How Much Does a Pharmacist Technician Make?
Pharmacist technicians assist pharmacists by preparing prescriptions, counting pills and labeling bottles. They differ from pharmacy aides who perform clerical functions like stocking shelves and operating cash registers. Technicians typically undergo formal training at vocational schools and community colleges in programs that last from six months to two years. Most states also require registration with the state board of pharmacy.
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Pay
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Pharmacist technicians typically work a 40-hour week and earn a median of $28,070, with salaries descending to $19,480 or rising to $33,820. However, because many pharmacies are open longer hours to accommodate shoppers, many techs work part-time to fill the extra hours, such as during evenings and weekends. In those cases, they receive median hourly rates of $13.49, with a low of $9.36 and a high of $19.31. These figures are as of May 2009 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Experience
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The PayScale Report shows that experience is only partially related to annual salary. As of November 2010, new pharmacy technicians make a range of $21,391 to $37,656. At five to nine years, salaries run $23,451 to $35,810 and at 20 or more years, they are $25.883 to $47,697. However, experience does count for part-timers or temps working at hourly rates. Pharmacists may not have time to train these temporary employees, and thus pay more for those who can hit the job running. New techs earn $8.300 or $10.79, while those with five to nine years of work make $10.32 to $14.54. Those with 20 years or more experience earn the most at $12.51 to $18.07.
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States
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The location of the job can affect employability and compensation, according to the BLS. For example, the state with the highest concentration of pharmacist technicians, West Virginia, shows employment at 4.1 techs per 1,000 workers. However, because of the large supply of workers, compensation is lower than average at $11.42 or $23,760. Alaska has fewer job opportunities, with a job concentration of 2.0, but salaries are the highest at $17.83 or $37,090.
Cities
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For cities, the most jobs are located in Morristown, Tennessee, with an employment concentration of 7.2 per 1,000 workers. As with other high-employment areas, however, wages are slightly lower than average at $13.02 or $27,080. A city with fewer job opportunities is San Francisco, with employment at a 1.7 rate. The relative scarcity of pharmacist technicians and the high cost of living in this city increases compensation to $20.91 or $43,500.
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References
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