Pharmacy Technicians
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.
Also called: Accredited Pharmacy Technician · Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) · Chemotherapy Pharmacy Technician (Chemo Pharmacy Technician) · Compounding Technician · OR Pharmacy Tech (Operating Room Pharmacy Tech) · RPhT (Registered Pharmacy Technician)
Median pay (national)
$43,460
$35,100–$59,450 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
487,920
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+6.4%
~49,000 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for pharmacy technicians shows a relatively narrow range: the top 10% earn $59,450 versus $35,100 at the bottom 10% — 1.7x. The median of $43,460 leaves roughly 37% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +6.4% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 49,000 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 54 states with released data, Washington pays the most for this role (median $56,140, +29% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $25,880 — a 117% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Monitoring
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
- Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
- Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
- Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.
- Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
- Order, label, and count stock of medications, chemicals, or supplies and enter inventory data into computer.
- Clean and help maintain equipment or work areas and sterilize glassware, according to prescribed methods.
- Enter prescription information into computer databases.
- Assist customers by answering simple questions, locating items, or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information.
- Price and file prescriptions that have been filled.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Apple Safari
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Edge
- Mozilla Firefox
- Billing and reimbursement software
- Compounder software
- Database software
- Drug compatibility software
- Label-making software
- Medical condition coding software
- Patient record maintenance software
- Pharmaceutical software
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Law and Government
- Administrative
- Production and Processing