pharmacy technician salary

How difficult is it to get work in the hospital? Do they expect you to have expierience, or will the hospital be willing to train?

I have submitted my fair share of resumes to hospitals over the years, ive yet to be hired. I think hospitals are very strict if you ask me, and having no experiance does not help.

What do you suggest would be the easiest way for me o try and get hired in a pharmacy with no experience and just being out of school?

Diana Rios in Salt Lake City, Utah said: What do you suggest would be the easiest way for me o try and get hired in a pharmacy with no experience and just being out of school?

You may try at a local mail order pharmacy apply as a pharmacy tech to fill the prescription, not the tech to enter the prescription into the computer system. Starting pay around $9.00/hr at north Jersey area. Good Luck.

Hi i was thinking of taking the Pharmacy Tech course and i was wondering if it is worth it. Being that i work full time now the course will be every night mon thru fri from 7-10pm. Does anyone know where i can take this course online, or of any good books that i can just buy to study for the test? It seems like the amount of money on average that people are making is not worth taking the course. Also which test or test would i need to take to be ceritfied as a Pharm Tech and th IV certification or is it 2 different test? thanks

I will be finished school in Jan. Can anyone tell me how you get IV Cert. and how soon after finishing school can I do that because I am feeling kind of discouraged about retail pharmacies now,also anyone with any info on pharmacies in SC PeeDee area (pay, job availability, experience, etc)please shed some light for me, Please.

You can get IV certified anytime you find a proctor in your area that is offering the test. It can cost between $300-$500

the IV course is farily faced pace, and a lot of math
beyond what you may have seen in pharmacy school.

I graduated from a degree program in Washington state. I received my license in October of this year. Jobs are plentiful here in the larger cities and I have had about ten interviews so far but each time I hear that they chose someone with more than just internship experience. I decided to start trying other states with less stringent qualifications. I have a second interview for a retail pharmacy in Wisconsin. The salary is negotiable, But can anyone tell me what the salary range in Wisconsin is?

i plan on taking the PTCE exam in Feb and i was wondering if any one knew of any good book that will be the best thing to study to pass this test. i herd that APhA’s Complete Review for the Pharmacy Technician, 2nd Edition by L. Michael Posey is the best book to get with the most information. Does any one know of this book? or if there is a better one?

kells in Edison, New Jersey said: i plan on taking the PTCE exam in Feb and i was wondering if any one knew of any good book that will be the best thing to study to pass this test. i herd that APhA’s Complete Review for the Pharmacy Technician, 2nd Edition by L. Michael Posey is the best book to get with the most information. Does any one know of this book? or if there is a better one?

Kells,
I purchased Delmar's Pharmacy Technician Certification book. Studied it for 2 weeks and just took my exam on Monday. The exam itself was at least 40% math. If you're able to do the calculations in that book, then you will definitely pass since the book questions are much tougher than the ones on the actual exam, in my opinion. The other info is written very well. One caution: the pharmacology section was very detailed and can be tough if you don't have a background in science (i have a B.S. in cell bio). So you may want to study this longer, though there were just a few questions on this topic. Hope this helps. Remember: MAKE SURE YOU KNOW HOW TO DO ALL THE CALCULATIONS CORRECTLY.

thanks for the info waitingfor verification. i will definatly look into getting that book. since you said you have just taken the exam, should i study the entire 200 most common drugs table as well? thanks :)

Can someone tell me where I can find the 200 most common drugs, since I'll be doing a self-study. Thanks!

2Jazzy in Mobile, Alabama said: Wow, so I guess this means that I may be getting underpaid big time. I am not yet certified (still waiting on my scores on October 12th) and having been making $8.00/hr since starting here at Kmart in May 2007. So the hospital allows you to get overtime? That's definitely what I need since in retail they don't allow you to get a single hour over 40.

Well you are in Alabama, not California -
70,000 a year is not enough to buy a house here. Bay Area/San Francisco

Now your talking reality, not everyone will ever own
a house, and many that do may end up in BK.

$70k may not buy a house, but it will get you an apartment
with change left over.

Im from Alabama, i seriously doubt any pharmacy tech
is making $70,000 - its just not realistic...

My background is in Sales and Marketing. I decided to attend a Pharm Tech course to familiarize myself with drugs (generic/trade). Part of the 6 month program included an externship in a retail drugstore, I eventually got hired from the externship. Working at a drugstore was not my goal, just used it to network and gain knowledge. I also volunteered at a nearby hospital because I knew that "inpatient" pharmacy paid more. Most pharm tech schools include IV compounding.
My goal is nuclear med/pharmacy. Plenty of jobs in biotech. I currently work as a SALES REP and make $128,000.
Getting your CPhT is usually requested at most companies/hospitals (better pay). As a SALES REP you are able to make your own hours. I schedule and attend luncheons/dinners (for presentations). My company gave me an auto, and a credit card line of credit. You are able to enter many different fields with a "pharm tech" education, not just a drugstore or hospital. Theres are manufacturing/distribution and insurance organizations.
oh yeah, I also teach Pharm Tech at a local college at $48k annual.

ms diamond in San Francisco/BAY AREA, California said: My background is in Sales and Marketing. I decided to attend a Pharm Tech course to familiarize myself with drugs (generic/trade). Part of the 6 month program included an externship in a retail drugstore, I eventually got hired from the externship. Working at a drugstore was not my goal, just used it to network and gain knowledge. I also volunteered at a nearby hospital because I knew that "inpatient" pharmacy paid more. Most pharm tech schools include IV compounding.
My goal is nuclear med/pharmacy. Plenty of jobs in biotech. I currently work as a SALES REP and make $128,000.
Getting your CPhT is usually requested at most companies/hospitals (better pay). As a SALES REP you are able to make your own hours. I schedule and attend luncheons/dinners (for presentations). My company gave me an auto, and a credit card line of credit. You are able to enter many different fields with a "pharm tech" education, not just a drugstore or hospital. Theres are manufacturing/distribution and insurance organizations.
oh yeah, I also teach Pharm Tech at a local college at $48k annual.

I tried to volunteer at a hospital for inpatient, they said as a volunteer i would not be able to touch any drugs or IV's..I would just slap labels on bottles, and they already had someone 1 day a week doing just that...they said just to much of a liability with someone not experianced, Ive been out of school for nearly two years now...
ive also tried other hospitals that take no chances at all, no volunteers in hospital pharmacy at all.

JohnS in Edina, Minnesota said: I tried to volunteer at a hospital for inpatient, they said as a volunteer i would not be able to touch any drugs or IV's..I would just slap labels on bottles, and they already had someone 1 day a week doing just that...they said just to much of a liability with someone not experianced, Ive been out of school for nearly two years now...
ive also tried other hospitals that take no chances at all, no volunteers in hospital pharmacy at all.

- If you do your externship assigned by your school at a hospital,
Most schools do pay your malpractice insurance (included in the tuition).

You are not able to volunteer IN THE hospital pharmacy, but you can volunteer in ER or dispatch (meaning you will be delivering/pickup meds to/from nurses station). Remember you just want to learn and network.

California is not Alabama and I know several pharm techs that make over $70000.00 a year>i paid for two houses and i quit the pharm tech job to open my own business.MY suggestion to you is to move or get more education. i remember when i was in my twenty's an older pharm in my place of work said "don't let this place take your youth, use it as a stepping stone".You will learn when you are older still making $15.00 that an hour that you should have moved on.

JohnS in Edina, Minnesota said: I tried to volunteer at a hospital for inpatient, they said as a volunteer i would not be able to touch any drugs or IV's..I would just slap labels on bottles, and they already had someone 1 day a week doing just that...they said just to much of a liability with someone not experianced, Ive been out of school for nearly two years now...
ive also tried other hospitals that take no chances at all, no volunteers in hospital pharmacy at all.

Getting CERTIFICATION - would be a GREAT ASSET!
You can get jobs from 'RX Agencies', many chains/retail and hospitals subcontract thru these agencies.
such as: www.rxonthego.com

I will just give everyone a word of advice: do not work retail unless you feel like you want to work your buns off for nothing!!! I did 2 internships in my tech. program; one at a grocery store and one at Walgreens. They both bit it majorly and you would have to work there 3 years to get the pay I started out making at the hospital I'm working at now. Not dissing anyone who has enjoyed their retail experience, but people, please aim higher than that!

Girl Germs in Hixson, Tennessee said: I will just give everyone a word of advice: do not work retail unless you feel like you want to work your buns off for nothing!!! I did 2 internships in my tech. program; one at a grocery store and one at Walgreens. They both bit it majorly and you would have to work there 3 years to get the pay I started out making at the hospital I'm working at now. Not dissing anyone who has enjoyed their retail experience, but people, please aim higher than that!

I do not like retail myself, but the majority of jobs out there
are retail some people may have to settle for what they can get
weather they like it or not, at least until they can get
some experiance under their belt, they may have to settle
for retail starting out.

wow, I have the same experience like the tech from philly. I started at cvs in north carolina in 2003 aand have been board certified since then as well but the cvs in north carolina only pays me 10.75 p/h The only reason I stay is to get more time and experience under my belt, planning to leave the cheap carolinas next october, so can anyone suggest what state and what setting will pay a 5 year technician a livable wage

you mean you been working for CVS for 4 years, and you do not make more then $10.75/hr ?? There is something wrong with that picture. maybe you should start applying at hospitals...youll surely make more.

