pharmacy technician salary

I am making 42K as an IV tech in No. VA with 10 yrs experience in home infusion. It is very expensive to live here, I'm sure that's why they pay better....

David Scurlock in Eden Prairie, Minnesota said: you do not need to attend college to take the pharacy tech exam, it
does have a lot of math questions, you might want to find a good pharmacy tech book to read up on, get IV certified too, since you are a retired doctor, your chances of getting hired are a 1000% higher then me, ive been trying well over a year now.

good luck

How do you get IV certified? Is there a class or a national examination?

Keep in mind you folks are competing with college grads for these tech jobs now (because of the economy). Could be why a lot of you aren't getting interviews. Also, from the way some of you write your posts, I can take a wild guess that you aren't presenting yourselves well enough on the applications (lots of grammar & spelling mistakes). I'm not trying to rag on anyone here. I just know from experience with HR depts. that they will throw out an application (CPhT certified or not), with any spelling or grammar errors. It makes it easy for them to sift through tons of applications.

They also throw out ones with a low GPA, but not sure if that applies for tech jobs.

HVM in Jacksonville, North Carolina said: What Hospital is that? I'd sure like to know. Since I came from CA. nothing compares in wage. Sounds like u found a great place though. Tip me in. :-) HVN

HEY, I JUST MOVED TO JAX. NC AND GOING TO TAKE THE PHAMACTICAL
CLASS AT COASTAL,SO IS THIER MONEY IN THIS? ALSO IS THIER A INTERNSHHIP AVAILABLE WHILE GOING TO SCHOOL? I NOTICE THAT ADS FOR
PHARMASTIC TEC, THEY WANT 1-2 YEARS EXPERIENCE? PLEASE GIVE INFO.
CONSIDERING TAKING MED TRANSCRIPTM AND COUPLE OTHER CLASSES.

LISA

I work for CVS in Pa and I get paid crap. I was store trained and then studied for the national exam. I passed that with flying colors. I am now a lead tech there and I only get 10.69 an hour. I started a year ago at 8.75 an hour. I am now looking for another job. I think with all the responsibilities that a pharmacy technician has, atleast at cvs, we should be getting way more. I do everything there. I want to start looking to work at a hospital. They just aren't willing to budge with pay raises.

I would also like to say to anyone who is thinking about paying for school to become a CPhT NOT to do it. It is not worth it at all. You can learn on the job at most places and they will pay for your test. We do not make enough money to waste on school for it.

I don't agree with that because I specialize in doing IV's and chemotherapy IV's. I also specialized in compounding and at least all the apothecary pharmacies and hospitals I've worked in won't let you near the IV room or the lab without technical training from a school.

Hello Im getting ready to start school for pharmacutical tech.
or phobotomy whick is higher paying,and more in demand?

Lisa

David Scurlock in Eden Prairie, Minnesota said: You are not alone, Ive been out of school for almost 1 1/2 years, I hear from very few employers, and the ones i do hear from, I never hear from once the interview is over, I paid a lot of money going to school just to remain unemployed.

I would never recommend to anyone going to school, save the money, buy some books, get certififed, your chances are just as good.

Hey- I was just told by Rasmussen College in Ocala FL that FL is passing a law where you have to go to college and get a degree- is this true?

David, u r so right, unfortunately! I was the instructor for a well known college on the west coast for quite some time and I'll tell ya it was very difficult to know my students were paying 24,000.00 for the 15 month course to find not only a limited job market as the good jobs seem to be taken and held on to, but very low wages and not much room for advancement. The only way to really go is Pharm.D these days. Morally it was very difficult for me to hold this position although it was a cake walk for me because I now have an advanced degree. Don't pay to go to school people, not for pharm tech anyhow!!!!! I can't stress it enough. These days, alot of places will train u. Check it out!

lisa in Jacksonville, North Carolina said: Hello Im getting ready to start school for pharmacutical tech.
or phobotomy whick is higher paying,and more in demand?

Lisa

Lisa, I recommend phlebotomy all the way. Don't pay for school to tech in Pharm.

Thanks,
Im 40 plus, and going back to school long term i cant
really afford, to waste my time either.Is there something
you would recommend, for me? Ilove the medical field,I have
been in retail management all these years. It's just to hard
on me now. Give me your imput.

