How Much Does a Pharmacy Technician Make?

If you’re considering working as a pharmacy technician, sometimes shortened to “pharm tech,” you might have questions about how much someone in this position earns. Here we share information about a pharmacy technician’s wages, including median pay, how average income can vary by state, and other factors that can impact earning potential.

Before we get into talking about how much money you can make or what may influence a pharmacy technician’s pay rate, it's important to understand what these healthcare professionals do.

What Does a Pharmacy Technician Do?

Pharmacy technicians have many daily responsibilities. They assist pharmacists with the filling and dispensing of prescription medications. They may also help organize inventory and reorder supplies, enter patient and insurance information into the pharmacy’s computer system, collect monies for prescriptions that are picked up or delivered, and process drug-related insurance claims.

Sometimes people confuse pharmacy technicians with pharmacists. While they do work together, they have different roles within a pharmacy. Pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of pharmacists, almost serving as their assistants.

For example, you will not typically be in charge of dispensing medications to pharmacy customers or offering them advice on the prescription drugs they are taking. It’s usually up to the pharmacist on duty to speak with them about the potential side effects of drugs and answer other questions they may have about their medications.

What Skills Does a Pharmacy Technician Need to Have?

Many skills can contribute to your success as a pharmacy technician. One is to be familiar with all the different prescription drugs that are available at a pharmacy. Since you may be handling certain drugs regularly, it's important to know as much as you can about them – even if you won’t typically be discussing them with customers.

It's also important to be trustworthy and responsible. A pharmacist depends on a pharmacy technician to measure and dispense medications properly. Additionally, since people picking up medicines may be sick or injured, it can be helpful to be warm, compassionate, and empathetic toward them. They may appreciate your kindness during a difficult time.

What Kind of Education Does a Pharmacy Technician Need?

To work as a pharmacy technician, you typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. In addition, many individuals complete career training to prepare for the position. Most states also regulate the pharmacy technician role, which can include passing an exam and earning certification.

While you don't need an associate degree to become a pharmacy technician, earning one can make you a more attractive candidate to employers. Depending on the program, you may even be able to take your pharmacy technician courses online, which can make it easier to fit earning a degree into an already busy schedule.

An online pharmacy technician education program can teach you:

• The pharmaceutical and medical terminology you'll need to know
• How to keep accurate records in a medical setting
• How to make pharmaceutical calculations
• How to prepare a health insurance claim
• How privacy laws and ethics affect pharmacy technicians

Check with your state to learn how much education and/or training is needed to start a career as a pharmacy technician. No matter what your state requires, a degree program can provide the knowledge and skills required to perform typical pharmacy technician duties. If you desire a higher-level healthcare role in the future, a degree may be required to advance to this type of position.

What Is a Pharmacy Technician’s Schedule Like?

It's almost time to discuss wages for pharmacy technicians. But before we do, there's one other thing to keep in mind when considering this career path. It is your schedule.

Working as a pharmacy technician isn’t always a 9-to-5 job. Some pharmacies may keep standard business hours, but others may offer extended hours, and there are even some that stay open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year to provide people with the prescriptions they need.

As a pharmacy technician, you might be asked to work:

• A day shift that starts in the morning or mid-morning and ends in the early afternoon or evening, similar to typical daytime business hours.
• A night shift if your pharmacy is open 24/7, such as those found in hospitals and other inpatient settings.
• Weekends or holidays since people still need their medicines even if other businesses take the day off.

The bottom line is that your schedule may depend on your work setting as a pharmacy tech. It may be helpful to simply prepare for the possibility of working outside of the usual business hours if you choose to pursue this healthcare role.

How Much Does a Pharmacy Technician Make?

Now that we’re clear about what a pharmacy technician is, it’s time to dive into the topic of income. Here’s what you need to know about pharmacy technician pay, along with factors that can affect their wages.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the national median wage for pharmacy technicians in May 2023 was $40,300 per year, or $19.37 per hour.² This would equate to a monthly income of roughly $3,062 for pharm techs employed full-time. Those working part-time would earn less.

As the median, one-half of all pharmacy techs nationally made more than this amount and the other half made less. The lowest 10% of earners in this role (lowest decile) had annual incomes below $32,720,² which may reflect work experience that is closer to entry-level.