the hospitals are funny to here in the quenn city better know as charlotte. I have tried to get on with the 3 major hospitals in the area since I became certified and for some reason they all turned me down without a good reason why, but how ever when you go east of charlotte like greensboro and beyond it's a whole different story. I had a interview with the hospital in greensboro, I didn't get the job but at least I know I was beat out by someone with more experience, I can respect that

Well that is North Cackalay for you. How difficult was the exam?? What was on it?

well if your talking about the national board test, it was kinda hard it has 5 or six different test and the one you get depends on were you set. The one I had was basically hospital questions, I did okI think I scored a 850, which I think you need 650 to become certified. One thing I can say good about cvs is we had a very good pharm tech trainer who prepared us for the test

rjc said: the hospitals are funny to here in the quenn city better know as charlotte. I have tried to get on with the 3 major hospitals in the area since I became certified and for some reason they all turned me down without a good reason why, but how ever when you go east of charlotte like greensboro and beyond it's a whole different story. I had a interview with the hospital in greensboro, I didn't get the job but at least I know I was beat out by someone with more experience, I can respect that

Maybe you should set one day aside, and volunteer in
inpatient pharmacy at a local hospital.

been there, tried that, I think the only way to continue working in a pharmacy and be happy is to leave charlotte

rjc said: been there, tried that, I think the only way to continue working in a pharmacy and be happy is to leave charlotte

watch out what you wish for, you may find yourself in another city in the same position, pharmacy techs are just flooding the market
every single day.

I WENT TO PENNFOSTER CAREER SCHOOL AND GOT MY DIPLOMA. I REALLY LIKE THIR SCHOOL AND THEY LET YOU MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS AND DON'T CHARGE INTREST. WHEN YOU COMPLETE YOUR SCHOOLING AND PAY THEM OFF THEY SEND YOU A REVIEW GUIDE FOR YOUR STATES STATE BOARD EXAM. I AM REALLY CONFIDENT WITH THIS SCHOOL AND WOULD RECOMEND THIS SCHOOL TO ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN GETTING A DIPLOMA FROM A SCHOOL AS A PHARMACY TECH. CHECK IT OUT FOR YOUR SELF WWW.PENNFOSTER.EDU

I am doing their course and love it.

JohnS in Edina, Minnesota said: I do not like retail myself, but the majority of jobs out there
are retail some people may have to settle for what they can get
weather they like it or not, at least until they can get
some experiance under their belt, they may have to settle
for retail starting out.

Oh yes i know! Retail has such a high turnover rate because of the yucky stuff and low pay they have to deal with its actually kinda hard to get into a hospital that pays well. Everyones telling me how lucky i am to have went straight from school with no retail experience to big time hospital.
Thats all it was: L U C K

If anyone is intrested I work in Reno Nv. and I am topped out as far as my pay. I make 17.00/hour and ive only been with the company for 11 months. I am looking to move out of state but it seems like from reading everyones comments that I should stay put. Does anyone know what a tech makes in WI.????

rxtechnv in Carson City, Nevada said: If anyone is intrested I work in Reno Nv. and I am topped out as far as my pay. I make 17.00/hour and ive only been with the company for 11 months. I am looking to move out of state but it seems like from reading everyones comments that I should stay put. Does anyone know what a tech makes in WI.????

You probably should stay where you are... I dont know tho, because you making 17 an hr out there could be like the 12 bucks most make at our hospital because the cost of living is greater out there than here. (?) Like i said: not sure.

Girl Germs in Chattanooga, Tennessee said: Oh yes i know! Retail has such a high turnover rate because of the yucky stuff and low pay they have to deal with its actually kinda hard to get into a hospital that pays well. Everyones telling me how lucky i am to have went straight from school with no retail experience to big time hospital.
Thats all it was: L U C K

I have been unlucky since ive been out of school, 2 years now...
starting monday, I will volunteer in our local community
hospital, maybe that will help my resume.

Does anyone know of any good books or online course that I can take to prepare for the exam? I work at Walgreens, but as a photo tech... I would just like some clear information as to what to study for the exam. Thanks!

Ron in Sacramento, California said: Does anyone know of any good books or online course that I can take to prepare for the exam? I work at Walgreens, but as a photo tech... I would just like some clear information as to what to study for the exam. Thanks!

you can go to amazon and look up pharmacy tech, you will see
some listings. I do not think any one book is better then
another, all contain info about taking the exam, but you
want to study math formulas above anything else.

JohnS in Edina, Minnesota said: you can go to amazon and look up pharmacy tech, you will see
some listings. I do not think any one book is better then
another, all contain info about taking the exam, but you
want to study math formulas above anything else.

Thanks for the super fast response... I'm off to barnes and noble to see if they have anything in stock! if not, i'll order from Amazon.com.

Thank you very much! I'll be sure to study the math formulas especially.

