Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.
Pharmacy Technicians
SOC: 29-2052 O*NET: 29-2052.00
Median Salary
$43,460
per year
Job Growth
📈 6.4%
Faster (2024-2034)
Annual Openings
49
projected jobs/year
Education Level
Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Job Zone 3
Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.
What does a Pharmacy Technicians do?
How much can you earn?
Entry Level
$35,100
10th percentile
Early Career
$36,920
25th percentile
Median
$43,460
50th percentile
Experienced
$48,580
75th percentile
Top Earners
$59,450
90th percentile
National Salary Distribution
10th
$35,100
25th
$36,920
Middle 50%
MEDIAN
$43,460
Mean: $44,800
75th
$48,580
90th
$59,450
Middle 50% of earners
Median salary
Mean (average)
Key Insights
- •Salary range spans $24,350 from entry level to top earners
- •Middle 50% earn between $36,920 and $48,580
- •Salary spread is 26.8% around the median, showing moderate variation
- •Total national employment: 487,920 professionals
What's the job outlook?
Job Market Intelligence
Medium Demand
Market demand
Medium Risk
Automation risk
Current Employment
National Employment:490,400
Top Industries
Retail Trade70.9%
Health and Personal Care Retailers52.7%
Health and Personal Care Retailers52.7%
10-Year Outlook
Growth Rate:+6.4%
Annual Openings:49,000
Employment Projections
2024 (Current)490,400
Current
2034 (Projected)521,800
+6.4%
+31,500
Employment Change
+6.4%
Growth Rate
10
Year Projection
Growth Category: As fast as average
Geographic Salary & Employment Data
Explore where Pharmacy Technicians professionals work across the United States
Showing 15 of 50 locations
California
45,210 jobs$49,6400.79x
Texas
41,610 jobs$43,9200.95x
Florida
38,950 jobs$39,6401.25x
New York
26,450 jobs$40,8400.88x
Illinois
22,790 jobs$44,6101.19x
Ohio
20,100 jobs$37,8601.15x
Pennsylvania
19,630 jobs$37,5601.03x
North Carolina
16,600 jobs$39,8701.07x
Georgia
15,780 jobs$38,3901.03x
Michigan
14,610 jobs$40,0401.05x
New Jersey
14,130 jobs$38,8901.05x
Tennessee
12,350 jobs$38,1301.19x
Massachusetts
11,980 jobs$44,6401.04x
Missouri
11,420 jobs$37,9901.24x
Arizona
11,260 jobs$47,6201.11x
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
- •Average growth expected
What skills do you need?
Top 10 Most Important Skills
#1
Active Listening
100%
#2
Speaking
94%
#3
Reading Comprehension
86%
#4
Critical Thinking
80%
#5
Social Perceptiveness
74%
#6
Monitoring
66%
#7
Complex Problem Solving
60%
#8
Judgment and Decision Making
54%
#9
Active Learning
46%
#10
Service Orientation
40%
Skills Overview
Active Listening
advanced5.0
100%
Speaking
advanced4.7
94%
Reading Comprehension
basic4.3
86%
Critical Thinking
intermediate4.0
80%
Social Perceptiveness
intermediate3.7
74%
Monitoring
intermediate3.3
66%
Complex Problem Solving
advanced3.0
60%
Judgment and Decision Making
basic2.7
54%
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
Speaking
advancedImportance94%
skills
4.7/5.0
Reading Comprehension
basicImportance86%
abilities
4.3/5.0
Critical Thinking
intermediateImportance80%
abilities
4.0/5.0
Social Perceptiveness
intermediateImportance74%
skills
3.7/5.0
Monitoring
intermediateImportance66%
skills
3.3/5.0
Complex Problem Solving
advancedImportance60%
abilities
3.0/5.0
Judgment and Decision Making
basicImportance54%
abilities
2.7/5.0
Active Learning
basicImportance46%
abilities
2.3/5.0
Service Orientation
basicImportance40%
skills
2.0/5.0
Highly Transferable Skills
These skills are valuable across multiple career paths, making career transitions easier:
Acupuncturists100%
5 shared skills
Dentists, General100%
5 shared skills
Nurse Anesthetists100%
5 shared skills
Photographers100%
5 shared skills
Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers82%
5 shared skills
Urologists82%
5 shared skills
Skills by Career Stage
Entry Level
Must Have:
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Speaking
Learn on the Job:
- →Monitoring
- →Complex Problem Solving
- →Judgment and Decision Making
Mid Career
Expected:
- ✓Active Listening
- ✓Speaking
- ✓Reading Comprehension
- ✓Critical Thinking
Senior Level
Mastery Required:
- ★Active Listening
- ★Speaking
- ★Reading Comprehension
- ★Critical Thinking
- ★Social Perceptiveness
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 Technicians
Technology Intensity
High
Digital Literacy Requirements
This career requires advanced digital literacy
1
Basic
2
Intermediate
3
Advanced
4
Expert
Key Digital Competencies:
