Healthcare · Career brief

Pharmacy Technicians

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Pharmacy Technicians at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$45,750

Lower national median pay

2025 national median. Bottom quarter for pay among careers on ChooseField.

2Demand

6.4%

Steady projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Top quarter for growth among careers on ChooseField.

3Openings

44,700

Lots of annual openings

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Top quarter for openings among careers on ChooseField.

4Route in

High school

A four-year degree is not the typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Structured / detail

Accuracy, process, and organized information matter

Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

Long periods of standing are part of the normal workday.

ChooseField take

The strongest national signals are growth and opening volume; each ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if structured, detail-oriented work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a high-school entry path. Main tradeoff: Long periods of standing are part of the normal workday.

Before choosing, compare:Opticians, Dispensing Hearing Aid Specialists Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Pharmacy Technicians with another field Explore rankings in Healthcare Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$45,750

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

6.4%employment growth44,700openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent; More than one month and up to 12 months of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

471,200

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Pharmacy technicians (29-2052).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
Operate cash registers to accept payment from customers.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

Long periods of standing are part of the normal workday.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Getting Information4.3
Working with Computers4.2
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards4.1
Processing Information4.1
Documenting/Recording Information4.1

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Conventional7.0
Realistic4.2
Social3.3
Investigative3.0
Enterprising2.5
Artistic1.0

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Medicine and Dentistry Mathematics Computers and Electronics Law and Government

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Try an approved first-aid, CPR, patient-care, or health-science workshop. Use supervised training or simulation only.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Pay and demand: reading the benchmark

The pay and outlook figures describe Pharmacy technicians nationally. They do not establish the salary or number of vacancies available in your area.

Median pay is the middle wage across workers, not a starting offer. Projected openings include replacements as well as growth; neither measure predicts an individual worker's job security.

Before choosing a program

O*NET lists Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking among this occupation's skills. Ask a program to show the assignments, supervised practice, and assessment that develop these skills. Compare those examples with local job descriptions.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

Can I enter this occupation without related work experience?

BLS does not assign a related-experience requirement to the occupation. Employers may still ask for placements, supervised practice, a portfolio, or experience with particular tools. Check entry-level vacancies separately from experienced roles.

What should I check before paying for training?

Get the full prerequisite and completion timeline, total cost, placement arrangements, and any licensing eligibility in writing. Ask local employers whether they hire graduates from the route you are considering and whether paid training is available.

Adjacent options