Ron in Sacramento, California said: Thanks for the super fast response... I'm off to barnes and noble to see if they have anything in stock! if not, i'll order from Amazon.com.

Thank you very much! I'll be sure to study the math formulas especially.

good luck with that...ive been to book stores, if they
do carry anything for pharmacy tech, it will not be that
much, amazon would be your best bet and a much better
selection, always go with the used book, you will get
a better deal on pharmacy tech books compared to new.

Newbie in Verona, Wisconsin said: I just saw the graph for pharmacy technician salaries posted on this site. Pharm tech's making 30k+/yr??? Is this true? I'm a certified pharm tech at WAGS, and I only make ~10/hr. That's a little more than 20k/yr full time. Wow, does this mean there's hope for me? Give it to me straight, though, what kind of qualifications do these people have that I need? I like my job, but the low pay and seeming lack of advancement makes me dream of greener pastures.

TRY AND GET INTO HOME HEALTHCARE OR HOSPITAL SETTINGS. THATS WHERE THE MONEY IS IN THE MIDWEST. SURELY NOT AS MUCH AS CALI BUT OUR EXPENSES ARE NOT AS HIGH. WITH A CERTIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND SOMETHING. THE PAY IS PROBABLE 11-16 AN HOUR STARTING. I LEFT A TECH JOB IN A HOSPITAL SETTING 12 YEARS AGO MAKING 11 AN HOUR MY FELLOW FRIENDS ARE STILL THERE MAKING 16 PLUS AN HOUR. GOOD LUCK!

Sandy in Portland, Oregon said: I recently got licensed and certified here, and am having a hard time finding a pharmacy tech job. Everyone wants experience. Could anyone give me any advice on how to find a job!

I know what you mean. when i was starting to look for a job thats what every pharmacy kept saying. I really dont know what to tell you except keep looking. I found a pharmacy that had an opening and i literally went there at LEAST 2 times a week to keep checking (they said they would let me know in a few days). The only reason i was hired was because the person they WERE hiring, that had experiance, didnt show up. Its really hard to get a job as a tech, but its well worth it. I LOVE my job. So keep trying

Lybinka in Harrison, Arkansas said: Don't really know where you live, but in AR and NC they hire anyone off the street and do on the job training. NC you will get hired if you are not certified, but you have to get certified within a certain time frame. As for you CE credits, go to either ptcb.org and register. Also, go to pharmacytimes.com I subscribe to their magazine and do the tests online. CE's are free thru them, you only need 10 per yr. So you have time. Another thing, maybe your prospective employers feel you are over qualified, and don't want to pay what you are worth.... Especially if they hire off the street. So, act dumb, don't mention you are certified and see what happens... just a thought. I know here they don't want to pay, cause they can hire anyone off the street for minimum wage... That's why AR bites!!

Hi; don't you need 20 ce hours to renew your certification????

Dr Jim in NY said: I am a retired physician. I am interested in pharm. Do I need to take courses to take the exam? Do you need a college certificate inorder to sit for the exam?

No you just need to take the PTCB I would tell you that schooling isnt really worth it. All the info you need is at PTCB.org Get a few books about the test and it should be easy. Its mostly math problems dealing with drug doses.

Nai in Fresno, California said: WEll i work for walgreens here in visalia,ca and been there for 3 years. i started at $13.25 and currently with ptcb certified is at $18.25, i make a little over 40k because of he overtime, sometimes 30+ hr overtime.

Was your pay at 13.25 before or after you became certified?

wow that's great, I work for cvs in charlotte nc and I have been a pharm tech for 5 years and only make 10.75 and have been certified since 2003

socalal24 in claremont, California said: Starting my externship on thurs. in walgreens what should i expect or any hints?

I would expect to do counting, stocking, and waiting on customers.

Help!! in Cary, North Carolina said: Hello. I need some help. I am taking the Certified Pharmacy Tech exam in December and I am at a loss at what to study. I have worked in a pharmacy a total of 3 years but it has been over a year since I have worked in a pharmacy. Any hints on what to study?? What kind of questions do they ask? Is the exam difficult??[/QUOTE

They ask us not to release any type of questions. I can tell you mine was math and laws. I would study math conversions.

Kellie in Wasco, California said:

what are you, a girlscout...?

What to study? MATH FORMULAS...anything that looks
like math, study it, everything else is just a bonus
if you think you can actually remember stuff that may
or may not be on the exam, but math is a constant...

Kellie in Wasco, California said: I would expect to do counting, stocking, and waiting on customers.

I started my volenteership at a local hospital...
we are not allowed to fill scripts, or anything...
we are only allowed to save the hospital $$$ by
stocking meds, or doing paperwork that the lazy
techs that make $18/hr do not want to do...

Do all hospital's have this volenteership? I would like to do that while I am finishing up my schooling. Would like to learn more about this.