What Pharmacy Technicians Do

Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists dispense prescription medication to customers or health professionals.

Work Environment

Pharmacy technicians work in pharmacies, including those found in grocery and drug stores, and in hospitals. Most work full time, but many work part time.

How to Become a Pharmacy Technician

Becoming a pharmacy technician usually requires earning a high school diploma or the equivalent. Pharmacy technicians typically learn through on-the-job training, or they may complete a postsecondary education program. Most states regulate pharmacy technicians, which is a process that may require passing an exam or completing a formal education or training program.

Job Outlook

Employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 9 percent from 2014 to 2024, faster than the average for all occupations. Increased demand for prescription medications will lead to more demand for pharmaceutical services.

Growth & Trends

This occupation supported 355,300 jobs in 2012 and 372,500 jobs in 2014, reflecting an increase of 4.8%. In 2012, this occupation was projected to increase by 19.9% in 2022 to 426,100 jobs. As of 2014, to keep pace with prediction, the expected number of jobs was 369,400, compared with an observed value of 372,500, 0.8% higher than expected. This indicates current employment trends are about on track with the 2012 trend within this occupation. In 2014, this occupation was projected to increase by 9.8% in 2024 to 407,200 jobs. Linear extrapolation of the 2012 projection for 2022 results in an expected number of 440,200 jobs for 2024, 8.1% higher than the 2014 projection for 2024. This indicates expectations for future employment trends are much worse than the 2012 trend within this occupation.

Pharmacy Technicians Employment and Labor Information 2023

Pharmacy Technicians Employment Brief:

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 Job Description

Here is a Job Description an employer might post for potential Pharmacy Technicians.

Pharmacy Technicians Responsibilities and Duties:

• Price and file prescriptions that have been filled.
• Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
• Restock intravenous (IV) supplies and add measured drugs or nutrients to IV solutions under sterile conditions to prepare IV packs for various uses, such as chemotherapy medication.
• Transfer medication from vials to the appropriate number of sterile, disposable syringes, using aseptic techniques.
• Enter prescription information into computer databases.
• Prepack bulk medicines, fill bottles with prescribed medications, and type and affix labels.
• Mix pharmaceutical preparations, according to written prescriptions.
• Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
• Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
• Operate cash registers to accept payment from customers.

Typical Daily Tasks of Pharmacy Technicians:

• Getting Information.
• Working with Computers: Enter codes or other information into computers. Enter information into databases or software programs. Enter patient or treatment data into computers.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards.
• Processing Information: Verify accuracy of patient information.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Record patient medical histories.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public.
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events.

Pharmacy Technicians Skills and Requirements:

• Instructing Teaching others how to do something.
• Complex Problem Solving Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Learning Strategies Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
• SpreadsheetsUsing a computer application to enter, manipulate, and format text and numerical data; insert, delete, and manipulate cells, rows, and columns; and create and save worksheets, charts, and graphs.
• Time Management Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Negotiation Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
• DatabasesUsing a computer application to manage large amounts of information, including creating and editing simple databases, inputting data, retrieving specific records, and creating reports to communicate the information.
• Science Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
• Operations Analysis Analyzing needs and product requirements to create a design.

Pharmacy Technicians Education and Training:

Typical education for include: High school diploma or equivalent.

Pharmacy Technicians Salary, Wages, and Salary and Job Outlook

Pharmacy Technicians average pay is: $37790 per year according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employees who work in General Medical and Surgical Hospitals are the highest paid making $22.32, while Food and Beverage Retailers make the least at $17.32 per hour.Here are the top city/metro areas with the highest paying salaries for a Pharmacy Technicians: