Pharmacy Technician Pay – Starting Salaries & Average Salaries
What type of salary does a pharmacy technician pay new hires? Well, as is typical in any job market, that is going to depend on your local job market and your particular qualifications – what you bring to the table.
If you have a degree, have passed your pharmacy technician certification exam, have high marks in school, and have gone through a good internship then chances are the pay that you’re offered by an employer is going to be higher than if you do not have these qualifications on your resume. (In many states, a certification is mandated by law, check with your state laws to be sure.)
The average starting pay for a pharmacy technician in the United States will generally vary from around $28,500 on the low end to perhaps as high as $38,000 at the top. Again, this number will vary by location and your particular qualifications. In some areas of the country, a lower salary will be more than adequate because the cost of living is much lower, if you live in a large urban area then you might expect a higher starting salary because living costs are higher.
As you progress in your career as as pharmacy technician your pay will increase year over year. It’s estimated that after about your third year in the business you will be qualified to make around $31,000 to $43,000. Your salary will depend on where your starting salary began and on your employer. A good employer, with deeper pockets, will be able to afford a higher salary, so it’s important to secure employment with a good company as you progress in your career.
The top salary for pharmacy technicians across the country may go as high as $60,000 per year, which is a healthy salary considering an individual can get started with just a two year degree. Remember the average salary in the United States is somewhere in the neighborhood of $40,000 per year so a top pharmacy technician is beating that salary by 50%. Not bad, not bad at all.
Pharmacy technician jobs are in demand right now with the amount of jobs increasing year by year. Get your certification, build your resume and top pharmacy technician pay is closer than you think.