The largest number of Pharmacy Technicians were employed in 2008 by hospitals. Hospitals employed 54,350 technicians, while the Federal government employed 5,130. But the middle three employers – department stores, merchandise stores, grocery stores – employed 55,300 Pharmacy Technicians.
How Much Do Pharmacy Technicians Make?
The difference between the mean annual wages paid to federal employees compared to the mean annual wages paid to department store employees is $11,510 or 44% proving once again that working for the government usually nets higher pay. The range of hourly wages in the top 5 highest employing industries is $12.49 to $18.02.
Department stores ($12.49) and merchandise stores ($12.82) pay similar hourly wages, both of which are below the $13.70 mean hourly wage for all Pharmacy Technicians. When it comes to the pharmacy technician pay scale, grocery stores ($17.70, hospitals ($15.47) and the federal government ($18.02) pay higher hourly rates. Future employment opportunities are expected to be very good.
This chart displays annual mean salaries for Pharmacy Technicians in the U.S. The data was collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics OES - May 2008.
Pharmacy Technicians have more skills and usually more education and certifications than Pharmacy Aides. The technician normally works for a Pharmacist in a variety of settings that include doctor and dental offices, grocery store and free standing pharmacies, hospitals and nursing homes, laboratories, and mass retailers like mail-order drug businesses.
Pharmacy Technicians accept and fill prescription orders, mix medications and label prescription bottles under the direct supervision of a Pharmacist. There is a growing trend within the profession for Pharmacy Technicians to work more closely with patients also. Starting pay, along with the level of pharmacy tech salaries achieved over time, is largely dependent on years of experience and types of certifications the Pharmacy Technician holds.
Related Charts for Pharmacy Technician Salaries:
Pharmacy Technician Pay Scale - All Industries
Pharmacy Technician Salaries - Top Paying Metropolitan Areas
Pharmacy Technician Salary Ranges - Top Paying Industries
The bar graph above shows mean salary ranges for pharmacy technician industries with the highest levels of employment. You may see the data in table format below:
| Industry |
Annual Mean Wage |
|---|
| Hospitals |
32,180 |
| Grocery Stores |
28,490 |
| Merchandise Stores |
26,660 |
| Department Stores |
25,980 |
| Federal Executive Branch |
37,490 |
State salaries are often dependent on overall population needs and the cost of living. Since these are average (mean) salary ranges, you can gain a higher salary with more education and skills. Your exact background will play a role in your income.