Thank's for your imput. I have did C.N.A. work when i was in
alot younger, worked at Military Hospital in records dept.
then went to college A.A. Buisness. Worked retail manager
for 18 years. It's hard to go back to school for long term,
finacially i can't afford it. What would you recommend? In
your fied, you see what is in demand, appreciate your time
and help, single mom starting over,

Lisa

bethl1884@yahoo.com in Jacksonville, North Carolina said: Thank's for your imput. I have did C.N.A. work when i was in
alot younger, worked at Military Hospital in records dept.
then went to college A.A. Buisness. Worked retail manager
for 18 years. It's hard to go back to school for long term,
finacially i can't afford it. What would you recommend? In
your fied, you see what is in demand, appreciate your time
and help, single mom starting over,

Lisa

Lisa, U ever think about being an RN. It's never too late. Since you're in the medical field already and have worked as a CNA it would be right up your alley. That is of course if u like the big bucks. LOL. Even LVN, education doesn't take as long as u know. Neither one is really too long though once u get prereqs out of the way. Make sure u only take what's required to get in, research it yourself and watch out for those counselors. They'll have ya taking courses now that u can take later. Good luck!

Lisa, U ever think about

Hey,
I have a few times through the years, but it's very
discourage'n. I went to college in San Bernadino Ca. at
a Private School, Barclay College. The school closed, and
i have not been able to get my transcripts, and now to start
college again i half to go through all my B.S. class's again.
That's been real discouraging for me, as I'm tring to go back
to school.Yes, i have always wanted to be a nurse, L.P.N.
ECT.So any advice you can give me i'd appreciate.

Lisa

Lisa,

Go for Gold! Go two more years and get paid what all nurses deserve. Registered Nurse. State of Mn. there is a 3 year program for RN. Good Luck and somebody has got to know something of where the school records are. Remember a teacher name, classmate, play private eye and you should find.

Sincerely,

theangrytech

I just want to add that I am a 10 yr. pharm tech working in home infusion who was recently offered a pharmacy tech teacher position making 10K LESS than I do as a pharmacy tech! So they want teachers to teach people who are paying out the nose for these so called "schools", but the teachers are paid less than their students will be making??!!!?? (and I have a bachelor's degree, too) I will stick with home infusion! And don't waste your money on the schools, I was trained on the job everywhere I have worked.

You know whats going on, well done. Doesnt it just figure about the teaching job and pay? Ever think about going back and getting your Rph? And yes to ALL out there!!! DO NOT PAY FOR PH TECH SCHOOL!!!

The pharmacy technician field is not really a good one to get into. It's not something that you are going to make good money. Depending on the state and city that you live in will depend on the pay. The more expensive it is to live, the more you get paid. So the people that live out in california are obviously going to get paid more than someone in Pa where I live. It's the lowest paying job in the whole tech field. Which is just crazy to me because I do a ton of things at my pharmacy. I am going to school for surgical tech now. I'm just really glad I didn't waste my time and money on pharmacy tech programs. That would have really sucked. They hire anyone! Maybe not at a hospital but retail pharmacies will hire anyone who walks through the door. The once you get experience and certified, which most places will pay for your national certification, you can then go work at a hospital. You still wont get paid well at all. So to anyone who is thinking about spending money on it....DON'T! Look around for something better. Dental hygenists and ultrasound techs make good money too. Not to mention that some of the pharmacist you will come across, especially the older generation, aren't always the easiest people to work with. Not all of them are like that but a lot.

pnjsteele in Ventura, California said: I don't agree with that because I specialize in doing IV's and chemotherapy IV's. I also specialized in compounding and at least all the apothecary pharmacies and hospitals I've worked in won't let you near the IV room or the lab without technical training from a school.

No way! Most places pay for you to take the exam. It's not about the schooling, it's about the exam. Anyone can take it. Once you pass your exam and have some experience, anyone can work in an IV room. It doesn't take that much training. I know TONS of people that started retail and went to hospitals doing IV. All of the requirements I see on job listings is to be a CPhT and that's it. I'm just going to say it again, whoever is even thinking a little bit about pharm tech class's, DO NOT DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He may be ONE case but the rest are not good, as you can read all the other posts agree.

seasoned tech in Holly Ridge, North Carolina said: David, u r so right, unfortunately! I was the instructor for a well known college on the west coast for quite some time and I'll tell ya it was very difficult to know my students were paying 24,000.00 for the 15 month course to find not only a limited job market as the good jobs seem to be taken and held on to, but very low wages and not much room for advancement. The only way to really go is Pharm.D these days. Morally it was very difficult for me to hold this position although it was a cake walk for me because I now have an advanced degree. Don't pay to go to school people, not for pharm tech anyhow!!!!! I can't stress it enough. These days, alot of places will train u. Check it out!

