Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Paying close attention to accuracy, quality, instructions, and small but important details.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Understanding customer needs and providing helpful, professional service.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Pharmacy Technician Pharmacy technicians spend much of their time interacting with customers. Pharmacy technicians typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and learn their duties through on-the-job
Education
program in pharmacy technology. Most states regulate pharmacy technicians, which is a process that may require passing an exam or completing a formal education or training program. Education and Training Pharmacy technicians usually need at least a high school diploma or equivalent to enter the occupation. Some workers learn their duties through on-the-job training. Training periods vary in length but typically last less than 1 year. During this time, pharmacy technicians learn how to safely perform the tasks required of the job, often while working alongside more experienced technicians. Other pharmacy technicians enter the occupation after completing postsecondary education programs in pharmacy technology. These programs are usually offered by vocational schools or community colleges. Many programs award a certificate after 1 year or less, although some programs last longer and lead to an associate’s degree. They cover a variety of subjects, such as arithmetic used in pharmacies, recordkeeping, ways of dispensing medications, and pharmacy law and ethics. Technicians also learn the names, uses, and doses of medications. Most programs also include clinical experience opportunities, in which students gain hands-on experience in a pharmacy.
Training
, or they may complete a postsecondary
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Most states regulate pharmacy technicians in some way. Information on state licensing board requirements is available from CareerOneStop. Requirements for pharmacy technicians in the states that regulate them typically include some or all of the following: High school diploma or equivalent Formal education or training program Exam Fees Continuing education Criminal background check Minimum age requirement Some states and employers require pharmacy technicians to be certified. Even where it is not required, certification may make it easier to get a job. Employers of pharmacy technicians may pay for employees to take the certification exam. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop.
Your Next Step
Review training, certifications, apprenticeships, or employer-based preparation that may support entry into this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. About 44,700 openings for pharmacy technicians are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment Demand for pharmacy services is expected to increase because of the large number of older people, who typically use more prescription medicines than younger people. The growing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, in the general population also will lead to increased demand for prescription medications. In addition, pharmacy technicians will be needed to take on a greater role in pharmacy operations because pharmacists are increasingly performing more patient care activities. Technicians will need to perform tasks—such as collecting patient information, handling prescription transfers, and verifying the work of other technicians—that were previously done by pharmacists. Pharmacy Technicians Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Health technologists and technicians 7% Pharmacy technicians 6% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Pharmacy Technicians Do
Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists dispense medications, manage inventory, and provide customer service in various healthcare settings.
Duties
Pharmacy technicians typically do the following:
- Collect information needed to fill a prescription from patients or health professionals
- Measure amounts of medication for prescriptions
- Package and label prescriptions
- Organize inventory and alert pharmacists to any shortages of medications or supplies
- Accept payment for prescriptions and process insurance claims
- Enter patient information, including any prescriptions taken, into a computer system
- Answer phone calls from customers
- Arrange for customers to speak with pharmacists if customers have questions about medications or health matters
Pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of pharmacists, who must review prescriptions before they are dispensed to patients. In most states, technicians can compound or mix some medications and call physicians for prescription refill authorizations. Technicians also may need to operate automated dispensing equipment when filling prescription orders.
Pharmacy technicians working in hospitals and other medical facilities prepare a greater variety of medications, such as intravenous medications. They may make rounds in the hospital, dispensing medications to patients.
In many states, trained technicians also can administer vaccines under pharmacist supervision.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Pharmacy technicians held about 471,200 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of pharmacy technicians were as follows:
| Pharmacies and drug retailers | 51% |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 18 |
| General merchandise retailers | 9 |
| Grocery and specialty food retailers | 8 |
| Ambulatory healthcare services | 5 |
Pharmacy technicians spend most of the workday standing or walking. They usually work as part of a team that includes other pharmacy staff and healthcare providers.
Work Schedules
Most pharmacy technicians work full time, but part-time work is common. Pharmacies may be open at all hours. Therefore, pharmacy technicians may have to work nights or weekends.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Communication skills. Pharmacy technicians must communicate clearly with pharmacists and doctors when taking prescription orders. When speaking with customers, technicians must listen carefully to understand customers’ needs and determine if they need to speak with a pharmacist. Customer-service skills. Pharmacy technicians spend much of their time interacting with customers, so it is important for them to be helpful and polite. Detail oriented. Serious health problems can result from mistakes in filling prescriptions. Although the pharmacist is responsible for ensuring the safety of all medications dispensed, pharmacy technicians should pay attention to detail so that complications are avoided. Interpersonal skills. Pharmacy technicians should be empathetic and understanding when dealing with patients who may be sick or in pain. They also must work well with other pharmacy staff and healthcare providers. Math skills. Pharmacy technicians need to understand the math concepts used in pharmacies, including calculating dosages or compounding medications. Organizational skills. Working as a pharmacy technician involves balancing a variety of responsibilities. Pharmacy technicians need good organizational skills to complete the work delegated by pharmacists while at the same time providing service to customers or patients. Advancement With additional training and experience, pharmacy technicians can advance to specialized roles. These may include working as a sterile compounding technician to prepare injectable medications in a clean room environment, as a nuclear pharmacy technician to handle radioactive materials for medical imaging, or as a medication history technician to collect and verify patient medication information. Some experienced technicians become trainers for new staff or take on supervisory responsibilities in pharmacy operations.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about pharmacy technicians by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Take the Next Step
Explore Training Options
Review training, certifications, apprenticeships, or employer-based preparation that may support entry into this career.
Explore pathway →Hear From ED
Use the guided career counseling experience to connect this career to your goals, skills and education preferences.
Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.