Average Salary of a Pharmacy Technician in 2022
If you plan to become a Pharmacy Technician, you are likely wondering about the Average Salary of a Pharmacy Technician. In 2022, this career has become a highly sought-after profession. This is due to the stability it offers and the industry growing in leaps and bounds. Keeping this in mind, let us look into some of the vital statistics about the salary you can expect if you work in this field today and the prospect of this profession in the future.
How Much Do Pharmacy Technicians Make?
On average, a Pharmacy Technician will earn an average compensation of $36,800, according to statistics from February 2022. However, the typical salary range falls between $33,200 and $41,000. In addition, Pharmacy Technicians may get annual raises. Many receive pay boosts as they gain more experience, training, and move up at their pharmacy. Also, different types of pharmacy technician jobs may pay wages that differ from the average. For example, those working in a hospital versus a standalone pharmacy may expect a different hourly wage.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Pharmacy Technician?
It does not take a very long time to become a Pharmacy Technician. Most of the courses vary between four months to a year. Some online courses can be completed within your own timeframe – as short as eight weeks! However, courses accredited by ASHP require a specific number of hours to be spent doing class lab work as well as an externship.
What is the Job Outlook for Pharmacy Technicians?
The employment opportunity of a Pharmacy Technician is expected to grow faster than the National Average at about 7% between the years 2018 and 2028. There are as many as 415,310 Pharmacy Technician positions present throughout the nation. Additionally, the United States expects to see an average of 37,500 jobs opening annually. This growth of employment opportunities follows the advancement of medicine. Markedly, the pharmaceutical sector handles the consistent release of new treatments and medications. Further, with each generation larger than the next, our elderly population is larger than ever before. As we age we often rely on more medications. Thus, pharmacies have seen a growth of new clients.
Pharmacists will have to rely heavily on the Pharmacy Technicians to do specific jobs. Duties include preparing various kinds of drugs, collecting relevant patient information, and helping fellow team members handle busy periods. Given demand, inflation, and other factors, experts predict the average salary of a Pharmacy Technician to grow with the industry.
What Kind of Skills Do I Need?
There are six essential skills that a Pharmacy Technician should have. To learn about these skills and what the position entails, continue reading below:
Mathematically Proficient:
Proficiency in Mathematics is essential as you fill prescriptions and measure pharmaceuticals. Having the correct measurements is vital as a mistake may seriously endanger someone’s life. While calculators are always available, being able to perform mental math is vital to keep the pharmacy moving and your patrons safe. Math skills also come in handy with several skills. You can expect to utilize these skills while stocking, ordering prescriptions, controlling inventory, and checking patrons out. To help build these skills, most Pharmacy Technology programs will include a math refresher.
Good Communication:
Pharmacy Technicians have to talk with Pharmacists and patrons. Therefore, they must be good with both verbal and written communication. Good communication is key to providing good customer service. Further, you need to be able to clearly communicate what you need when ordering and packaging medications to ensure the safety of all.
Organizational Skills:
As a Pharmacy Technician, you must ensure that the prescriptions are kept correctly, maintain proper records, take care of the inventory, and appropriately pack and label medications. These functions are essential to the position. An incorrectly labelled medication can have serious and deadly consequences. Incorrect records can cause trouble for patients trying to get a refill or retrieving their records for new doctors. In addition, incorrectly recorded inventory can result in patrons being unable to receive vital medications.
Where Can I Get Licensed?
There are different ways you can obtain a license as a Pharmacy Technician. You can find a job first and complete an employer-based certification program. For this, you will often have to complete their course within 180 days of joining the company. You can also complete Pharmacy Training prior to seeking employment. Whether you seek certification before or after finding a position will often impact your pay, hours, and responsibilities. As with any position, education increases the average salary of a Pharmacy Technician. Seeking education first results in a higher starting pay, more guaranteed hours, and less mandated training time.
What Are the Requirements to Start Working as a Tech?
The usual requirements to become a Pharmacy Technician are as follows:
- High School Diploma or equivalent,
- Computer proficiency, and
- Customer service experience.
