Pharmacy Technician Jobs: Pay, Hiring Trends and Requirements

Pay and demand for pharmacy technicians

The median posted pay for pharmacy technicians is $17.76 an hour. The middle half of postings start between $17.00 an hour and $20.11 an hour, while the top end of hourly pay ranges has a median of $26.57 an hour. For positions listing an annual salary, the median starting pay is $45,000 a year, with a middle range from $45,000 a year to $49,500 a year, and a top-end median of $71,600 a year.

In the last 30 days, employers published 7,740 new postings, compared to 7,732 in the previous period, representing a change that is flat at 0%. Weekly hiring has seen 1,665 new postings in the latest week, near the average of 1,786 postings per week over the last 8 weeks.

Who hires pharmacy technicians

Major retail pharmacy chains, grocery stores, and healthcare providers make up the majority of employers hiring pharmacy technicians. The top employer is Walgreens with 3,677 open postings, followed by CVS Health with 3,021 postings. Other prominent hiring companies include Walmart with 1,994 positions, Kroger Family of Companies with 618 postings, and UnitedHealth Group with 232 active listings.

How to get hired as a pharmacy technician

Entry-level opportunities are widely available, with 38% of postings open to beginners or new graduates. For positions that specify a required background, the median experience level is 1 year. Higher education is rarely mandatory, as only 4% of postings that list education require a bachelor's degree.

• Obtain a national pharmacy technician certification (PTCB or ExCPT), which is requested in 35% of all job listings.
• Practice mathematical reasoning, a required capability in 10% of postings, to ensure accurate dosage calculations.
• Highlight your familiarity with inventory management, which is specified in 10% of postings for keeping pharmacy shelves properly stocked.
• Gain experience with pharmacy systems, named in 5% of listings, or cash register operation, which is required in 5% of postings.

Interview questions for pharmacy technicians

During your interview, the hiring manager will ask situational and behavioral questions to evaluate how you handle customer interactions, safety procedures, and teamwork in a fast-paced environment.

• A customer comes to the counter angry about a long delay on their prescription. How do you handle the situation and resolve their complaint?
• Tell me about a time you noticed an error in a prescription order. How did you handle it and who did you notify?
• If a physician's handwritten prescription is illegible, what steps do you take to ensure patient safety?
• Describe a situation where you had to balance processing prescriptions, answering the telephone, and assisting in-person customers all at once.
• How do you handle a situation where a drug count at the end of your shift does not match the system records?

Where the jobs are for pharmacy technicians

These positions are typically on-site due to the nature of the work. Remote listings account for under 1% of open positions, representing 109 listings, and hybrid options are also at under 1%.

The states with the highest volume of postings are Texas with 857 postings, followed by California with 817 postings, Florida with 712, New York with 701, and Ohio with 699.

At the metropolitan level, the highest concentrations of hiring are in Albany, NY with 68 postings, Houston, TX with 65 postings, and Indianapolis, IN with 55 listings. Other major cities include Pittsburgh, PA with 55 postings and Orlando, FL with 52 postings.

Questions people ask

How much do pharmacy technicians make?

The median posted hourly rate for pharmacy technicians is $17.76 an hour. The middle half of employers post a starting wage between $17.00 an hour and $20.11 an hour.

Do you need a certification to work as a pharmacy technician?

A national pharmacy technician certification (PTCB or ExCPT) is requested in 35% of all active job listings.

Who hires pharmacy technicians?

The most active employers are Walgreens with 3,677 openings, CVS Health with 3,021 postings, and Walmart with 1,994 postings.

Can pharmacy technicians work from home?

Remote work is rare for this role. Remote positions represent under 1% of postings, which translates to 109 active listings.