Mon-Fri 9am to 6pm CST
by John Doe
31-July-2024
How Much Does a Pharmacy Technician Make? Detailed Insights
A pharmacy technician is a vital part of any healthcare system, offering assistance to the pharmacists and ensuring that patients get the proper medication. But how much does a pharmacy technician make?
Understanding salary expectations is crucial for those considering this career, as it helps in planning and setting realistic financial goals.
The following article will cover the factors that affect pharmacy technician salaries with respect to experience and certification. We also answer specific questions like what is a pharmacy technician, factors that impact a pharmacy tech’s salary, their pay scale in different states, and much more to give you an exact picture of what to expect as you get on this career path.
What Impacts a Pharmacy Technicians Salary
Pharmacy technicians’ salaries can vary based on a few key factors. Knowing what those factors are allows you to understand and set realistic salary expectations if you’re thinking of obtaining training in the field.
Factor 1: Level of experience
Experience plays a huge role in deciding the amount that the pharmacy technician should take home. Just like in many other professions, the more years you have on the job, the more likely you’ll command higher wages.
As you progress in the field, online programs like Pharmacy Technician Bootcamp or certifications from well-renowned platforms can help you quickly move to a higher pay bracket. With experience, some pharmacy technicians even progress to supervisory roles which come with higher pay.
Factor 2: Geographical Location
Another major factor would be the place of work. Pharmacy technicians working in an urban area or in states where the cost of living is relatively high will have a higher pay scale compared to those working in rural areas.
For example, a pharmacy technician working in California will earn more than the one in any smaller state because health-related services are in more demand there.
For example, a pharmacy technician working in California will earn more than the one in any smaller state because health-related services are in more demand there.
Likewise, salaries may vary within cities of the same state, so the location becomes a critical factor when it comes to a pharmacy tech’s payscale.
Factor 3: Type of Employer
The type of employer can greatly influence how much a pharmacy technician makes an hour. Those working in hospitals tend to have higher rates compared with those working in retail pharmacies or clinics.
After all, most hospitals usually have bigger budgets and provide comprehensive benefits including higher wages. On the other hand, retail pharmacies might offer flexible hours, which some technicians may prioritize more.
Factor 4: Certification and Additional Training
Certification is a great way that can also lead to a pay rise. Certified pharmacy technicians normally have higher wages compared to ones who aren’t.
The difference in salaries between certified and non-certified pharmacy techs is the certified ones earn an additional few dollars per hour over non-certified ones. But, that’s not the only case. Getting trained in specialized areas like chemotherapy or nuclear pharmacy can increase your pay as well.
On top of that, enrolling yourself in online pharmacy technician programs or bootcamps make it a quick + affordable option to get certified, setting you up for higher-paying work.
How Much Does a Pharmacy Technician Make?
As for any career out there, if you are considering a career in the field of pharmacy, one would naturally enquire about its payscale. As for the question of how much a pharmacy technician makes, this question varies on multiple factors such as experience level, certification, and location.
Overview of Average Salary
As of May 2023, the average pay for a full-time pharmacy technician in the United States is around $40,300 per year or around $19.37 per hour. However, this figure can range from only $32,720 annually for an entry-level position to $57,130 annually for seasoned professionals or specialized career tracks.
Salary Based on Experience Experience Level
Experience is highly valued in a field like pharmacy technician. Here is a basic breakdown based on experience:
| Experience Level | Average Annual Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level (0-2 years) | $32,720 | $15.72 |
| Mid-Level (3-5 years) | $37,500 | $18.03 |
| Experienced (5-9 years) | $41,500 | $19.95 |
| Highly Experienced (10+ years) | $50,000 | $24.04 |
It's easy to see that a person with over ten years of experience as a pharmacy technician can make considerably higher than someone starting out in this field. This shows that with continued training and pursuing advanced pharmacy technician certification can help you quickly increase your earnings.
Impact of Certification
The second most critical factor affecting salary is certification. Most of the states require a pharmacy technician to be certified. Those who get certified obviously have higher pay scales. For example:
CPhT: Certified Pharmacy Technicians often make 10-15% more than their non-certified counterparts
Speciality Certifications: Pharmacy technicians with specialized certifications, such as in informatics or sterile compounding, could make even more money.
So, it’s quite evident that certified technicians typically earn more, and the online certification programs offered by reputable platforms like Quick Health Certified make it easier and more affordable to get certified.
