Research Summary. Using a combination of public government and company data as well as data gathered from thousands of job postings, the Zippia data team has created average salary estimates for jobs across the US. Using that data set, the team has identified the types of pharmacist technicians that are the highest paid based on their average annual salaries.
Here is a summary of our findings for the highest-paying types of pharmacist technicians:
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Senior Pharmacist Technician is the highest-paid type of pharmacist technician with an average salary of $68,845 and an average hourly rate of $33.10.
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The second highest-paying type of pharmacist technician is medical technologist, with an average salary of $53,249.
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The average pharmacist technician salary is $36,090 per year, and the average hourly pay is $17.35.
Table Of Contents: Background | Table | Methodology | FAQs
Background
Choosing a career path can be difficult, and while pay shouldn’t be the only thing you consider in your decision, it is a significant factor. So if you’d like to work as a pharmacist technician, it helps to have an idea of what the highest-paid types of pharmacist technicians are so that you can plan your career progression.
Here are the top salaries for different types of pharmacist technicians:
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Senior Pharmacist Technician
Average Salary: $68,845
A senior pharmacy technician is a professional who assures that pharmacists have access to appropriate pharmaceuticals and supplies as well as provide convenient access to customers on over-the-counter items. Senior pharmacist technicians must assist the pharmacist on duty in filling prescriptions by verifying the correct product and entering the patient’s insurance and personal information into the pharmacy software application. They must provide good customer service by coordinating with physicians to obtain refill authorizations and accepting refill requests from customers over the phone. Senior pharmacist technicians must also assist with the annual inventory of prescription drugs and over-the-counter products.
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Medical Technologist
Average Salary: $53,249
A medical technologist’s role is to conduct laboratory tests with accuracy and speed. It is their responsibility to gather, prepare, and analyze samples such as blood, tissues, and bodily fluid. The produced results will be crucial to a patient’s diagnosis and further treatments. It is also essential for medical technologists to keep a precise record of data and coordinate with fellow team members and physicians to ensure the fast and efficient delivery of results. Furthermore, a medical technologist can choose to work in different establishments such as a hospital, laboratory, or private clinic.
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Medical Laboratory Technician
Average Salary: $51,780
A medical laboratory technician is responsible for assisting medical health professionals in conducting laboratory tests to diagnose patients’ conditions and provide treatments. Medical laboratory technicians ensure the sanitation of all the tools and equipment before conducting tests. They collect adequate blood samples and specimens, analyze fluid elements, utilize laboratory equipment safely, create reports of findings, and alert medical personnel and medical technologists of emergency conditions. A medical laboratory technician must have excellent knowledge of the medical industry disciplines and processes to perform sensitive tasks and release accurate medical results.
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Licensed Pharmacist Technician
Average Salary: $51,176
A pharmacy technician is responsible for giving the right prescription medications to patients and customers. They are the one who reads, understands, and determines the accuracy and the credibility of the prescription drug. They measure the dosages that the patient needs and gives the correct label. Also, they answer different queries regarding the proper medication and consumption of drugs as well as making an inventory and record for the supply inside a pharmacy or a clinic.
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Clinical Laboratory Technician
Average Salary: $50,756
A clinical laboratory technician typically works under the direction of a physician or medical technologist to perform tests that will aid in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions and illnesses. You will perform various duties, including preparing samples for analysis, monitoring tests and procedures, and matching blood for transfusion. Additionally, you are expected to participate in staff training and educational opportunities and contribute to a secure and safe environment for patients, physicians, co-workers, and visitors. This role will also require ensuring that laboratory information remains confidential.
Below is a full table of the average pay for various pharmacist technician that pay the most followed by a more detailed explanation of our methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Pharmacist Technicians
Methodology
Zippia uses publicly published information from government sources such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to create its salary estimates.
Our data science team also checks job postings and company-published resources for additional up-to-date salary information for pharmacist technicians.
Once they’ve gathered the data, the team calculates a weighted average for each job title they’re estimating a salary for. For more details on our salary estimates, you can read the detailed methodology.
Highest-Paying Types Of Pharmacist Technician Jobs FAQs
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What is the highest-paid pharmacist technician job?
The highest-paid pharmacist technician job is a senior pharmacist technician. Senior Pharmacist Technicians earn an average salary of $68,845, which is $ 33.10 hourly.
A senior pharmacy technician is a professional who assures that pharmacists have access to appropriate pharmaceuticals and supplies as well as provide convenient access to customers on over-the-counter items. Senior pharmacist technicians must assist the pharmacist on duty in filling prescriptions by verifying the correct product and entering the patient’s insurance and personal information into the pharmacy software application. They must provide good customer service by coordinating with physicians to obtain refill authorizations and accepting refill requests from customers over the phone. Senior pharmacist technicians must also assist with the annual inventory of prescription drugs and over-the-counter products.
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What is a good salary for a pharmacist technician?
A good salary for a pharmacist technician is $36,090 or more. The average pharmacist technician salary is $36,090, so those making at least $36,090 are earning above-average paychecks.
Keep in mind, however, that the average pharmacist technician salary does fluctuate based on location, as companies will adjust their pay scales based on the cost of living in that area. Research what the average salary is in your area for someone of your expertise and experience level to get a more accurate view on how well you’re being paid.
In addition, if you’re just starting your career as a pharmacist technician, the average entry level salary is $32,667, so don’t base your opinion of your salary on the $36,090 average, as this includes all pharmacist technicians of all skill and experience levels.
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Do Pharmacist Technician jobs pay well?
No, pharmacist technician jobs don’t pay well. As in any industry, some pharmacist technician jobs pay better than others, but the average pharmacist technician salary of $36,090 is times the average national salary of about $44,225 per year.
In addition to this, many pharmacist technician jobs have high earning potential, with the top 10% of pharmacist technicians earning $38,385 a year on average.
Pharmacist Technicians’ salaries will fluctuate based on their experience level, industry, and location, so pay attention to these factors when you’re looking for a job as a pharmacist technician. Do your research on the going rate for a pharmacist technician in your area with your expertise, and don’t be afraid to negotiate your salary based on that information.
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Where do pharmacist technicians get paid the most?
Pharmacist Technicians get paid the most in Alaska. In Alaska, pharmacist technicians earn an average annual salary of $48,756 and an average hourly wage of $23.44.
Following AK, the states with the highest-paid pharmacist technicians are Washington, Arizona, and Oregon, with average annual salaries of $45,419, $38,151, and $45,779 respectively.
The cities with the highest-paid pharmacist technician salaries are:
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San Francisco, CA – $47,731
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Vancouver, WA – $45,992
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Portland, OR – $45,732
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Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
