmacy, store incoming merchandise, and inform the supervisor of stock needs. May operate cash register and accept prescriptions for filling.
Pharmacy Aides
SOC: 31-9095 O*NET: 31-9095.00
Median Salary
$37,000
per year
Job Growth
📉 -0.1%
Slower (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
6.1
projected jobs/year
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Job Zone 2
Record drugs delivered to the pharmacy, store incoming merchandise, and inform the supervisor of stock needs. May operate cash register and accept prescriptions for filling.
What does a Pharmacy Aides do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$29,360
10th percentile
Early Career
$34,450
25th percentile
Median
$37,000
50th percentile
Experienced
$42,570
75th percentile
Top Earners
$58,660
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$29,360
25th
$34,450
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$37,000
Mean: $40,290
75th
$42,570
90th
$58,660
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $29,300 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $34,450 and $42,570
- •Salary spread is 21.9% around the median, showing low variation
- •Total national employment: 41,100 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Low Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:41,100
Top Industries
Retail Trade81%
Health and Personal Care Retailers67%
Health and Personal Care Retailers67%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:-0.1%
Annual Openings:6,100
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)41,100
Current
2034 (Projected)41,100
-0.1%
-100
Employment Change
-0.1%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: More slowly than average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Pharmacy Aides professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 49 locations
California
9,430 jobs$44,0601.96x
Texas
3,300 jobs$37,4100.89x
New York
2,800 jobs$37,1501.10x
Florida
1,570 jobs$35,8100.60x
North Carolina
1,530 jobs$34,6601.17x
Pennsylvania
1,500 jobs$38,2800.94x
Illinois
1,260 jobs$37,0900.78x
Washington
1,250 jobs$43,3201.33x
Ohio
1,220 jobs$37,0000.83x
Oklahoma
1,030 jobs$30,9202.28x
Louisiana
990 jobs$30,9401.95x
Michigan
950 jobs$34,7500.81x
Tennessee
880 jobs$35,9201.01x
Iowa
880 jobs$33,3302.12x
Georgia
850 jobs$33,4400.66x
Understanding the Data
Location Quotient (LQ):
- • LQ > 1.0: More jobs than national average
- • LQ = 1.0: Same as national average
- • LQ < 1.0: Fewer jobs than national average
Data Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024
Key Growth Factors
- •Employment decline projected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Active Listening
100%
#2
Service Orientation
92%
#3
Speaking
82%
#4
Reading Comprehension
74%
#5
Social Perceptiveness
66%
#6
Judgment and Decision Making
58%
#7
Critical Thinking
48%
#8
Coordination
40%
Skills Overview
Active Listening
advanced5.0
100%
Service Orientation
advanced4.6
92%
Speaking
intermediate4.1
82%
Reading Comprehension
basic3.7
74%
Social Perceptiveness
intermediate3.3
66%
Judgment and Decision Making
basic2.9
58%
Critical Thinking
basic2.4
48%
Coordination
basic2.0
40%
Skills are rated on a scale of 0-5, with 5 being the most important. The complexity level indicates how advanced the skill typically needs to be.
Filter:
Sort by:
Active Listening
advancedImportance100%
skills
5.0/5.0
Service Orientation
advancedImportance92%
skills
4.6/5.0
Speaking
intermediateImportance82%
skills
4.1/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance74%
abilities
3.7/5.0
Social Perceptiveness
intermediateImportance66%
skills
3.3/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
basicImportance58%
abilities
2.9/5.0
Critical Thinking
basicImportance48%
abilities
2.4/5.0
Coordination
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Registered Nurses80%
5 shared skills
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers80%
5 shared skills
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling80%
5 shared skills
First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers80%
5 shared skills
Midwives80%
5 shared skills
Interior Designers80%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Service Orientation
- ✓Speaking
Learn on the Job:
- →Social Perceptiveness
- →Judgment and Decision Making
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Service Orientation
- ✓Speaking
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Active Listening
- ★Service Orientation
- ★Speaking
- ★Reading Comprehension
Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on developing the top 5 skills first - they have the highest impact on career success
- •Transferable skills open doors to related careers and provide flexibility
- •Balance technical skills with soft skills for well-rounded professional development
- •Entry-level positions prioritize foundational skills that can be built upon over time
What technology will you use?
