Occupation · SOC 29-2052
Pharmacy Technicians
Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.
Median wage
$43,460
$35,100–$59,450
Projected growth
+6.4%
Average growth
Annual openings
3,150
per year
Employed (US)
487,920
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
118 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningReading ComprehensionSpeakingCritical ThinkingMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationActive Learning
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceMedicine and DentistryMathematicsEnglish LanguageComputers and Electronics
Technology & tools
Internet browser softwareBilling and invoicing softwareMedical softwareData base user interface and query softwareInventory management software
Representative tasks
Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.Enter prescription information into computer databases.Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.Assist customers by answering simple questions, locating items, or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information.Operate cash registers to accept payment from customers.Mix pharmaceutical preparations, according to written prescriptions.Price and file prescriptions that have been filled.Order, label, and count stock of medications, chemicals, or supplies and enter inventory data into computer.Clean and help maintain equipment or work areas and sterilize glassware, according to prescribed methods.Prepack bulk medicines, fill bottles with prescribed medications, and type and affix labels.Compute charges for medication or equipment dispensed to hospital patients and enter data in computer.Prepare and process medical insurance claim forms and records.Transfer medication from vials to the appropriate number of sterile, disposable syringes, using aseptic techniques.Restock intravenous (IV) supplies and add measured drugs or nutrients to IV solutions under sterile conditions to prepare IV packs for various uses, such as chemotherapy medication.Supply and monitor robotic machines that dispense medicine into containers and label the containers.Deliver medications or pharmaceutical supplies to patients, nursing stations, or surgery.Maintain and merchandise home healthcare products or services.Price stock and mark items for sale.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Written prescription requests — verify completeness and accuracy under pharmacist supervision in a retail or hospital pharmacy setting.Prescription data — enter into pharmacy management software following established protocols with direct oversight.Patient medication profiles — create and update in the database under guidance from a licensed pharmacist.Drug storage areas — organize and maintain proper storage conditions by following posted temperature and security protocols.Incoming pharmaceutical supplies — receive, count, and check against invoices under supervisor direction in a pharmacy stockroom.Pharmacy telephone inquiries — answer and route basic questions to the supervising pharmacist following scripted response guidelines.Customers seeking over-the-counter items — assist by locating products or directing them to the pharmacist for clinical questions.Point-of-sale register — operate to process customer payments accurately in a community pharmacy checkout environment.Prescription labels — produce using label-making software following pharmacist-reviewed instructions in a dispensing workflow.Medication expiration dates — identify and flag outdated stock for removal during routine inventory checks under supervision.
developing
Prescription and refill requests — review for completeness, flag discrepancies, and resolve common data errors with minimal pharmacist intervention.Pharmacy database records — enter, update, and query patient prescription histories accurately in a high-volume retail or clinic pharmacy.Patient profiles — maintain comprehensive medication lists, noting allergy information and insurance data during routine dispensing workflow.Controlled substances and refrigerated medications — manage storage compliance, documenting temperature logs and security checks independently.Inventory replenishment cycle — receive shipments, reconcile quantities against invoices, and initiate reorder requests when stock falls below par levels.Incoming customer and provider phone calls — handle routine refill authorizations, insurance questions, and callback scheduling with consistent professionalism.Customer service interactions — address questions about prescription status, co-pays, and generic alternatives, escalating clinical concerns to the pharmacist.Payment processing and third-party billing — operate POS systems and submit insurance claims using billing software in a community pharmacy.Prescription workflow prioritization — apply time management skills to sequence tasks by urgency during peak dispensing periods.Compounding preparation — measure and mix non-sterile preparations following standard formulas under periodic pharmacist verification.
