Pharmacy technicians are a critical part of the healthcare industry. They help pharmacists fill prescriptions, perform some lab tests, and answer questions about medications. Pharmacy technicians are trained to work with medical equipment, but they do not have the same education as pharmacists.

The average pharmacy technician salary in the United States is $33,000 per year. The highest-paid pharmacy technicians make more than $60,000 per year. Most pharmacy technicians work full time for more than 40 hours per week and receive paid sick leave and vacation days.

A pharmacy technician’s salary can vary depending on their experience, certification, and location.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for a pharmacist was $111,390 in 2017. Pharmacy technicians earn a median yearly income of between $30,000 and $48,000 per year.

The BLS reports that the average hourly wage for pharmacy technicians was $23.34 as of May 2018. Pharmacy technicians working in hospitals made an average hourly wage of $26.09 while those employed by retail pharmacies earned an average hourly wage of $24.40 per hour.

Pharmacy Technician Highest Salary

The best Pharmacy Technician jobs can pay up to $132,500 per year.

Pharmacy technicians work under pharmacists, fulfilling several important duties. They are responsible for distributing prescription and nonprescription medications and providing patients with important information regarding their medicine. They may also be responsible for putting orders together, supervising other staff members, and managing the dispensary.

A pharmacy technician is a health care provider in the pharmaceutical industry. They work alongside the pharmacist to help ensure that patients are given the correct medications and that they know how to use them safely and effectively.

