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If you’re considering a career in pharmacy technology, you’re probably wondering how much money you can expect to earn. Here’s a look at what pharmacy techs make in the United States.
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Introduction
In order to become a pharmacy technician, one must first complete a certified training program and then pass a national certification exam. Although not required in all states, certification may give you an edge when applying for jobs and may be required by some employers. The average annual salary for pharmacy technicians was $33,950 in 2017, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Here is some additional information about this profession, including job duties and other important factors that can affect earnings.
How Much Do Pharmacy Techs Make in Different Settings?
Pharmacy technicians play an important role in the day-to-day operations of a pharmacy. They are responsible for tasks such as counting pills, measuring medication, and preparing prescriptions for patients. Pharmacy techs can work in a variety of settings, including retail pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics. So, how much do pharmacy techs make in different settings?
Inpatient vs. outpatient
Inpatient pharmacy techs work in hospitals, while outpatient pharmacy techs work in doctor’s offices, clinics, and even retail settings. The duties of each are quite different, but both types of pharmacy techs play an important role in the healthcare system.
Inpatient pharmacy techs handle medications for patients who are hospitalized. They dispense prescription medications and sometimes prepare IV medications. In addition, inpatient pharmacy techs may be responsible for ordering medications, maintaining inventories, and keeping track of medication expiration dates.
Outpatient pharmacy techs dispense prescription medications to patients who are not hospitalized. They also provide customer service, answer patient questions, and process insurance claims. In some cases, outpatient pharmacy techs may also provide immunizations or other injections.
Retail vs. hospital
If you’re considering pharmacy technician training and wondering how much you could potentially earn in this career, it’s important to understand that earnings can vary depending on the type of employer. Generally speaking, retail pharmacy techs earn slightly less than those working in hospitals or other medical settings, but there are a number of factors that can affect earnings in each setting.
In a retail setting, pharmacy techs usually work on an hourly basis and may have the opportunity to earn overtime pay for working additional hours. Pay can also be influenced by the size and location of the store, as well as the type of drugs dispensed. Hospital pharmacy techs, on the other hand, are more likely to be salaried employees with set hours. Their pay is also generally higher than retail techs because of the increased responsibility they have in handling controlled substances and other medications.
City vs. rural
Pharmacy technicians working in cities typically make more money than those working in rural areas. This is due to the higher cost of living in cities, as well as the greater number of pharmacies and pharmacists per capita. In addition, drug stores in urban areas are often open longer hours and have more customers, making them more likely to need extra staffing.
How Much Do Pharmacy Techs Make in Different Regions?
Pharmacy techs are in high demand across the United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be a 7% growth in pharmacy technician jobs from 2018 to 2028. So, how much do pharmacy techs make? It depends on the region. In this article, we will discuss how much pharmacy techs make in different regions across the United States.
Northeast
In the Northeast, pharmacy techs make an average salary of $36,750. The top earners in this region make $46,920, while the lowest-paid workers earn $26,560.
Southeast
In the Southeast region of the United States, pharmacy technicians make an average salary of $32,780 per year. The range in this region is $29,960 to $36,560 per year.
Midwest
The average salary for a pharmacy technician in the Midwest region is $17.31 per hour, or $35,910 per year. Salary ranges can vary greatly depending on the city and state you work in, as well as the type of employer you work for. For example, pharmacy technicians in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area earn an average of $19.54 per hour, while those in the Detroit area earn an average of $14.82 per hour.
Southwest
In the Southwest region of the United States, pharmacy techs earn an average hourly wage of $15.32. This equates to an annual salary of $31,787 for full-time pharmacy techs.
West
In the West region of the United States, pharmacy techs make an average hourly wage of $17.64. The top 10% of earners make more than $24.48 per hour, while the bottom 10% make less than $11.90 per hour.
How Much Do Pharmacy Techs Make in Different Positions?
Pharmacy techs usually make between $9 and $15 per hour. The median wage for a pharmacy tech is $12 per hour. The top 10% of pharmacy techs make more than $19 per hour, and the bottom 10% make less than $9 per hour. There are a few factors that can affect how much a pharmacy tech makes. Let’s take a look.
Entry-level
Entry-level pharmacy techs can expect to earn about $9.50 per hour. With experience, pharmacy techs can earn up to $14 per hour. For those with advanced training or certification, salaries can be even higher, sometimes reaching $17 or $18 per hour.
Experienced
As an experienced pharmacy technician, you can expect to make a little more than those who are just starting out. The median wage for experienced pharmacy techs is $15.27 per hour, or $31,750 per year. The top 10% in this category make more than $19. 17 per hour, or $39,810 per year, while the bottom 10% make less than $11.72 per hour, or $24,330 per year.
Management
The average Pharmacy Technician in a management position makes $21.37 per hour, or $44,610 per year. This is slightly higher than the average for all management positions, which is $21.12 per hour, or $43,930 per year.
How Much Do Pharmacy Techs Make in Different Fields?
Clinical vs. non-clinical
Clinical pharmacy technicians work in hospitals or other medical settings, while non-clinical pharmacy technicians work in retail pharmacies. Clinical pharmacy technicians may have more responsibility and may be paid more than non-clinical pharmacy technicians.
Specialty vs. general
Specialty vs. general
The average salary for a pharmacy technician in the United States is about $32,000 per year, but there is a lot of variation depending on what field you specialize in. For example, techs who work in hospitals tend to make more than those who work in retail pharmacies. Here is a breakdown of average salaries by field:
-Hospitals: $36,000
-Retail pharmacies: $32,000
-Clinics: $31,000
-Nursing homes: $30,000
There are also differences between those who work in specialty fields and those who work in general pharmacy settings. Specialty field techs make about $33,000 per year on average, while those in general settings make about $31,000.
Conclusion
In conclusion, pharmacy techs make a good wage. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the median hourly wage for pharmacy techs at $15.86. However, experience and location can greatly affect this number. The bottom ten percent of techs earn less than $9.78 per hour, while the top ten percent earn more than $24.08 per hour.