UMA graduates in the 2021-2022 cohort of its Pharmacy Technician associate degree program reported to UMA that they earned a median hourly wage that is approximately at or slightly higher than the BLS’s lowest decile. Earnings information was typically obtained by a self-report from the graduate, and occasionally from the graduate’s employer or other sources.³

It's impossible to predict exactly how much a person will make as a pharmacy technician. As mentioned earlier, it depends on many factors. One of those factors is the geographic location in which you work.

Pharmacy Technician Wages by State

A pharmacy technician’s wages can vary based on the state in which they work. Here is a state-by-state breakdown of a pharm tech’s mean (average) annual pay as of May 2023.⁴

State	Mean Salary	State	Mean Salary
Alabama	$37,030	Nebraska	$40,610
Alaska	$49,810	Nevada	$44,850
Arizona	$45,260	New Hampshire	$42,540
Arkansas	$37,170	New Jersey	$42,120
California	$55,710	New Mexico	$42,900
Colorado	$47,150	New York	$43,760
Connecticut	$43,220	North Carolina	$40,680
Delaware	$42,080	North Dakota	$45870
Florida	$41,620	Ohio	$41,150
Georgia	$39,740	Oklahoma	$37,410
Hawaii	$44,260	Oregon	$50,440
Idaho	$44,060	Pennsylvania	$39,250
Illinois	$42,850	Rhode Island	$42,360
Indiana	$40,640	South Carolina	$40,100
Iowa	$41,080	South Dakota	$41,140
Kansas	$39,820	Tennessee	$38,940
Kentucky	$38,570	Texas	$42,990
Louisiana	$39,540	Utah	$45,400
Maine	$40,260	Vermont	$41,360
Maryland	$42,170	Virginia	$41,650
Massachusetts	$46,450	Washington	$55,390
Michigan	$40,960	West Virginia	$37,910
Minnesota	$46,430	Wisconsin	$41,510
Mississippi	$38,260	Wyoming	$43,380
Missouri	$39,960	Puerto Rico	$29,760
Montana	$43,270	Washington D.C.	$54,030

Other Factors That Can Impact a Pharmacy Technician’s Wages

Several additional factors can impact the rate of pay for a pharmacy tech. They include:⁵

• Amount of experience
• Skill sets, particularly those that are in demand
• Working in an urban versus rural setting

Workplace setting can also impact wages for a pharmacy technician. For example, the median annual wage for pharmacy techs working in hospitals is $47,940 annually, while those working in pharmacies and other drug retailers earn a median wage of $37,370 per year according to the BLS.²

If you want to get a better idea of how much pharmacy technicians in your specific area are paid, do some research. Look at job descriptions for pharmacy technicians in your community and see how much those employers are offering in terms of compensation.

Pharmacy Technician Job Outlook

If you've been considering a job as a pharmacy technician, now may be the time to pursue this career path.

Pharmacy technician jobs are expected to grow by 6% between 2022 and 2032, which would result in the creation of 44,900 new job openings annually.⁶ Some of the reasons cited for this average growth rate are an aging population and pharmacists being involved in more patient care activities, increasing the need for assistance from pharm techs.

Becoming a Pharmacy Technician

Now that you know the answer to the question “How much does a pharmacy technician make?” you may decide to pursue this healthcare role. As a pharmacy technician, you have the opportunity to make a real difference in people's lives. You'll be able to communicate with people regularly and put a smile on their faces.

To become a pharmacy technician, you usually need a high school diploma or equivalent. You may learn some job duties through on-the-job training, or you could complete a postsecondary education program before starting in the role. Most states and many employers have some type of regulatory requirements for pharmacy technicians, which can include passing a certification exam or the completion of a formal education or training program.¹

Ready to Pursue Training for a Career as a Pharmacy Technician?

If this healthcare role sounds like one you would like to pursue, UMA offers a Health Sciences – Pharmacy Technician Associate Degree program. This program is available mostly online, also including a 180-hour on-site externship that provides the ability to learn pharm tech duties within a healthcare facility.

Topics covered in this program include computer applications, pharmacology, pharmaceutical calculations, and drug or dosage interactions. Completion of UMA’s Health Sciences – Pharmacy Technician Associate Degree program also prepares learners to sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE), if eligible.

UMA is a nonprofit healthcare educational institution committed to not just providing students the education and skills needed to work in their desired roles, but also to helping our grads (or soon-to-be-grads) overcome career-related challenges. We can assist with your job search, hold mock interviews, and strive to connect our grads with our trusted employer partners.

Learn more about UMA to discover what we can do for you. You can also contact us to discuss your specific situation, career goals, and needs. Our caring and compassionate staff is here to help in any way they can.