High Paying Pharmacy Technician Jobs

• Clinical Pharmacy SpecialistSalary range: $35,000-$132,500 per yearA clinical pharmacy specialist works as part of a patient care team and is responsible for helping patients with their pharmaceutical, or medication, needs. As a clinical pharmacy specialist, your job duties include filling drug prescriptions, analyzing potential drug interactions, and educating patients on safe use of their medications. You may also provide basic care to patients, resolve drug interaction issues, and ensure that all policies and procedures related to dispensing medication are followed.
• Pharmacist SpecialistSalary range: $58,500-$131,000 per yearThe majority of Pharmacist Specialist salaries across the United States currently range between $58,500 (25th percentile) and $131,000 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Pharmacist Specialist job market in the United States is moderately active, with several companies hiring.
• Pharmacy Informatics SpecialistSalary range: $49,500-$111,500 per yearThe majority of Pharmacy Informatics Specialist salaries across the United States currently range between $49,500 (25th percentile) and $111,500 (75th percentile) annually. This large range of salary potential suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay depending on skill level, location and years of experience. Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Pharmacy Informatics Specialist job market in the United States is not very active as few companies are currently hiring for this role. You can try exploring related titles to find jobs with more active opportunities.
• Pharmacy Technician Program DirectorSalary range: $36,000-$58,000 per yearThe majority of Pharmacy Technician Program Director salaries across the United States currently range between $36,000 (25th percentile) and $58,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Pharmacy Technician Program Director job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
• Pharmacist AssistantSalary range: $29,000-$50,000 per yearA pharmacist assistant provides administrative support to a pharmacist or pharmacy technician. As a pharmacist assistant, your job duties include taking prescriptions, preparing orders and labels under the supervision of the pharmacist, handling customer service issues, and performing clerical tasks, such as answering phones, scheduling meetings, and filing paperwork. You also ensure that inventory is stocked and report to the pharmacist for placing orders.
• Senior Pharmacy TechnicianSalary range: $35,500-$47,000 per yearA senior pharmacy technician supervises other pharmacy technicians to ensure they are labeling and dispensing medications accurately. As a senior pharmacy technician, you perform many of the same duties as other pharmacy technicians, but have earned the senior designation based on your more extensive knowledge and years of experience. Your job duties include contacting doctors and patients to fill prescriptions; helping pharmacists compile, check, and label medications; and answering customer questions about dosage and side effects. You may also run the register and perform light housekeeping around the facility.
• Hospital Pharmacy TechnicianSalary range: $35,000-$46,500 per yearA hospital pharmacy technician fills prescriptions for patients admitted to the hospital. Typical duties include preparing medicines, stocking supplies, and collecting patient information. They may also create compound medications, IV fluids, and other mixtures for patients. Hospital pharmacy technicians do not have any direct contact with patients, and they work under the direct supervision of the lead pharmacist. Retail pharmacy technicians do much of the same work, but hospital pharmacy technicians are expected to have a better understanding of prescriptions and medical terminology.
• Lead Pharmacy TechnicianSalary range: $32,500-$42,000 per yearAs a lead pharmacy technician, your job is to fill prescriptions, decide whether it is appropriate to prepare an alternate medication, manage the staffing schedule, and order new inventory. You also work with a compounding record to create a paper trail for mixed medicines. Other duties include checking and filling floor stock, answering the telephone, discussing options with patients, entering medication orders into a computer system, verifying insurance, and training other technicians. This is a senior position, but most lead pharmacy technicians still report to a director who acts as the head of the pharmacy. You are expected to remain up-to-date with knowledge of drugs, the quantities usually dispensed, and any generic equivalents.
• Pharmacy Technician Per DiemSalary range: $33,500-$42,000 per yearThe majority of Pharmacy Technician Per Diem salaries across the United States currently range between $33,500 (25th percentile) and $42,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Pharmacy Technician Per Diem job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
• Compounding Pharmacy TechnicianSalary range: $32,500-$41,500 per yearCompounding pharmacy technicians mix various components to create specific formulations of medicines for patients when the available drugs on the market do not suit the patients’ needs. For example, a patient may be allergic to individual elements within a drug; a compounding pharmacy technician can create a new version of that medication without those elements. Or an elderly patient may not be able to take a medication in pill form, so a compounding pharmacy technician will make the drug into liquid form. Other responsibilities for this position may include working at the front desk to greet customers, stocking and updating inventory, and resolving billing issues.
• Clinical Pharmacy TechnicianSalary range: $33,500-$41,500 per yearA clinical pharmacy technician is a liaison between patients and other pharmacy clinicians. As a technician, your job duties are to ensure that the contact between the pharmacy staff and patients is efficient and that the patients receive the correct prescriptions and advice on their care. You may also perform clerical duties such as keeping records, answering phones, and providing customer services, allowing the clinicians to focus on their job.
• Pharmacy Technician RetailSalary range: $26,500-$39,000 per yearThe majority of Pharmacy Technician Retail salaries across the United States currently range between $26,500 (25th percentile) and $39,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Pharmacy Technician Retail job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
• Pharmacy Technician AssistantSalary range: $28,500-$38,500 per yearThe majority of Pharmacy Technician Assistant salaries across the United States currently range between $28,500 (25th percentile) and $38,500 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Pharmacy Technician Assistant job market in the United States is moderately active, with several companies hiring.
• Pharmacy SpecialistSalary range: $27,500-$38,000 per yearA pharmacy specialist prepares medications in a hospital, pharmacy, medical clinic, or healthcare facility. In this career, your duties include making sure that patients under your care are taking the proper dosage and understand the side-effects and correct usage of the drug or drugs that they are using. You may work with other staff members to ensure that they also understand dosage, interactions, and regulations for the pharmaceutical products that they are dispensing. Most pharmacy specialists are qualified pharmacists who have several years of work experience. That means you need a pharmacy degree and a firm grasp on the changing trends within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Compounding TechnicianSalary range: $31,500-$38,000 per yearThe majority of Compounding Technician salaries across the United States currently range between $31,500 (25th percentile) and $38,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Compounding Technician job market in the United States is moderately active, with several companies hiring.
• Certified Pharmacy TechnicianSalary range: $29,500-$37,500 per yearA certified pharmacy technician works in a pharmacy or hospital to prepare and dispense prescription medications to patients. They work with a pharmacist to stock, organize, and label medications. They may use specialized pharmacy software solutions to receive and manage medications, which enables them to fill prescriptions while reducing labeling errors. Other duties include taking customer information and processing payments and insurance claims.
• Registered Pharmacy TechnicianSalary range: $28,000-$35,500 per yearThe majority of Registered Pharmacy Technician salaries across the United States currently range between $28,000 (25th percentile) and $35,500 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Registered Pharmacy Technician job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
• Compounding AssistantSalary range: $29,000-$35,000 per yearThe majority of Compounding Assistant salaries across the United States currently range between $29,000 (25th percentile) and $35,000 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Compounding Assistant job market in the United States is somewhat active, with a few companies hiring.
• Pharmacy AssociateSalary range: $25,000-$33,500 per yearThe majority of Pharmacy Associate salaries across the United States currently range between $25,000 (25th percentile) and $33,500 (75th percentile) annually. This moderate range of salaries suggests pay in this role will be consistent, regardless skill level, location and years of experience, though some advancement is possible. Based on recent job postings on ZipRecruiter, the Pharmacy Associate job market in the United States is very active, with many companies hiring.
• Pharmacy Technician TraineeSalary range: $27,000-$33,000 per yearAs a pharmacy technician trainee, your job duties are to assist pharmacists in preparing and distributing medications, to do inventory and restock items in the pharmacy, and to handle billing and insurance documentation. Your primary responsibilities are to help the pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who supervise you with a variety of tasks, from answering patient questions to sorting medications to data entry. To be a good pharmacy technician trainee, you need excellent interpersonal skills, strong organizational skills, and an understanding of basic medical terminology including generic and brand names of prescription medications.
• Pharmacy ClerkSalary range: $24,500-$33,000 per yearPharmacy clerks typically work at the front register of a pharmacy, processing prescriptions and insurance information from customers and handling payment when the customer picks up their medication. They also stock shelves, record inventory from shipments, maintain patient files, and tidy up the pharmacy. As a pharmacy clerk, you are not allowed to fill prescriptions or mix medications.