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
117 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 accurateEnter prescription information into computer databases.Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
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following pharmacist-reviewed instructions in a dispensing workflow.Medication expiration dates — identify and flag outdated stock for removal during routine inventory checks under supervision.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
19 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
RPhT (Registered Pharmacy Technician)Hospital Pharmacy Tech (Hospital Pharmacy Technician)Drug CoordinatorPharmacy Technician (Pharm Tech)Pharmacy TechnicianPharmacy Service AssociateOR Pharmacy Tech (Operating Room Pharmacy Tech)Compounding Pharmacy Tech (Compounding Pharmacy Technician)Pharmacy TechnologistInpatient Pharmacy Tech (Inpatient Pharmacy Technician)Compounding TechnicianPharmacist AssistantCertified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)Pharmacy Laboratory TechnicianChemotherapy Pharmacy Technician (Chemo Pharmacy Technician)Retail Pharmacy Tech (Retail Pharmacy Technician)Accredited Pharmacy TechnicianPharmacy ClerkPharmacist Technician