Pharmacy Technicians have excellent employment opportunities as more people gain prescription drug coverage over the next 8 years. In addition, the general population is aging and that will lead to more demand for increased pharmacy services. Three-quarters of Pharmacy Technicians currently work in retail settings with another 16% working in hospitals.
The U.S. Department of Labor predicts a growing role in the health care industry for Pharmacy Technicians over the next decade in order to meet the needs of the aging population coupled with increased insurance coverage for currently uninsured. Pharmacy Technicians may take on more patient responsibilities in areas like documentation and delivery of medications as the position duties expand.
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.
As the chart shows, there is a significant difference in the average salary for a pharmacy technician paid by state when considering the highest concentration of workers. Missouri has 10,620 Pharmacy Technicians while Delaware has 1,440. Yet Missouri pays an annual mean wage of $24,560 and Delaware pays $27,350 for an 11% difference. West Virginia, Kentucky, and Alabama pay similar wages with only a 3% difference from low to high.
The wage paid is dependent on the technician's years of experience, his or her educational level, the type of certifications obtained, and the location of the job. Pharmacy Technicians can work in retail settings, hospital pharmacies, special health care facilities like nursing homes, and wholesale mail-order drug businesses. Some Pharmacy Technicians also specialize or move into supervisory positions.
Related Charts for Pharmacy Technician Salaries:
Pharmacy Technician Pay Scale - All U.S. States
Pharmacy Technician Salaries - Top Paying Metropolitan Areas
Pharmacy Technician Salary Ranges - Top Paying Industries
The bar graph above shows mean salary ranges for states with the highest concentration of pharmacy technician professionals. You may see the data in table format below:
| Industry |
Annual Mean Wage |
|---|
| Missouri |
24,560 |
| West Virginia |
23,620 |
| Kentucky |
24,370 |
| Delaware |
27,350 |
| Alabama |
24,190 |
State pharmacy technician wages 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.
