How Much Money Does a Pharmacy Tech Make a Year?
Pharmacy technicians assist licensed pharmacists at drugstores by providing customer service, preparing prescription medicines and performing clerical duties, depending on state regulations. They receive requests from customers, retrieve and measure medications, prepare labels and then price the medicines. They then have their preparations checked by the pharmacist before submitting them to the customer.
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Basics
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that as of May of 2009, the median compensation of a pharmacy tech is $13.49 hourly or $28,070 yearly. The bottom 10 percent makes $9.36 or $19,480, and the upper 10 percent earns $19.31 or $40,160.
Industries
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The industry type determines income for pharmacy technicians. The highest paying for this job are the federal government, in which rates are $18.77 or $39,040; scientific research and development, in which rates are $18.69 or $38,870; insurance carriers, in which rates are $18.08 or $37,610; management of companies and enterprises, in which rates are $17.53 or $36,470; and specialty hospitals (except for psychiatric), in which rates are $17.06 or $35,470.
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States
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The state with the job determines income. The top five highest paying for this profession are Alaska, in which pay runs $17.83 or $37,090; California, in which pay runs $17.68 or $36,770; Washington state, in which pay runs $17.63 or $36,670; Hawaii, in which pay runs $16.89 or $35,130; and Nevada, in which pay runs $16.33 or $33,960.
Cities
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The city of employment can control salaries. The top five highest paying for this profession are all in California, beginning with San Francisco with pay of $20.91 or $43,500; San Jose with pay of $20.32 or $42,260; Oakland with pay of $19.82 or $41,220; Santa Cruz with pay of $19.44 or $40,430; and Santa Barbara with pay of $19.39 or $40,330.
Employment Levels
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The areas with the greatest employment numbers do not offer the best income. For example, the industries offering the most jobs are health and personal care stores, in which compensation is $13.27 or $27,590, and general medical and surgical hospitals, in which compensation is $15.73 or $32,710. None of them is in the top five payers. The states with the highest employment levels are West Virginia with compensation at $11.42 or $23,760, and Kentucky with compensation at $11.77 or $24,480. Both these states are missing from the top five list in salaries. Finally, the cities with the highest employment levels are Morristown, Tennessee, with salaries at $13.02 or $27,080, and Gadsden, Alabama, with salaries at $10.62 or $22,090. Neither one is in the top five for salaries.
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References
- Photo Credit young pharmacy technician image by Leticia Wilson from Fotolia.com
