A pharmacy technician is a specially trained pharmacy staff member who works under the supervision of a pharmacist. Pharmacy techs work in a variety of environments, to include retail drug stores, mail-order supply companies and hospitals. Their responsibilities are varied, but generally they receive, review, manage, fill and bill prescriptions.
Job Outlook and Pay Scale for Pharmacy Technicians
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2010-11 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the career of pharmacy technician is expected to grow faster than most careers through 2018. As more of the country ages, assistance with filling prescription drug requests will continue to rise, and pharmacy technicians will be in high demand.
The average wage of a pharmacy tech is $13.32 an hour, and certified workers usually earn more than non-certified techs. Additionally, many employed techs earn above average non-salary benefits like vacation pay, health insurance and retirement savings.
