Pharmacy Technician - A Great Career Opportunity
Do you have a passion for the healthcare field and want to start a career that earns you a decent paycheck? If so, pharmacy technician might be the perfect gig for you! Pharmacy technicians are specialized professionals who provide support in pharmacies across the United States. They conduct inventory audits, stock shelves, prepare prescriptions, and much more.
As one of the fastest-growing careers in America according to Forbes Magazine and Glassdoor's Best Jobs™ list, pharmacy techs are in high demand right now — especially if they have experience working with customers on an everyday basis. Pharmacy techs routinely interact with clients, answering questions about medication and helping them purchase their products.
As a pharmacy technician, you'll often be assigned to work in hospital pharmacies where you'll have the opportunity to stock prescription medications and help prepare medications for IV drip — using your skills and knowledge to support patients who are sick or injured. You will also be responsible for counting, dispensing and recording medications or other orders that are brought into the pharmacy. And once processed, you will probably distribute medications or supplies such as syringes, needles and catheters in accordance with doctors' orders.
But what are the job outlook and salary? Let's take a look.
Job Outlook for Pharmacy Technicians
As an ever-growing industry, pharmacy technicians will be in high demand well into the future. Jobs for pharmacy techs are expected to grow 35% through 2024 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This is much faster growth than average across industries, which is a perk that you shouldn't overlook! The median salary is $30,910 per year according to the BLS. The top 10% earn over $46,941 per year on average, which is about $23/hour. And for the top 25% of pharmacy techs, the average salary is $37,672 per year or about $18/hour on average.
What Kind of Skills Do Pharmacy Technicians Need to Succeed?
You'll need to have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED) to be considered for a pharmacy technician job. However, you don't need a college degree to work as a pharmacy tech. PayScale estimates that the median pay for pharmacy techs is around $23/hour. You can expect to start making around $15k-22k per year once you receive your state certification as a certified pharmacy technician (CPT). Don't forget that you'll also earn health benefits through your employer as well.
Is this the right career for you? Check out some of these common questions and answers about career as a pharmacy technician:
What kind of skills do pharmacy techs need to succeed? Pharmacy techs need an in-depth knowledge of medications, pharmaceutical products and the systems in place for dispensing prescription medications. In addition, they must have excellent communication and customer service skills to help patients feel relaxed when visiting their pharmacies. They also need to be able to work quickly with little supervision. Pharmacy techs are sometimes mistaken for pharmacy assistants or assistants in a clinical setting. In fact, pharmacy technicians perform many of the tasks that pharmacy assistants and assistants do. However, the main difference is that a pharmacy technician does most of their work independently.
How much money do pharmacy techs make? The median pay for a certified pharmacy technician is $23 per hour, according to PayScale. Most CPTs work about 12 hours per week during regular business hours and are paid by the hour with no overtime pay required. For more information about salary ranges check out this article from The Ladders .
What is the career outlook? The job outlook for pharmacy technicians is excellent. According to the BLS, employment opportunities are expected to increase by 35% through 2024 which is much faster than average. This means that many opportunities exist for anyone who wants to pursue a career as a pharmacy technician.
Where can I find a job? The BLS predicts that "employment growth will be driven by demand for prescription drugs and technological advances in drug production and delivery systems." Almost all pharmacy technicians work in community pharmacies such as independent drug stores chain pharmacies, discount stores and grocery stores — however, pay varies based on work environment and employer .
Check out the Pharmacy Technician Job Board on PharmacyJobsCenter.com and search for current pharmacy technician job postings. Or visit the Employers section of this site to find pharmacy technician employers who are currently seeking skilled pharmacy technicians.
To learn more about a career as a pharmacy technician, contact BestMakeCareerGuide today to speak with one of our experts! BestCareerGuide works with schools, colleges, and universities across the country who wish to offer career assistance services to their students and alumni. For more information about our services, please visit our About Us page.
References:
Adecco, 2015. The 10 Best Jobs for 2016. Forbes Magazine. http://www.forbes.com/article/best-jobs-2016/#f65b8d34b054 accessed 04 February 2017 Cost of a CPT Exam: $41 (Cost of the CPT Certification Exam). (2017). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook Online, Table 2-5: Pharmacy Technicians and Dispensing Pharmacists — Median annual wages [http://www2.bls.gov/serious/pdf/cpo108800p2.pdf], accessed 04 February 2017. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association. Technical Standards for Pharmacy Technician National Standards for Accreditation of Healthcare Personnel, Version 3.2 (January 2012). https://www.phcmaa.org/resources/technical-standards-for-pharmacy-technician accessed 04 February 2017 "Pharmacist Salary." (2017) APhA . http://www.aphanet.org/content/pharmacist-salary accessed 04 February 2017 "Job Outlook—What's Going On With the How Much Is a Pharmacist Worth? Jobs. Indeed.com. http://www.indeed.com/salary/CL9E8K_Pharmacist_I_Salary accessed 05 February 2017 "Average Pharmacy Tech Salary." (2017) Glassdoor . https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/pharmacy-technician-salary-SRCH_KO0,22.htm#job=117119&title=Pharmacy+Technician accessed 05 February 2017 "Average Pharmacy Technician Salary in the U.S." (2017) TheLadders . http://www.theladders.
Conclusion
A career as a pharmacy tech can be very rewarding and can provide you with a nice salary. But keep in mind that this career may require you to stay on your feet for longer than 8 hours per day, and also may require you to work nights, weekends, holidays and/or split shifts on occasion.
To learn more about a career as a pharmacy technician, contact BestCareerGuide today to speak with one of our experts! BestCareerGuide works with schools, colleges, and universities across the country who wish to offer career assistance services to their students and alumni. For more information about our services, please visit our About Us page.