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Pharmacist clerk vs certified pharmacist assistant

The differences between pharmacist clerks and certified pharmacist assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a certified pharmacist assistant has an average salary of $38,438, which is higher than the $32,705 average annual salary of a pharmacist clerk.

The top three skills for a pharmacist clerk include patients, HIPAA and basic math. The most important skills for a certified pharmacist assistant are patients, IV, and drug inventory.

Pharmacist clerk vs certified pharmacist assistant overview

Pharmacist ClerkCertified Pharmacist Assistant
Yearly salary$32,705$38,438
Hourly rate$15.72$18.48
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs112,499118,993
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Average age3939
Years of experience--

Pharmacist clerk vs certified pharmacist assistant salary

Pharmacist clerks and certified pharmacist assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Pharmacist ClerkCertified Pharmacist Assistant
Average salary$32,705$38,438
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $41,000Between $29,000 And $50,000
Highest paying CityWoburn, MA-
Highest paying stateMaine-
Best paying companySSM Health-
Best paying industryHealth Care-

Differences between pharmacist clerk and certified pharmacist assistant education

There are a few differences between a pharmacist clerk and a certified pharmacist assistant in terms of educational background:

Pharmacist ClerkCertified Pharmacist Assistant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 30%Bachelor's Degree, 43%
Most common majorPharmacyPharmacy
Most common college--

Pharmacist clerk vs certified pharmacist assistant demographics

Here are the differences between pharmacist clerks' and certified pharmacist assistants' demographics:

Pharmacist ClerkCertified Pharmacist Assistant
Average age3939
Gender ratioMale, 21.1% Female, 78.9%Male, 35.6% Female, 64.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 5.8% Hispanic or Latino, 24.4% Asian, 10.2% White, 46.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 15.2% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 14.8% Asian, 10.1% White, 52.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between pharmacist clerk and certified pharmacist assistant duties and responsibilities

Pharmacist clerk example responsibilities.

  • Manage assigned pharmacy workstations and tasks while supporting team members in promptly, safely and accurately filling patient prescriptions.
  • Operate cash register, provide excellent customer service, maintain store cleanliness, help file papers/prescriptions
  • Master customer satisfaction by assisting customers and maintaining patient confidentiality according to HIPAA and company standards.
  • Provide excellent customer service by assisting patients with pickups, transactions, and consultations regarding their medications.
  • Operate with PYXIS, OMNICELL, PHARMOGISTICS, on daily basis.
  • Receive drug and iv orders from local distributor.
  • Show more

Certified pharmacist assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage assigned pharmacy workstations and tasks while supporting team members in promptly, safely and accurately filling patient prescriptions.
  • Maintain the national HIPAA compliance regulations at all times.
  • General counseling of patients on maintaining medication adherence, and medication/diet interaction.
  • Prepare chemotherapy medications exercising all safety requirements necessary.
  • Order and inventory medical supplies and medications through Walgreens ordering systems.

Pharmacist clerk vs certified pharmacist assistant skills

Common pharmacist clerk skills
  • Patients, 26%
  • HIPAA, 11%
  • Basic Math, 10%
  • Allergies, 10%
  • Math, 9%
  • Customer Service, 4%
Common certified pharmacist assistant skills
  • Patients, 26%
  • IV, 17%
  • Drug Inventory, 11%
  • Customer Service, 9%
  • Inventory Control, 8%
  • Medication Errors, 4%

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