You are SO RIGHT!

I started working out at a inpatient pharmacy as a pharmacy courier making a little over $8. At the time I was going to school taking my regular undergrad requirements. At that time (early 2000) here in Nevada, all you have to take is some college equivalent math, science, english classes and they will automatically give you a state license if you apply for one. My work trained me the duties of a technician, which wasn't hard at all. Last year I made a little over $35,000. Which I highly think I am underpaid. I am now looking for other careers.

There is a huge misconception that hospitals pay more. I am sorry I have worked for a hospital retail, hospital inpatient, and now currently retail.

Let me tell you, if you have experience and RPh's that know you work hard, the sky is the limit.

I do have some friends that just started working for Walgreens in this area, they started out at 16.85 an hour.

I think the chains pay what you negotiate.

You live out in California though! Mcdonalds probably pays atleast $12 an hour. It cost a lot more to live there than it does any where else. So really 16.85 is not that great! Hospitals DO pay more than retail. You have a MUCH better chance at negotiating at a hospital than retail. In retail they are given a pay they are allowed to pay you and that's it. You can't negotiate with chains. They are run by cooprate so there is nothing to negotiate. They aren't going to pay someone $4 an hour more just for experience when they can pay some highschool kid to do the same thing for a lot less. Being a pharmacy tech is not genious work. So there is not a misconception on hospitals pay more, it's a fact. If you were to go on any of the salary websites you would see that. Even type in pharmacy tech salary in google and you will see the facts.

Looks like pharm technician career has high potential of increasing in demand as time by, check here, www.pharmacytrainingonline.com/

I just want to comment on pharmacy tech work not being "genious work".I have worked in every type of pharmacy from retail to home infusion. The level of responsibilities for a tech in home infusion componding chemo, TPN's, and antibiotics takes ALOT more smarts than counting pills and putting on a label, and should require a higher pay rate and level of experience. You can make at least $5 an hour more in home infusion than retail.

i have been a pharmacy tech now for 10 years at wlmrt. i started at 6.75, i now make 12.18 an hour, and some cashiers make 13 to 17 dollars an hour. i live in jACKSON, MS. I THINK PHARMACY TECHS. SHOULD BE PAID MORE, BECAUSE WE DEAL WITH STRESS EVERY DAY, AND WE ARE MAKING SURE CUSTOMERS ARE HAPPY AND SAVING LIVES. I STARTED IN 96 AS A CASHIER AT SUPER D WHEN THE PT THERE QUIT. NOW I KNOW WHY. I LOVE MY JOB, BUT WE GET NO RESPECT

You are absolutely right! But my point was it doesn't have to be genious work at retail. That's where and why you get paid more at a hospital. Your actually applying your skills to the job. I feel at retail level it's kinda boring. Not much of a challange. So when they can hire someone to do the work needed for less they are going to. At a hospital you are actually required to have some knowledge. We are very underpaid and it's a shame. What's going to happen is the people who are actually knowledgable and are good at their jobs aren't going to want to do it anymore. It's going to be the people who don't care or know the dynamics behind pharmacy that are going to be working at pharm techs. I want to get out of retail as soon as possible. I am starting school for surg tech soon and I don't want to switch jobs while trying to adjust to school. So point being said...don't go to school for it!

somstar in Ocala, Florida said: Hey- I was just told by Rasmussen College in Ocala FL that FL is passing a law where you have to go to college and get a degree- is this true?

Hi Somstar, thanks for the mention of Rasmussen College. Florida is not passing a law that requires you to go to college and get a degree. If you or anyone else has any questions about this, Rasmussen College or our Associate’s Degree in Pharmacy Technician program, feel free to contact the Ocala Campus.

Miguel Ramos
Director of Admissions, Ocala Campus
Rasmussen College ”

I work for Rite Aid as a tech and I make $16.50 an hr and I've only been certified since 2007. So compare to other people I make a descent amount of money. I will get a dollar raise next month. Now I plan to go pharmacy school cause $17.50 is not going to be enough for me.

I have never heard of such high pay at this kind of job. Where do you live.
In Illinois they start out at $8-$10 per hour if you can even find a job.
I would like to get hired by walgreens because they train you to work there and that way you don't have to put out $1000 for school and then risk not getting a job.

