pharmacy technician salary

I just recently graduated from a Pharmacy Technician Training Program in Vancouver, WA at Clark Community College. I have taken and passed the national certification exam (the PTCB version). However, I am still looking for a job and have put in several applications throughout the Vancouver/Portland,Oregon- area. I have a few classmates who've already found employment, but I think most of them have been lucky (getting hired at their internship locations). So, it's like they have the "in". I was at two Kaiser Permanente locations for my clinicals, however, they don't have too many open positions and they fill very quickly! In Washington State, you are REQUIRED to graduate from a tech program and be nationally certified, whereas Oregon only requires the national certification. I would recommend taking the program because you will be more knowledgeable in the field of Pharmacy compared to your co-workers--and, as you know, this field is growing and so is our scope of practice, which means that your education is going to be EXTREMELY beneficial. Hope this helps!

I am about to start the pharmacy tech program and get licensed. I also would like to get iv certified also but not sure where to go to do that at. Any suggestions?

Thank you.

this is very depresing...I see people making $10 $11 $12 and even $14 an hour its terrible...Pharmacy tech salary will never go up if there are techs willing to work for such wages, I make over $21 with 10 years of experience working as a tech in florida, I know salary depends on location and experience, yet i still feel we are underpaid...People I know our schooling may not be much and therefore our proffesion its not very well recognized, but it is an essential part of the health care industry...If all the tech nation wide will call out the same day I warrantee that we will cause a major impact to the industry...They definitly need us nore than we need them,,, people wake up, Most states required license and registration to even be concider you to work in the pharmacy...we need to demand more money especially in retail chains, they are making all the money and slaving people...the furute of pharmacy techs wages depends on us techs...we can make a diference by demanding more, if we try hard enough we will get there, just dont accept crapy wages that looks really bad on all of us...

I couldn't agree with you more. I'm at $16 working at a hospital. Now I've been thrown into chemo. No wage increase. All the pharmacist just got $20 raises. I realize I've only been a tech for 6 months. But already I am being taken advantage of and treated poorly. I have no choice but to open my mouth and do something or else I'm gonna be stuck in this situation.

If I were you, I try to go somwere else, in the mean time work but keep an eye out for new openings jobs etc...if you get call backs for interviews take them and I tell all the techs I come along with to always negotiate wages...they need to hired the hiring proces its not cheap, you have HR personal involved and also time that companies have to invest, they dont wanna have to interview 20 people because its more money, they wanna interview and offer as little as possible..if everyone start negotiating wages and accepting no less than $16 lets say with no experience in retail, and no less than $18 for hospitals our wages will eventually increase because they need the man power, they can't operate without us, But if new grads accept crappy entry wages everyone will be affected...I had a friend that every year or so will go to different companies and kept the resume updated...the more you jump the more experience your resume will have...until he landed a really good job great benefits and excellent pay, but he had to negotiate, they offer him $10 less that what the ended up paying him, today he make $25 an hour, but notice they offer him $15 to start, he say no, then they went back and fort until he got what he wanted...we should all do the same...staying somewere for 10 years making $14 its insane...people wake up they need us just as much as they need pharmacist...trust me..acccept no less the $16 and move ASAP always ask for more money, remember negotiation...

I am from PA the best thing I can say is in some states you are not required to be certified for the position of a pharmacy technician.
Look up your state requirements before schooling.
google Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
apply with them if you are interested in taking your certification test
if you have issues scheduleing your test online and you call their number and get Indians or non-english speaking people insist on talking to Americans before giving information because they are for another test these people have been hired by the health care certification board and the Indians schedule doctorate re-examination and have no idea about the pharmacy certification even know they try their hardest
I have just taken my test
When you are done with your test you know if you passed or failed and they will mail you your certification
i hope i have helped someone

My husband makes $12 an hour, zero experience. I was shocked at first, then I guess it's better than nothing. Hopefully he will find a better paying job sooner. Hoping I will land a job soon, so he could look somewhere else. In the meantime, we need health insurance. He even told me to sit for Cphat exam(got all the software), but with the pay, I don't think so.Not enough to survive.

