Healthcare Support Quick Entry

Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy Technicians

SOC 29-2052

$40,300
Median Pay / yr
4%
Growing
~42K
Openings / yr
3-12 months
Time to Entry

How Much Does a Pharmacy Technician Make?

The national median salary for a Pharmacy Technician is $40,300 per year ($19.38/hour), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024 data).

That's 38% below the national median salary of $65,470 for all occupations.

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How to Become a Pharmacy Technician

Education Required
HS diploma
Typical Entry Path
1
HS diploma
2
OJT or certification program (months)
Required Licenses & Certifications

PTCB or ExCPT certification; state registration

Time to Entry-Level
3-12 months

This career has relatively low barriers to entry compared to similar roles.

Pharmacy Technician Job Outlook

Faster than avg — the BLS projects 4% growth from 2024 to 2034.

That's faster than the average across all occupations (4%).

About 42,300 positions are expected to open annually, from both new roles and replacement needs.

Prescription volume; expanding tech roles

What It's Like to Work as a Pharmacy Technician

Physical Demands
Low-Moderate

This is primarily desk-based or low-physical-effort work.

Remote Work
Very Low

This role typically requires in-person work at a specific location.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Career data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024-34 projections (released August 2025). Salary data: BLS OEWS May 2024.

View on BLS.gov