I work part time and make $10/hr at a retail chain with no certification. Started out @ min. wage but went up only because I was promoted. And as soon as I send in some paper I will be getting a 70cent raise go me! i swear i cried when I got my $2.00 raise it was such a special moment in time.

wow, I am going to cry with you ;-)))

Casis in Ventura, California said: wow, I am going to cry with you ;-)))

haha! How sweet!! ;'O

"""I THINK PHARMACY TECHS. SHOULD BE PAID MORE, BECAUSE WE DEAL WITH STRESS EVERY DAY, AND WE ARE MAKING SURE CUSTOMERS ARE HAPPY AND SAVING LIVES. I STARTED IN 96 AS A CASHIER AT SUPER D WHEN THE PT THERE QUIT. NOW I KNOW WHY. I LOVE MY JOB, BUT WE GET NO RESPECT"""

I did not know we were saving lives but thats cool that you feel that way =/
Once some mans ins. would not pay for his scripts and it all came to well over 500.00 he told me he was going to go home and sit in bed and his family was going to find him dead and they would know who to blame!! -me of course-. Oh and of course that they would end up suing the company. my response "Um. Okay. Call you insurance company, Sir. - have a nice day!"

GEEZ. But really, I love my job. okay i'm done venting. thanks. Goodnight.

michelle in Little Rock, Arkansas said: kroger pharmacy pays 7.25 starting max 16.00

I work for Smiths a Kroger company and I make 16.74 because I am trained on the "awesome" system Easyfill PRN

I truly think you get paid more in hospital or in long term care. I just got offered a job in a hospital at $23.41/hr. So its important to specialize if you want to be in this field. Pill counting isn't where the $$ is.

I recently became certified around min-June, and I received a call from Kroger about a week later. I did the interview, they called me the next day, and offered me a position. I'm only 19 years old and I have no experience as a pharmacy technician, so they are starting me off at $10.50. I'm pretty content with that seeing as it's the most I've made so far, and it's not really a career. It took me about 4 weeks to study for the exam, and luckily I passed on my 1st try. There's virtually no pharmacy in the Houston-area that is hired people who aren't certified, and you also have to be registered in the state of Texas (that's about an extra $45).

I'm a college freshman and I have been working for CVS Pharmacy for almost 2 years now. I'm only making 7.88 an hour. Should I be outraged? I'm thinking about applying at Wegman's and asking for 11 to 12 dollars an hour. Is that asking to much? And is CVS raping me?

If your are IV certified you needs to apply for a hospital and make 15-17 dollars hr. Go where the money is !!!!!

Jon in State College, Pennsylvania said: I'm a college freshman and I have been working for CVS Pharmacy for almost 2 years now. I'm only making 7.88 an hour. Should I be outraged? I'm thinking about applying at Wegman's and asking for 11 to 12 dollars an hour. Is that asking to much? And is CVS raping me?

Jon if you’re working at CVS/Pharmacy making $7.88 an hour. Wow you’re getting royally shafted by CVS. I live in Boston, MA and I know CVS/Pharmacy starts there pharmacy technicians off at $10.00 an hour.

$7.88 an hour seems like illegal workers wages. Sheesh !, I know the economy is real bad so did they lower your wages or what ?

No, I started around 7.50 not knowing what average pay for a tech was. I've been looking around now and am astounded by what others are getting paid. So applying elsewhere seems like a good idea?

Jon in State College, Pennsylvania said: No, I started around 7.50 not knowing what average pay for a tech was. I've been looking around now and am astounded by what others are getting paid. So applying elsewhere seems like a good idea?

7.50 is crap pay. I started out at 9.50 without being certified with Smiths Food and Drug (a division of Kroger). When I got certified I got bumped up to 11.50 and 2 years later I make 16.74 with them. They are the best in retail in my opinion. I got offered a job with wal-greens and they wanted me to start out at 11.50 which isn't even competative. Walgreens and CVS are all too bureaucratic and souless.

Bobby in Mobile, Alabama said: It seems that everyone is getting all worked up about these guys in CA makin 16.00 to 24.00 per hr..Where yes, that may seem good if you live in Alabama...but if you do the math for cost of living in Cali...Their 16.00 to 24.00 per hr would be equivalent to about 8.00 to 12.00 per hr in Alabama. I'm not trying to make anyone mad, I just dont want everyone feeling they are being under paid when they see these cali folks making so much..just my 2cents

cost of living doesn't mean much, everywhere is expenisive nowadays. You should get paid what you deserve and what experience you have. Some company are just cheap.