Proficiency with specialized softwareTechnical documentationData analysis toolsSystem integration
🔥
Hot Technologies in Demand
These technologies are currently trending and highly sought after in this field
Microsoft Outlook
🔥 Hot TechApple Safari
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Edge
🔥 Hot TechMozilla Firefox
🔥 Hot TechMEDITECH software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Office software
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft PowerPoint
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Excel
🔥 Hot TechMicrosoft Word
🔥 Hot TechTechnology Stack
Technology Stack Overview
Key technologies used in this career
Microsoft Outlook
Apple Safari
Microsoft Edge
Mozilla Firefox
MEDITECH software
Microsoft Office software
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
MODERATE
👥
Team Orientation
CONSTANT 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 moderate physical demands?
- •Do you enjoy constant team team environments?
- •Are you comfortable working with safety protocols and protective equipment?
What are the key tasks?
Tasks & Responsibilities
21
Core Tasks
8
Daily Tasks
20
Work Activities
0
Emerging Tasks
Filter:
Sort by:
General Responsibilities (14)Documentation & Record-Keeping (6)Operations & Execution (1)
1
Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities100% perform100%
2
Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping97% perform98%
3
Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities94% perform96%
4
Assist customers by answering simple questions, locating items, or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities91% perform94%
5
Price and file prescriptions that have been filled.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities88% perform92%
6
Clean and help maintain equipment or work areas and sterilize glassware, according to prescribed methods.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping85% perform90%
7
Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
🔴Daily
Importance:
Documentation & Record-Keeping82% perform88%
8
Order, label, and count stock of medications, chemicals, or supplies and enter inventory data into computer.
🔴Daily
Importance:
General Responsibilities79% perform86%
9
Transfer medication from vials to the appropriate number of sterile, disposable syringes, using aseptic techniques.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities76% perform84%
10
Supply and monitor robotic machines that dispense medicine into containers and label the containers.
🟡Weekly
Importance:
General Responsibilities73% perform82%
💡 Key Takeaways
- •Daily tasks focus primarily on general responsibilities activities
- •33% 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 Technicians
💡 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 Technicians professionals typically have a CRS Holland code and highly value relationships
CConventional
RRealistic
SSocial
Important Personality Traits
Work styles that contribute to success as a Pharmacy Technicians
Attention to Detail
CriticalAttention to Detail
Importance Level4.64
Integrity
Very ImportantIntegrity
Importance Level4.48
Dependability
Very ImportantDependability
Importance Level4.39
Self-Control
Very ImportantSelf-Control
Importance Level4.37
Cooperation
Very ImportantCooperation
Importance Level4.37
Stress Tolerance
Very ImportantStress Tolerance
Importance Level4.28
Complete Work Styles Profile
Attention to Detail
4.6
Integrity
4.5
Dependability
4.4
Self-Control
4.4
Cooperation
4.4
Stress Tolerance
4.3
Initiative
4.2
Concern for Others
4.2
Analytical Thinking
4.0
Adaptability/Flexibility
4.0
💡 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
Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Typical duration: Varies
Preparation Level
Job Zone 3
Medium Preparation Needed
Experience Needed
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience required
📚 Education Requirement
Required Level:Vocational school, on-the-job training, or associate degree
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Training:
Training of more than one year
💼 Experience Requirement
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience required
Common pathways to gain experience:
- • Associate degree programs
- • Apprenticeships (1-2 years)
- • Vocational training with related experience
3
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Associate degree programsApprenticeships (1-2 years)Vocational training with related experience
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