How to hire a pharmaceutical technician

How to hire a pharmaceutical technician, step by step

Here's a step-by-step pharmaceutical technician hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a pharmaceutical technician job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new pharmaceutical technician
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your pharmaceutical technician job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a pharmaceutical technician for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A pharmaceutical technician's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, pharmaceutical technicians from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents pharmaceutical technician salaries for various positions.

   Type of Pharmaceutical Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Pharmaceutical Technician	Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists dispense prescription medication to customers or health professionals.	$12-30
   Technician	Technicians are skilled professionals who primarily work with technology in different industries. They are knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the various items they work with... Show more	$11-27
   Med Technician	Typically working in hospitals or private clinics, a med technician specializes in collecting blood or bodily fluids and analyzing them through laboratory tests. The results of these tests will be a vital factor in diagnosing a patient's condition and what treatment a physician should give... Show more	$14-30

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • GMP
   • FDA
   • Pallets
   • DEA
   • Pharmacy Inventory
   • Quality Customer Service
   • Direct Supervision
   • Dosage Forms
   • Computer System
   • IV
   • Hippa
   • Pharmaceutical Products
   • Filling Prescriptions

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Attain certification on electric pallet jack.
   • Complete and achieve HIPPA training certification in patient confidentiality.
   • Manage assigned pharmacy workstations and tasks while supporting team members in promptly, safely and accurately filling patient prescriptions.
   • Open and run reclaim on the line.
   • Cross-Train in other QA areas as required.
   • Skil in reviewing complete batch records for QA approval.

   More pharmaceutical technician duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your pharmaceutical technician job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A pharmaceutical technician salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a pharmaceutical technician in Georgia may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level pharmaceutical technician usually earns less than a senior-level pharmaceutical technician. Additionally, a pharmaceutical technician with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average pharmaceutical technician salary

   $40,500yearly

   $19.47 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level pharmaceutical technician salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

   Average pharmaceutical technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Rhode Island	$52,330	$25
   2	New Jersey	$49,351	$24
   3	Ohio	$37,854	$18
   4	Texas	$37,051	$18
   5	Louisiana	$34,744	$17
   6	North Carolina	$32,207	$15
   7	Missouri	$31,008	$15

   Average pharmaceutical technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Alcon	$56,317	$27.08	4
   2	Pfizer	$49,371	$23.74	8
   3	Stericycle	$39,672	$19.07	1
   4	Dr. Reddy's Lab	$38,824	$18.67
   5	Kelly Services	$38,591	$18.55	9
   6	Randstad North America, Inc.	$37,396	$17.98	2
   7	Rhodes Bake-N-Serv	$36,369	$17.49
   8	The MetroHealth System	$34,539	$16.61	5
   9	Adecco	$32,846	$15.79	41
   10	Staffing Resources	$32,420	$15.59	1

4. Writing a pharmaceutical technician job description

   A pharmaceutical technician job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a pharmaceutical technician job description:

   Pharmaceutical technician job description example

   **Why Patients Need You**
   
   Our breakthroughs would not make it to the hands of patients without our pharmaceutical manufacturing team. We rely on a team of dedicated and agile members, who understand the importance and impact of their role in Pfizer's mission. Patients need colleagues like you who take pride in their work and always look to improve outcomes. You will help to ensure that patients and physicians have the medicines they need, when they need them.
   
   **What You Will Achieve**
   
   The Pharmaceutical Technician is responsible for the daily operation, including but not limited to, GPA equipment preparation, cleaning and assembling of equipment for the equipment preparation process. Updating SOPs, batch records, TCPs, BOMs, following cGMPs, and reviewing documentation. Serves as the subject matter expert in all aspects of equipment preparation. Communicates openly and clearly with line personnel and supervision to accomplish manufacturing goals. Promote a positive team environment. Perform all tasks in a safe manner.
   
   How You Will Achieve It
   
   + Responsible for the daily operation, including but not limited to, GPA equipment preparation, cleaning andassembling of equipment for the equipment preparation process.
   
   + Updating SOPs, batch records, TCPs,BOMs, following cGMPs, and reviewing documentation.
   
   + Must be a subject matter expert in all aspects ofequipment preparation.
   
   + Must be self-motivated, able to work independently and have a problem-solvingmindset.
   
   + Communicates openly and clearly with line personnel and supervision to accomplishmanufacturing goals.
   
   + Promote a positive team environment. Perform all tasks in a safe manner.
   
   **Qualifications**
   
   **Must-Have**
   
   • High school diploma or equivalent (i.e., GED); some exposure to the sciences (i.e., Chemistry) a plus
   
   • Must have a minimum 1-2 years prior pharmaceutical, manufacturing and or industrial experience;
   
   fundamental mechanical knowledge a plus.
   
   • Must possess basic mathematics and computer skills.
   
   • Must be able to read, understand and follow both written and verbal directions.
   
   • Able to work independently or with a team, without ongoing supervision.
   
   • Must be able to work overtime including weekends and holidays
   
   • Able to work in a safe manner and maintain the area to GMP standards.
   
   **PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS**
   
   Will be required to do frequent lifting up to 80 pounds including lifting above shoulders.
   
   • Will be frequently pushing and pulling carts and tanks.
   
   • Exposed to chemicals, dust, powders, steam and extreme heat and cold.
   
   • Stand for up to 8 to 12 hours depending on assigned area.
   
   • Vision must be correctable to 20/20. Satisfactory performance and attendance is required.
   
   **NON-STANDARD WORK SCHEDULE, TRAVEL OR ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS**
   
   A1/B1 rotational shift (6:00am-6:18pm)
   
   ***Job Details:**
   
   • Last Date to Apply for Job: 10/14/2022
   
   • Eligible for Employee Referral Bonus: Yes
   
   • Schedule: Day Shift
   
   Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.
   
   **Pfizer requires all U.S. new hires to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to the first date of employment. As required by applicable law, Pfizer will consider requests for Reasonable Accommodations.**
   
   **Sunshine Act**
   
   Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider's name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure. Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act. Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government. If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.
   
   **EEO & Employment Eligibility**
   
   Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer.
   
   Manufacturing

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find pharmaceutical technicians for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any pharmaceutical technicians they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level pharmaceutical technicians with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your pharmaceutical technician job on Zippia to find and recruit pharmaceutical technician candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with pharmaceutical technician candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new pharmaceutical technician

   Once you've found the pharmaceutical technician candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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