Would anyone be able to tell me do I have to go to school for pharm tech or can I just try to pass the test on my own. Do you think if I would go to school that the school would help place me in a job or is it only up to me.
I would like to go to school for this I think the school is a short term course like 3 months. I know the pay where I live is 8 to 10 dollars an hour not much but I think getting in on my first job would be the hardest part.
Does anyone have any feed back on this. Please help.

I went to school to be a CPhT when I was living in AZ and the course was 7 months long then I had 8 weeks of internship. I would be leery of going to a school that only takes 3 months. I know some states allow you to just take the test without going to school and I do know some people when I lived in AZ that did that BUT one thing to consider is that in all the well paying jobs I have had in this field they prefer someone with technical trainingg from a trade school because they know you have been trained and have done an internship. JUST A THOUGHT

hooskins in Osseo, Minnesota said: cost of living doesn't mean much, everywhere is expensive nowadays. You should get paid what you deserve and what experience you have. Some company are just cheap.

ok well you're from Minnesota, so I don't think you would know how much the cost of living is in California, and I would expect a pharmacy to be a little busier in California anyway. Cost of Living is a huge factor in pay, especially for hourly-based jobs. In Texas, the minimum wage was $5.15, and very few low-end jobs paid more than, whereas in different states like New York, it was $8+. It is MUCH cheaper to live in Texas, by far, than in New York. Why pay the New York guy the same amount at the Texas guy?

Thank you for your thoughts. What is the pay like in AZ? I live in IL and have heard its $8-$10 per hour not much to start. I would like to go to a course at the community college so that its cheaper and shorter than going to one of those expensive schools. Someone said they payed $10,000 for that and then when they got out they did not even need the degree from there to get their job.
I think I would have to pay $1,000 for the community college classes and it would be 2-3 months.

theangrytech in Fargo, North Dakota said: cineal,

your comment will be considered.

I find your comments entertaining, t.a.t., and I also enjoy reading theangrypharmacist, as you suggested for clneal. Love his twitters, I must have the same customers.

ANYWAY—About being positive, no one who has worked in retail pharmacy would find it hard to believe that you have a difficult time remaining POSITIVE.
Deal with 10 or so Cracky McCrackheads who pull into the drive-through at 4:59 on Friday night, demanding you “Go fax my doctor, I need enough hy-dro-coh-DOhn to get through the weekend!!”
Have the medical assistance dad tell you he doesn’t have a dollar co-pay for the baby’s antibiotics, but he DOES have a dollar for HIS Vicodin.
Get enough rude obnoxious customers to call on their way and tell you their pills BETTER be ready when they get there, they’re not waiting in line again, and get me the newspaper too!”
OR
“Why can’t you ever get it right? I want 90 days supply!”
(Even though insurance will only pay for 30 days, and the doctor writes the prescription for 30...and I just push the keys on the register, I’m the DUMB one who can’t get it right...
499 prescriptions filled by 7 techs, checked by 3 pharmacists, rung up, hung up, and/or mailed by me, ONE clerk.
Yes I’ve been to college. Graduated with a 4.0. Have a degree, certifications, experience. Just not in this field.
I am also able to put together grammatically correct sentences without spelling errors.
I’m a certified transcriptionist, there are no jobs for transcriptionists in my area, the local health care system laid 80 of them off when I moved here, and sent their work to India.

But guess what? As a pharmacy clerk, I make $11 an hour, can afford my small town rent, and am next in line to be the tech I never wanted to be either.
Thanks for letting me vent,
May god be with you.
;)

I think you are very right that this tech job can be very stressful.
I think I would have to start out in a store pharmacy but I would like to work in a hospital pharmacy someday.

I just want to post my personal experience and then you can decide from that. When I started going to school to be a CPhT in 2003 I had it set in my mind that I wanted to be a "pill counter". I thought there was no way I could ever work in a hospital because of the expectations of the STAT and Oh my gosh doing IV's and needles. I swore up in down I would only do retail. When it came time to do my internship my professor advised me that I really needed to just try a hospital for my internship before I decide where I wanted to be. So I did a 8 week internship at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Phx. I went into learn IV's and never went back. The closest I got to retail was mail order and I HATED it. I have been in either a hospital or a compounding pharmacy ever since. I personally think that retail is got to be more stressful than a hospital because when your in a hospital there are STATs but you learn to get into a rythum on how to do things and because you are not dealing with the public you don't have the stress of someone yelling at you. I also think that since 9 times out of 10 you are getting paid way more in a hospital that it makes it worth it to work there. I wouldn't deal with the BS at a retail pharmacy for $10-$15hr....But this is my experience and my suggestion...Just try a hospital and you probably will never go to retail.