Location-Based Salary Differences
Geography is a major factor in how much a pharmacy technician makes a year. Those working in a state like California or Washington tend to make more than those living in Mississippi or Alabama.
Here’s a look to get an idea of how to become a pharmacy technician in California and other states:
| State | Average Annual Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| California | $49,880 | $23.98 |
| Washington | $53,070 | $25.52 |
| Mississippi | $37,630 | $18.09 |
| Alabama | $36,190 | $17.40 |
But, what about the average salary?
It’s a little higher than the other settings. A pharmacy technician in a hospital may get an average salary of $49,810 per year, measurably more than those working in retail or grocery store pharmacies.
Type of Facility
The type of facility where a pharmacy technician works also affects their salary:
- Hospitals: The best-paid pharmacy technicians work at hospitals and are pegged at an average salary of around $49,810 annually.
- Retail Pharmacies: The annual average for technicians working in retail is about $40,170.
- Grocery Stores:Positions in grocery stores pay approximately $38,730 per annum.
Pharmacy technician salary in the US may depend on various factors including their experience, certification, and location. Knowing these factors can help you get the earning potential and make good career choices.
How Much Does a Pharmacy Technician Make an Hour?
Those who want to start their career as a pharmacy technician often begin by asking, what is a pharmacy technician? and how much does a pharmacy technician make in an hour? This depends on various aspects, such as location, certification status, and the nature of an employer. In this section, we look at hourly wages across states and compare certified vs. non-certified pharmacy technicians.
Hourly wages by State and Employer
Pharmacy technicians can have different wages depending on where they work across the United States.
For instance, certified pharmacy technicians normally enjoy a better wage compared to their non-certified technicians.
The average wage per hour for a certified pharmacy technician is usually $20.59 in the U.S., although it can be as low as $12.31 per hour or even as high as $34.43 per hour, depending on the state and employer.
Here’s a quick look at some of the highest-paying cities:
| City | Average Hourly Wage |
|---|---|
| Memphis, TN | $31.56 |
| New York, NY | $28.29 |
| Nashville, TN | $23.37 |
| Tempe, AZ | $21.79 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $21.53 |
Certified vs. Non-Certified Pharmacy Technicians Wages Per Hour
The level of certification is a major factor in finding how much pharmacy technician make. Certified employees usually attract good wages because of their special knowledge and skills.
For example, Walgreens rates certified senior pharmacy technicians between $18.25 and $24.00 per hour, while non-certified technicians could make a little less depending on their location and experience.
Certification can make a big difference in specific states. For example, pharmacy techs working in Florida typically earns more than those who are not certified. Not only that, but there’s a consistency in this trend across many states; hence, certification becomes a worthwhile investment to ensure maximum earning potential in this profession.
Conclusion
Anyone considering becoming a pharmacy technician should be aware of how much a pharmacy technician makes. As we have discussed, there are fluctuating wages based on pharmacy technician certification, their location, and the status of their employer. Certified pharmacy technicians do earn more usually, especially in states with a higher cost of living.
However, with options like online pharmacy technician certification programs and bootcamps now available on sites like Quick Health Certified, you can gain the skills you need quickly and affordably.
Certifications like these not only increase your chances of landing higher-paying job opportunities and greater career growth potential
FAQs
Pharmacy technicians' salaries vary based on location, certification, and
experience. On average, they earn between $12.31 and $34.43 per hour in the United
States.
The hourly wage for a pharmacy technician typically ranges from $12.31 to $34.43,
with an average of around $20.59 per hour.
Certified pharmacy technicians generally earn more, with an average hourly wage of
$20.59, but it can vary depending on the state and employer.
Annually, a pharmacy technician's salary can range from approximately $25,000 to
$71,000, depending on factors like certification and location.
The average salary for a pharmacy technician in the United States is about $20.59
per hour, which equates to roughly $42,000 annually.
Let's Meet
Please provide us your email address and we'll connect you with a member of our admission team.
Recent Posts
Quick Health Certified is Leading the Way in Healthcare Education
Healthcare Programs
- Patient Care Technician Bootcamp (CPCT)
- Clinical Medical Assistant Bootcamp (CCMA)
- Registered Dental Assistant Bootcamp (RDA)
- Pharmacy Technician Bootcamp (CPhT)
- Medical Coding Bootcamp (CPC-A)
- Phlebotomy Technician Bootcamp
- Surgical Technologist Bootcamp
- Sterile Processing Bootcamp
- Healthcare IT Bootcamp
Contact Us
430-562-8348
Chat