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Chemist assistant vs pharmacist technician

The differences between chemist assistants and pharmacist technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a chemist assistant has an average salary of $51,817, which is higher than the $36,090 average annual salary of a pharmacist technician.

The top three skills for a chemist assistant include laboratory instruments, product quality and chemical analysis. The most important skills for a pharmacist technician are patients, math, and direct supervision.

Chemist assistant vs pharmacist technician overview

Chemist AssistantPharmacist Technician
Yearly salary$51,817$36,090
Hourly rate$24.91$17.35
Growth rate6%5%
Number of jobs6,14473,800
Job satisfaction-1
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Average age4238
Years of experience--

What does a chemist assistant do?

Chemist assistants maintain laboratory readiness in supporting the production and contingency operations for instrument maintenance and personnel training. The assistants manage daily laboratory operations such as conducting and recording instrument maintenance. They develop minimum product property tolerances and production standards. It is their job to monitor the quality of products to ensure standard compliance. Also, they support capacity expansion projects, product quality projects, and process improvement initiatives.

What does a pharmacist technician do?

Pharmacist technicians assist pharmacists in their daily activities. They receive prescription medicine order requests of customers, validate the prescription, prepare the medicines, properly label medicine bottles, and hand them off to customers. They also answer customer inquiries and attend to customer concerns. Pharmacist technicians also manage the pharmacy's inventory and ensure that all records are up to date. They are also authorized to create purchase requisition requests for medicines that are running low and need to be refilled, but these requests should still be authorized by a doctor.

Chemist assistant vs pharmacist technician salary

Chemist assistants and pharmacist technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Chemist AssistantPharmacist Technician
Average salary$51,817$36,090
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $87,000Between $26,000 And $48,000
Highest paying City-San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state-Alaska
Best paying company-Valley Presbyterian Hospital
Best paying industry-Health Care

Differences between chemist assistant and pharmacist technician education

There are a few differences between a chemist assistant and a pharmacist technician in terms of educational background:

Chemist AssistantPharmacist Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 72%Bachelor's Degree, 35%
Most common majorChemistryPharmacy
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern California-

Chemist assistant vs pharmacist technician demographics

Here are the differences between chemist assistants' and pharmacist technicians' demographics:

Chemist AssistantPharmacist Technician
Average age4238
Gender ratioMale, 56.3% Female, 43.7%Male, 24.9% Female, 75.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 9.3% Asian, 18.3% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%Black or African American, 8.6% Unknown, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 10.1% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage5%5%

Differences between chemist assistant and pharmacist technician duties and responsibilities

Chemist assistant example responsibilities.

  • Test developmental compounds to ASTM standards and manage certification submissions.
  • Take initiative to be cross-train in chemistry methods used by the company to perform additional tests that ensure uninterrupt laboratory operation.
  • Conduct enzyme assays and performance testing with different enzymes in liquid and powder detergent formulations.

Pharmacist technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage the OPTIFILL (automation) operations and maintenance of equipment, including the PYXIS medication dispensing machine.
  • Manage assigned pharmacy workstations and tasks while supporting team members in promptly, safely and accurately filling patient prescriptions.
  • Manage inventory; process physician orders; prepare chemotherapy and intravenous medications; support departments in distribution and preparation of medications.
  • Consult with patients as an (CPhT) on their medical usages via written prescription by authorize medical personnel.
  • Compound TPN's (total peripheral nutrition), chemotherapy, iv admixture, antibiotics, and other pharmacy medications.
  • Record customer information into Rx computer system.
  • Show more

Chemist assistant vs pharmacist technician skills

Common chemist assistant skills
  • Laboratory Instruments, 27%
  • Product Quality, 13%
  • Chemical Analysis, 6%
  • HPLC, 5%
  • Analytical Instrumentation, 4%
  • Lab Equipment, 4%
Common pharmacist technician skills
  • Patients, 32%
  • Math, 12%
  • Direct Supervision, 5%
  • HIPAA, 4%
  • Collective Bargaining, 4%
  • Telephone Calls, 4%

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