proficient
Complex prescription orders — independently verify, interpret, and process across multiple patient populations in a retail, hospital, or specialty pharmacy.Pharmacy information systems — configure and troubleshoot database and medical software entries to maintain accurate, audit-ready patient records.Comprehensive patient medication profiles — manage across chronic and acute care contexts, identifying potential duplicate therapies or missing refill authorizations.Drug security and regulatory compliance — execute controlled substance handling, DEA record-keeping, and state board requirements without supervisory prompting.Inventory management system — conduct cycle counts, reconcile discrepancies, negotiate with wholesalers, and manage formulary changes autonomously.Non-routine customer and provider communications — resolve billing denials, prior authorization delays, and insurance appeals through effective cross-functional coordination.High-complexity customer situations — apply critical thinking and social perceptiveness to triage patient concerns, de-escalate conflicts, and coordinate clinical referrals.Financial transaction accuracy — oversee cash drawer reconciliation, third-party billing audits, and point-of-sale exception handling across a full shift.Medication shortages and drug recalls — respond promptly by sourcing alternatives, notifying prescribers, and updating patient records in a fast-paced pharmacy environment.Technician workflow processes — monitor team output quality, identify error patterns, and implement corrective steps within the dispensing operation.
advanced
Pharmacy technician competency standards — design, implement, and evaluate training programs that build proficiency across all dispensing and patient-service tasks.Departmental prescription workflow systems — lead process improvement initiatives using data from pharmacy management software to reduce errors and wait times.Organization-wide inventory and procurement strategy — direct formulary management, vendor relationships, and cost-containment decisions across multiple pharmacy sites.Regulatory compliance framework — establish policies and audit mechanisms for controlled substance accountability, storage security, and state and federal law adherence.Patient safety culture — champion error-reporting systems, root-cause analysis processes, and evidence-based protocols throughout the pharmacy department.Cross-functional healthcare teams — represent pharmacy operations in interdisciplinary meetings, contributing technical expertise to improve medication management outcomes.Technology adoption and optimization — evaluate, select, and oversee implementation of new pharmacy information systems, billing platforms, and automation tools.Technician staffing and performance — recruit, mentor, and conduct evaluations for a pharmacy technician team, aligning individual development with organizational goals.Community and institutional education initiatives — develop patient counseling resources and staff knowledge programs covering drug storage, adherence, and medication safety.Strategic pharmacy operations planning — analyze performance metrics, forecast staffing and supply needs, and set department-level goals aligned with healthcare system priorities.
Also known as
56 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Health Services Management Journeyman (Air Force 4A051)Pharmacy ClerkClinical Pharmacologist (Army 61E)Pharmacist (Air Force 43P3)Medical Administration Specialty (Coast Guard MED)Pharmacist TechnicianHealth Services Management Journeyman, Health Information Technology (Air Force 4A051S)Drug CoordinatorPharmacy Technician (Pharm Tech)Pharmacy (Army 67E)Dental Assistant Journeyman, Dental Hygienist (Air Force 4Y051H)Hospital Corpsman (Navy HM)Compounding Pharmacy Tech (Compounding Pharmacy Technician)Dental Assistant (Air Force 4Y0X1)Inpatient Pharmacy Tech (Inpatient Pharmacy Technician)Health Services Management (Air Force 4A0X1)Compounding TechnicianPharmacy Craftsman (Air Force 4P071)Pharmacy Apprentice (Air Force 4P031)Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)Pharmacy Laboratory TechnicianDental Assistant Craftsman, Dental Hygienist (Air Force 4Y071H)Pharmacist (Air Force 43P4)Pharmacist, Clinical Pharmacy (Air Force 43P1A)Health Services Technician (Coast Guard HS)Retail Pharmacy Tech (Retail Pharmacy Technician)Pharmacy Manager (Air Force 4P000)Pharmacist (Air Force 43PX)Dental Assistant Apprentice (Air Force 4Y031)Pharmacy (Air Force 4P0X1)Health Services Management Apprentice (Air Force 4A031)Dental Assistant Craftsman (Air Force 4Y071)Pharmacist (Navy 0887)Pharmacist, Clinical Pharmacy (Air Force 43P3A)Medical Service Corps Officer (Army 67)Health Services Management Craftsman (Air Force 4A071)Dental Assistant Helper (Air Force 4Y011)RPhT (Registered Pharmacy Technician)Pharmacy Helper (Air Force 4P011)Hospital Pharmacy Tech (Hospital Pharmacy Technician)