Pharmacy Technician Job Description & Earning Potential

What Will I Be Doing as a Pharmacy Technician?

Pharmacy technicians are crucial to keeping a pharmacy running smoothly. As a pharmacy tech, you'll perform duties such as:

Accurately and efficiently preparing prescription orders
Verifying prescription information and dosage
Entering patient and order information into the pharmacy system
Processing and submitting insurance claims
Providing quality customer service to patients and other healthcare providers

Most pharmacy technicians work in retail settings, such as neighborhood pharmacies or grocery stores. There are also positions in hospitals, clinics and outpatient centers, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, mail-order pharmacies, telepharmacies, and nuclear pharmacies.

How Much Can I Make as a Pharmacy Technician?

Pharmacy technician pay rates vary by employer, geographic location, and experience as in any other field, and you can increase your earning potential by becoming nationally certified.

Competitive salaries – The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the middle 50% of pharmacy technicians earn between $23,940 and $35,420 a year.
Certified pharmacy techs earn more – Pharmacy technicians who earn national certification by taking the PTCB Exam or ExCPT exam are often paid more by their employers.
Career Step includes certification prep – Preparation for the PTCB Exam, which is the most recognized and respected national certification, is built in to your Career Step training.

With Career Step, you'll have the knowledge and skills to maximize your income potential by earning your national certification right after graduation.

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Testimonials

"I was very fortunate to find a job to fit my requirements perfectly within the first month. While I found the course to be exactly what it was advertised to be and I was very please with the training I received, I cannot say enough about Graduate Support! I was not expecting the level of involvement with my job search that Career Step provided. In my opinion, Career Step does not consider you to have completed the course until you have found employment!" -Jennifer, Arkansas Read More Testimonials »
"Career Step has provided me with a wonderful opportunity to start a new career. Thanks to the intense course, I feel confident in starting my new career. . . . I know I would not be able to do this work if your course had not been so complete." -Cheryl, Indiana Read More Testimonials »
"I started working part-time as a pharmacy technician as a college student and began working full-time once I graduated. Now I stay home with my three children but my experiences with drug knowledge, insurance claims, and doctors' offices has helped me as a mother. I am more educated about my children's healthcare and my own, which helps me make smart decisions for our family. The time I spent working as a pharmacy technician was invaluable." -Sarah Zarsky Read More Testimonials »
"Overall, I was very pleased with everything that Career Step had to offer. I was attracted to Career Step because I am a military spouse, and I was looking for a new career that would be easy to transfer, as my family transfers from one base to another. . . . As a new graduate, I look forward to all the new opportunities that Career Step has opened up to me." -Elizabeth, Louisiana Read More Testimonials »
"I finished the pharmacy tech program in two months, started my externship with Walgreens and landed a job with them before my externship was even complete. I love this program it's very user friendly." -Virginia Read More Testimonials »
"Being a pharmacy technician was a good experience to have early on in my working life. I have learned valuable customer service skills, great attention to detail, and strong abilities to work in a team. These skills are great to have in my everyday life as well in the working environment. I have also enjoyed getting to know the regular customers and found confidence and contentment in helping others. This is a great career to be in!" -Natalie Schilling Read More Testimonials »
"I was able to get a job within 3 weeks of graduating, which was largely related to the Career Step name on my resume. I have talked to people and read that many new grads from other schools are looking for work for 4 to 6 months. I love my job and, while I am still learning the details of the job, I was well prepared for the work!" -Amanda, Texas Read More Testimonials »
"Career Step gave me the training I needed to confidently begin a new career . . . Within a month of graduation I was hired and feel that every day I have used the knowledge gained from Career Step. Thanks for an excellent course!" -Neilia, Fort Riley Read More Testimonials »
"I was always very skeptical when it came to taking courses online. I always felt that it would be better to be in a classroom environment, but when I started Career Step, boy did I get comfortable quick. I was amazed at how much support was there for me, and I sure did use it. The student support team was always there to listen to me and encourage me and help me get my mind back on track. . . . They helped me with anything and everything . . . WOW! Thank you so much, Career Step!" -Tiffany, White Sands Missile Range Read More Testimonials »
"I worked as a pharmacy technician for 4 years to support myself through nursing school. The pay was great and it helped me get familiar with the names of many drugs and their uses. I gained experience with patients, doctor offices, and insurance companies, which gave me a broader understanding of how the medical system worked. This knowledge has enabled me to be a better advocate and educator as a nurse." -Deborah Petersen Read More Testimonials »
"Being a pharmacy technician has been such a great experience! Wherever I move, I can always find a pharm tech job because the profession is in such high demand and being nationally certified has given me a competitive edge over other applicants. Working as a pharmacy technician is an excellent healthcare career and also offers many opportunities for career growth." -Rebekah, Texas Read More Testimonials »
"Career Step’s Pharmacy Technician program was very well designed to prepare me for the certification process. . . . As I was preparing for the final exam, I scheduled my certification with PTCB, and within a week I was able to schedule the certification test and successfully pass that exam. The self-directing classwork with technical and education support available as needed worked very well, allowing me to move through the course at my own speed. " -Martin, Minnesota Read More Testimonials »
"The experience with Career Step was a wonderful one. I was working two jobs and raising my newborn son while taking these courses, and the program is so convenient that even I was able to find the appropriate time." -Stephen, Rhode Island Read More Testimonials »
"Career Step’s Pharmacy Technician program was very well designed to prepare me for the certification process. . . . As I was preparing for the final exam, I scheduled my certification with PTCB, and within a week I was able to schedule the certification test and successfully pass that exam. The self-directing classwork with technical and education support available as needed worked very well, allowing me to move through the course at my own speed. " -Martin, Minnesota Read More Testimonials »
"I can't thank all of you at Career Step enough! I passed the PTCE in November and started a new job at a locally owned pharmacy the first week of January! With my husband in the Army, I'm so grateful to have a "mobile" career that is so rewarding and that I really enjoy. I truly couldn't have done it without you!" -Nicole, North Carolina Read More Testimonials »