Category: Pharmacy Technician Job Statistics: These Careers are in Demand

Pharmacy technician jobs are in high demand around the country, and we’re not just saying that. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), the choice to become a pharmacy technician will put you on a high-demand career path.

BLS is a government organization that offers unbiased data about different careers. According to their pharmacy technician job statistics, there were about 372,500 pharmacy technician jobs across the country in 2014. By 2024, the number is expected to go up by 9%, which is considered faster than average.

BLS also reports that the median pharmacy technician salary in 2015 was $30,410 per year. That works out to $14.62 per hour. The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) offers similar statistics. This is the board that offers the pharmacy technician certification, which you must pass in order to get an entry-level job as a pharmacy technician. PTCB breaks down the employment numbers a bit further, sharing how much you can make as a pharmacy technician in different settings. For example, in a hospital the median annual salary for a technician is currently $35,280. In a department store, the median salary is $29,220, and in a pharmacy or drugstore the median is $28,360.

Depending upon what part of the country you work in and how much experience you have, your expected salary could be more or less. The top 10% of pharmacy technicians earn an average of $45,030 per year.

And again, more of these jobs are popping up every year. In fact, US News has listed pharmacy technicians in their rankings of the Best Jobs. They point out that the field is growing in part because Baby Boomers are aging and life expectancies are getting longer.

If you want to take a look at current pharmacy technician jobs available in your area, PTCB shares two resources for doing just that. Both the National Pharmacy Technician Association and the American Association of Pharmacy Technicians have online career centers that allow you to look for jobs in your area.

Ready to Become a Pharmacy Technician?

If you’re excited about the career possibilities offered by becoming a pharmacy technician, contact Allied Prep to learn more about our online pharmacy technician school. In just eighteen weeks, you can complete the necessary training to pass the pharmacy technician exam and qualify for entry-level positions at hospitals, doctor’s offices, pharmacies.