Hospital Pharmacy Tech Salary
About 16 percent of pharmacy technicians were employed by hospitals in 2008, notes the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Like pharmacy techs in retail stores, those employed in hospitals fill prescriptions and update patient records on the computer. Hospital pharmacy technicians have more extensive and complex duties than most retail store pharmacy techs, which is reflected in their higher pay rate.
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Job Features
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Hospital pharmacy technicians must prepare not only basic prescriptions of pills and liquids, but also sterile solutions for intravenous use and chemotherapy medications. In addition, they assist in buying, storing and distributing drugs for clinical studies. Hospital pharmacy technicians go on unit rounds and deliver labeled medications to nurses' stations and fill drug replacement orders to departments throughout the hospital. When patients are discharged, the pharmacy tech issues credit for all returned medications. Because many hospital pharmacies are open 24 hours a day, many hospital pharmacy technicians work nights, weekends and holidays, sometimes on a rotating basis.
Averages
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Pharmacy technicians employed in general hospitals had an average pay rate of about $15.70 per hour or $32,700 per year in 2009 as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those working in specialty hospitals, such as long-term acute care hospitals, were earning about $17 per hour on average or $35,400 per year. These pay rates are significantly higher than the average in health and personal care stores, the largest employers of pharmacy technicians, paying about $13.30 per hour on average or $27,600 per year. Pharmacy technicians working in grocery stores were earning an average of about $13.80 per hour, in general merchandise stores $12.70, and in department stores $12.30.
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Specifics
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The job search website Indeed.com lists about 3,000 job openings throughout the country in February 2011 for pharmacy technicians to work in hospital settings. Posted pay rates have a wide range, from about $11.30 to $21.50 per hour. Positions with Veterans Affairs pay up to $46,203 per year or about $22 per hour, depending on experience.
Benefits
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The Indeed.com job listings show that hospital pharmacy technicians receive full benefits packages. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, prescription and life insurance; paid time off for vacations, holidays, personal days and illness; a retirement plan or tax-deferred savings program; and medical flexible spending accounts. Some organizations provide paid leaves of absence, dependent care spending accounts, college savings plans, legal services, tuition reimbursement, continuing education opportunities, paid fees for professional certification, employee assistance programs and employee referral bonuses.
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References
- Photo Credit pills and pill bottle image by Effie White from Fotolia.com