Technology & Digital Skills
Essential technology proficiencies for Pharmacy Aides
Technology Intensity
Medium
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires intermediate digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Office productivity softwareIndustry-specific applicationsBasic data entry and managementDigital communication tools
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Windows
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
📚 Technology Learning Resources
Recommended Certifications
- •Vendor-specific software certifications
- •Industry-recognized technology credentials
- •Professional development courses
Online Learning Platforms
- •LinkedIn Learning - Comprehensive technology courses
- •Coursera - University-level programs
- •Udemy - Practical skills training
💡 Technology Skill Development Tips
- •Focus on mastering hot technologies first - they're currently most in-demand
- •Build a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency with key tools and software
- •Stay current through continuous learning - technology evolves rapidly
- •Consider vendor certifications to validate your skills to employers
What's the work environment like?
🏢
Location
MOSTLY INDOOR
💪
Physical Demand
HIGH
👥
Team Orientation
MOSTLY TEAM
🤝
Customer Interaction
CONSTANT
💡Is This Work Environment Right for You?
Consider these factors when evaluating if you'll thrive in this work environment:
- •Are you comfortable working in mostly indoor environments?
- •Can you meet high physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy mostly team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
14
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (8)Documentation & Record-Keeping (4)Operations & Execution (1)Management & Supervision (1)
1
Accept prescriptions for filling, gathering and processing necessary information.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Answer telephone inquiries, referring callers to pharmacist when necessary.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities97% perform98%
3
Greet customers and help them locate merchandise.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities94% perform96%
4
Unpack, sort, count, and label incoming merchandise, including items requiring special handling or refrigeration.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Prepare prescription labels by typing or operating a computer and printer.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping88% perform92%
6
Operate cash register to process cash or credit sales.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Operations & Execution85% perform90%
7
Restock storage areas, replenishing items on shelves.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities82% perform88%
8
Perform clerical tasks, such as filing, compiling and maintaining prescription records, or composing letters.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping79% perform86%
9
Maintain and clean equipment, work areas, or shelves.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping76% perform84%
10
Prepare, maintain, and record records of inventories, receipts, purchases, or deliveries, using a variety of computer screen formats.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •50% of tasks are performed by most workers in this occupation
- •Career advancement brings increased leadership and strategic responsibilities
What career paths are available?
Career Pathways
0
Advancement Opportunities
0
Lateral Move Options
0%
Avg. Salary Increase
Advancement Opportunities
Typical career progression paths from Pharmacy Aides
💡 Career Planning Tips
- •Most successful advancement happens after 3-5 years of experience
- •Lateral moves can provide valuable cross-functional experience for future leadership roles
- •Focus on developing skills that are transferable across multiple career paths
- •Consider industry trends when planning long-term career moves
Is this career right for you?
Personality & Values Fit
Is This Career Right for You?
Pharmacy Aides professionals typically have a CER Holland code and highly value relationships
CConventional
EEnterprising
RRealistic
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Pharmacy Aides
Integrity
CriticalIntegrity
Importance Level4.64
Self-Control
CriticalSelf-Control
Importance Level4.52
Cooperation
Very ImportantCooperation
Importance Level4.29
Attention to Detail
Very ImportantAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.19
Stress Tolerance
ImportantStress Tolerance
Importance Level3.99
Dependability
ImportantDependability
Importance Level3.95
Complete Work Styles Profile
Integrity
4.6
Self-Control
4.5
Cooperation
4.3
Attention to Detail
4.2
Stress Tolerance
4.0
Dependability
4.0
Social Orientation
3.9
Concern for Others
3.7
Adaptability/Flexibility
3.7
Initiative
3.6
💡 Tips for Career Fit Success
- •While personality fit is important, skills can be developed with practice and training
- •Consider informational interviews to better understand the day-to-day personality requirements
- •Work environments vary by employer - research specific companies for cultural fit
- •Your interests and values may evolve - reassess periodically throughout your career
What education is required?
Education Level
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical duration: High school diploma or GED
Preparation Level
Job Zone 2
Some Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:High school diploma or equivalent
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Training:
Training of a few months to a year
💼 Experience Requirement
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience
- • Vocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)
- • Industry certifications helpful
2
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work.
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experienceVocational school programs (6 months to 2 years)Industry certifications helpful
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