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Pharmacist technician vs med technician

The differences between pharmacist technicians and med technicians can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a med technician has an average salary of $44,523, which is higher than the $36,090 average annual salary of a pharmacist technician.

The top three skills for a pharmacist technician include patients, math and direct supervision. The most important skills for a med technician are patients, med-tech, and cleanliness.

Pharmacist technician vs med technician overview

Pharmacist TechnicianMed Technician
Yearly salary$36,090$44,523
Hourly rate$17.35$21.41
Growth rate5%5%
Number of jobs73,800141,154
Job satisfaction1-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%High School Diploma, 32%
Average age3838
Years of experience--

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.

What does a med technician do?

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. Moreover, a med technician is also responsible for producing accurate reports, reviewing data, coordinating with physicians and other health care workers, maintaining a clean and sanitized work environment, and adhering to the company's safety policies and standards.

Pharmacist technician vs med technician salary

Pharmacist technicians and med technicians have different pay scales, as shown below.

Pharmacist TechnicianMed Technician
Average salary$36,090$44,523
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $48,000Between $31,000 And $63,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASan Jose, CA
Highest paying stateAlaskaCalifornia
Best paying companyValley Presbyterian HospitalChildren's Hospital of Michigan
Best paying industryHealth CareGovernment

Differences between pharmacist technician and med technician education

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

Pharmacist TechnicianMed Technician
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 35%High School Diploma, 32%
Most common majorPharmacyNursing
Most common college--

Pharmacist technician vs med technician demographics

Here are the differences between pharmacist technicians' and med technicians' demographics:

Pharmacist TechnicianMed Technician
Average age3838
Gender ratioMale, 24.9% Female, 75.1%Male, 15.2% Female, 84.8%
Race ratioBlack 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%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 pharmacist technician and med technician duties and responsibilities

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

Med technician example responsibilities.

  • Manage memory unity within facility.
  • Measure heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, blood-oxygen level and electrocardiogram information using sophisticate equipment.
  • Work hematology, urinalysis and some serology on day shift.
  • Work in all aspects of the lab including: chemistry, hematology, immunology, microbiology, blood bank, et.
  • Perform routine hematology, coagulation, and urinalysis testing.
  • Supervise caregivers, administer medications, assist elderly with daily rituals, care for memory care patients.
  • Show more

Pharmacist technician vs med technician skills

Common pharmacist technician skills
  • Patients, 32%
  • Math, 12%
  • Direct Supervision, 5%
  • HIPAA, 4%
  • Collective Bargaining, 4%
  • Telephone Calls, 4%
Common med technician skills
  • Patients, 10%
  • Med-Tech, 9%
  • Cleanliness, 9%
  • CPR, 9%
  • Quality Care, 8%
  • Resident Care, 6%

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