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How Much Does a Pharmaceutical Tech Make?
You may be asking yourself, how much does a pharmaceutical tech make? The answer may surprise you. Pharmaceutical techs make a very good salary.
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Introduction
A pharmaceutical technician is a trained professional who works under the supervision of a pharmacist to help prepare and dispense medication. They are an important part of the healthcare team, and their work can have a direct impact on patient care.
While the job duties of a pharmaceutical technician can vary depending on their employer and location, they typically include tasks such as measuring and mixing ingredients to prepare medications, counting pills, and labeling bottles. They may also be responsible for answering customer questions, maintaining stock levels, and keeping records.
Pharmaceutical technicians typically need to have a high school diploma or equivalent, although some jobs may require postsecondary education or certification. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for pharmaceutical technicians was $32,700 in May 2018.
What Does a Pharmaceutical Tech Do?
Pharmaceutical technicians help licensed pharmacists provide medication and other health care products to patients. They receive written prescriptions or orders from physicians and other health practitioners and are responsible for the accuracy of the order. They also may prepare prescription orders, select the required medicines and doses, count out the right number of pills, label and mix solutions, fill bottles with liquids, measure powders, charge patients for their purchases, and answer questions from patients about their medications. When a patient cannot pay for a prescription, pharmaceutical technicians may try to work out a payment plan with the patient or suggest cheaper alternatives.
How Much Does a Pharmaceutical Tech Make?
Although the salary for a pharmaceutical technician can vary depending on factors such as education, experience, and geography, the median annual salary for all workers in this occupation was $32,700 in May 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The middle 50 percent of all workers earned between $26,460 and $39,940 per year. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $21,610 annually, while the highest 10 percent made more than $48,950 a year.
Factors That Affect a Pharmaceutical Tech’s Salary
The job market for pharmaceutical technicians is expected to grow by about 9% from 2016 to 2026, which is about average for all occupations. The median annual salary for a pharmaceutical technician was $32,700 in 2016, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Salaries for pharmaceutical technicians can vary depending on a number of factors, including education, experience, certification, geographic location and the type of employer. Here’s a closer look at some of the things that can affect a pharmaceutical technician’s salary:
-Education: Pharmaceutical technicians typically need at least a high school diploma or equivalent to get started in the field. However, some employers may prefer or require candidates to have completed a postsecondary training program in pharmacy technology. Those who have completed such a program may start out with higher salaries than those who haven’t.
-Experience: As with most occupations, experience can be a key factor in determining salaries for pharmaceutical technicians. Those who have been working in the field for several years may earn higher salaries than those who are just starting out.
-Certification: Certification is not required for all positions, but it may help candidates stand out from the competition and demonstrate their knowledge and skills to potential employers. Those who are certified may earn higher salaries than those who are not.
-Geographic location: Salaries for pharmaceutical technicians can vary depending on where they live and work. Those who work in areas with a high cost of living, such as New York City or San Francisco, may earn higher salaries than those who work in other parts of the country.
-Type of employer: The type of employer can also affect salaries for pharmaceutical technicians. Those who work in hospitals or other healthcare facilities may earn more than those who work in retail pharmacies or other types of businesses.
Conclusion
The median wage for a pharmaceutical technician in the United States is $16.07 per hour, or $33,430 per year. The top 10 percent of earners make more than $22.59 per hour, or $47,090 per year, while the bottom 10 percent make less than $10.35 per hour, or $21,560 per year.
