What They Do
Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists dispense medications, manage inventory, and provide customer service in various healthcare settings.
Duties
Pharmacy technicians typically do the following:
- Collect information needed to fill a prescription from patients or health professionals
- Measure amounts of medication for prescriptions
- Package and label prescriptions
- Organize inventory and alert pharmacists to any shortages of medications or supplies
- Accept payment for prescriptions and process insurance claims
- Enter patient information, including any prescriptions taken, into a computer system
- Answer phone calls from customers
- Arrange for customers to speak with pharmacists if customers have questions about medications or health matters
Pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of pharmacists, who must review prescriptions before they are dispensed to patients. In most states, technicians can compound or mix some medications and call physicians for prescription refill authorizations. Technicians also may need to operate automated dispensing equipment when filling prescription orders.
Pharmacy technicians working in hospitals and other medical facilities prepare a greater variety of medications, such as intravenous medications. They may make rounds in the hospital, dispensing medications to patients.
In many states, trained technicians also can administer vaccines under pharmacist supervision.
Work Environment
Pharmacy technicians held about 490,400 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of pharmacy technicians were as follows:
| Pharmacies and drug retailers | 52% |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 17 |
| General merchandise retailers | 9 |
| Grocery and specialty food retailers | 9 |
| Ambulatory healthcare services | 4 |
Pharmacy technicians spend most of the workday standing or walking. They usually work as part of a team that includes other pharmacy staff and healthcare providers.
Work Schedules
Most pharmacy technicians work full time, but part-time work is common. Pharmacies may be open at all hours. Therefore, pharmacy technicians may have to work nights or weekends.
How to Become One
Pharmacy technicians typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and learn their duties through on-the-job training, or they may complete a postsecondary education program in pharmacy technology. Most states regulate pharmacy technicians, which is a process that may require passing an exam or completing a formal education or training program.
Pay
The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians was $43,460 in May 2024.
Job Outlook
Employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations.
About 49,000 openings for pharmacy technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.