Planning to become a pharmacy technician? Are you wondering about what could be a pharmacy technician salary in 2023? Are you looking for companies that pay well for pharmacy technicians? Worry not!
You are at the right place. In this article, you will learn about the pharmacy technician’s salary, the top-paying companies for a pharmacy technician to work in, and the highest-paying cities in the U.S.
A Pharmacy Technician Salary
When you consider a profession, it is very common to want to know about the salary you would earn. If you are considering pharmacy technician as your career, or if you are planning on switching your career path to a pharmacy technician, worry not. We have the information you need.
On average, a pharmacy technician salary is about $17.32 per hour and $36,025.60 per year. A pharmacy technician salary may vary depending on the years of experience gained by the professional. Let’s now discuss the approximate salary of a pharmacy technician based on the years of experience they have gained in the industry as a pharmacy technician.
| EXPERIENCE LEVEL | SALARY (per year) |
| An experience level of less than a year | $32,528 |
| Experienced for about 1 to 2 years | $32,047 |
| Experienced for about 6 to 9 years | $37,555 |
| More than 10 years of experience | $40,382 |
As a pharmacy technician, you have the opportunity to grow and advance in your career. With years of experience and proper certifications, you can make a good salary as a pharmacy technician. Make sure to upskill and equip yourself with all the knowledge and qualifications required to advance in this career path.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2021, the pharmacy technician salary in different industries are as follows:
- Drug stores and pharmacies are about $35,940.
- Beverages and food stores are about $36,090.
- Hospitals (private, state, and local) are about $38,270.
EMPLOYMENT PROJECTION
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for pharmacy technicians between the year 2020 and 2030 should increase about 4%. That means the employment change between the years 2020 and 2030 will be about 16,600 higher. Likewise, the number of job openings as of 2020 is about 419,300.
Apart from the employment growth, there are, on average, about 31,700 projected job openings for pharmacy technicians each year for almost over a decade. Most of these job openings are a result of the need to replace employees who have transferred to a different job or occupation or who have retired.
Pharmacy technician is an industry that has high demand in the healthcare sector. As far as the healthcare sector is concerned, job opportunities in any industry in this sector will continue to be in high demand.
Considering the growth in the senior population and the pandemic situation, pharmacy technicians are in high demand. It is always a good choice to choose a career path that will have constant growth and is in high demand.
In May 2021, the average annual wage for a pharmacy technician was about $36,740. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, on average, pharmacy technicians make about $17.66 per hour and $36,740 per year. The highest 10% of the pharmacy technicians earned more than $47,580 and the lowest 10% of the pharmacy technicians earned less than $28,740.
As far as pharmacy technicians are concerned, they have the opportunity to advance in their career with extra certifications and experience. The salary of a pharmacy technician varies and increases over time with extra qualifications and years of experience as a pharmacy technician.
Let’s now discuss the pharmacy technician salary offered by the top-paying companies.
Top Paying Companies
Generally, most pharmacy technicians work in hospitals, pharmacies, retail stores, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities.
There are companies that pay well for pharmacy technicians. Here’s a list of top-paying companies that offer good pay for pharmacy technicians in the U.S.
| COMPANY | SALARY (per year) |
| Avella Specialty Pharmacy | $56,282 |
| Express Scripts | $49,873 |
| US Department of Veterans Affairs | $47, 348 |
| U.S. Air Force | $45,385 |
| Catalent Pharma Solutions | $42,740 |
| Option Care Health | $42,723 |
| Kmart | $41,590 |
| Pharmedium | $40,819 |
| Humana | $40,583 |
| AlixaRx | $40,159 |
| Polaris Pharmacy Services | $39,466 |
| Centene | $39,051 |
| Cleveland Clinic | $38,556 |
| Costco Wholesale | $38,352 |
| Wedgewood Pharmacy | $37,832 |
Let’s now discuss some of the highest-paying cities for pharmacy technicians in the U.S.
Top 9 Highest-Earning Cities
As a pharmacy technician, it is pretty common to be curious about the cities that pay high salaries to pharmacy technicians. Let’s now learn about the highest-paying cities for pharmacy technicians.
| CITY | SALARY (per year) |
| San Antonio, Texas | $38,919 |
| New York, New York | $37,957 |
| St. Louis, Missouri | $37,435 |
| Phoenix, Arizona | $36,559 |
| Houston, Texas | $34,194 |
| Louisville, Kentucky | $33,064 |
| Orlando, Florida | $32,438 |
| Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | $32,366 |
| Indianapolis, Indiana | $31,790 |
Wrapping Up
Pharmacy technician is a good and stable career choice. As a pharmacy technician, your working hours will likely be flexible as well. All you need to do is be equipped and qualified to find a job and stand out as one of the best pharmacy technicians among your coworkers. You can check our article to learn more about the skills required for a pharmacy technician.
If you are passionate about taking the PTCB exam, you can check our free practice test and PTCB guide to help you prepare for the PTCE efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What qualifications do I need to be a pharmacy technician?
Here are a few qualifications required to be a pharmacy technician:
- Must earn a high school diploma or a GED.
- Should have completed a pharmacy technician training program from an accredited school.
- Must have taken and passed the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE).
- Should have gotten certified by the regional and national certification bodies.
What pharmacy technicians make the most?
Generally, most pharmacy technicians work in hospitals, pharmacies, retail stores, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. Pharmacy technicians who work in hospitals get paid well.
But a pharmacy technician’s salary depends on various factors, such as location, experience, and qualifications.
Can pharmacy technicians become pharmacists?
At present, there is no set standard as to how you can progress from a pharmacy technician to a pharmacist. For now, the only way to progress from a pharmacy technician to a pharmacist is by graduating with an MPharm degree, which takes about 5 years including pre-registration training.
Where do pharmacy techs get paid the most?
Some of the highest paying companies for a pharmacy technician are as follows:
- Avella Specialty Pharmacy is $56,282.
- Express Scripts is $49,873.
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is $47,348.
- U.S. Air Force is $45,385.
- Catalent Pharma Solutions is $42,740.
Likewise, some of the top-paying cities for a pharmacy technician are as follows:
- San Antonio, Texas is $38,919.
- New York, New York is $37,957.
- St.Louis, Missouri is $37,435.
- Phoenix, Arizona is $36,559.
- Houston, Texas is $34,194.
What kind of math is on the pharmacy tech test?
The main components of the PTCB math exam are as follows:
- Temperature.
- Volume.
- Time.
- Weight.
You can check our article to learn more about the PTCB math exam. This article will give you all the information you require to prepare for the math exam.
Related Reads:
Working as a Pharmacy Technician: Insight into the Job