I agree! I wish we could all unionize! RX local 111 !

the problem I see its that all the pharmacy tech organizations out there that are supose to represent us all, are been Manupulated by corporations big drug chain etc. Even if you are comparing salaries by state you will get different websites all with diffenrent salary info and requirements...we need to be better united, and understand that if we all decide upon a minimun salary the big Corps wont have an option but to pay us, like I said they need us to operate just like they need pharmacist guys...if you are register certified and have the experience please look for new jobs opennings and interview with as manny places as you can and let them know your requirements...just like the expect from you you should also expect from them...I said retail should pay no less than $16 to start for a one year experience tech...hospitals no less than 3 years of experince should pay no less than $18 to start...this are realistic wages people are making this much already...the only problem its the negotiation process...some techs will accept anything as long as they get a job, I understand they need to work on their experience too, but believe me if they get used to hireing people at $12 an hour thats what they will look for...You new grads and new tech s accept no less that $16 brake that barrier...its in your hands...and if you are working for $12 now, upload some resumes out there and try to get something else.. do not stay for long ... keep moving

A licensed tech, with more than one year experience, is paid $8 to $8.75 per hour at CVS in Southwest Florida (Cape Coral, Naples, Fort Myers).

As you can see I got certified about 2 months ago now. I have applied to several pharmacy technician jobs. I had an interview at diamond pharmacy (Pharmacudical distributer to jails, hospitals, nursing homes, and advanced care centers). They offered me starting out at state minimum wage (PA = $7.25) and also giving me 75% health coverage. My state has no requirements for obtaining a pharmacy technician job such as the certification or any prior training before applying for the job. I understand health care is considered a way of payment to the employees in the company but I am expecting at least $12 - $16 starting out considering I have the certification and have completed two years of a biomedical technology program including lab work (hospital and research), anatomy, physiology, and various medical terminology comprehension I just got out of school last spring. I have a full organized portfolio including resume amd all the trimmings. I just want to get a good paying pharmtech job so I can 1 move 2 go to college for microbiology and 3 invest in a new car. Please any help would be appreciated.

Apply to hospitals; and if you have a KAISER in your area, apply there, too! I graduated in DECEMBER 2011 and got my first job as an IV Technician in January at a rate of only $16/hr in WASHINGTON STATE. Whereas KAISER pays IV Techs $24/hr starting pay and most hospitals are hiring at about $15-$16 without experience. I only got the job that I did because of my externship, though. I was at a Home Infusion facility and was able to put "IV admixture" on my resume. If you can, I would see about volunteering/interning at a prospective employer's location.

Hospitals are always willing to pay more than your local walmart or kmart pharmacy. My problem is industrial pharmaceutical companies only want to pay me minimum wage, and industrial is supposed to pay more than hospitals. Even know I don't have "in work experience" I have experience with compounding meds preparing IVs and have graduated with completion of pharmacy technician program; completion of biomedical technology program and my pharm tech degree/certification and this is far beyond my state's requirement. Like if hobo joe with a GED and knew how to do math and know a little bit about meds he could be a pharm tech in my state. Yet I can't seem to obtain the ability to get the job. Quite frustrating really that there can't be a federal law forcing the degree in every state to be a requirement since there are so many problems now of days with drug abuse.

Hospitals are always willing to pay more than your local walmart or kmart pharmacy. My problem is industrial pharmaceutical companies only want to pay me minimum wage, and industrial is supposed to pay more than hospitals. Even know I don't have "in work experience" I have experience with compounding meds preparing IVs and have graduated with completion of pharmacy technician program; completion of biomedical technology program and my pharm tech degree/certification and this is far beyond my state's requirement. Like if hobo joe with a GED and knew how to do math and know a little bit about meds he could be a pharm tech in my state. Yet I can't seem to obtain the ability to get the job. Quite frustrating really that there can't be a federal law forcing the degree in every state to be a requirement since there are so many problems now of days with drug abuse.

Retail really does sell their techs short. It's a stressful environment and the pay is ridiculously low. Five years ago, I started at $12/hr at a retail chain. A few months later, after getting my tech license, my wage increased to $13.75, then to $14.75 shortly after I got nationally certified. I couldn't leave retail soon enough and got a job at a LTC pharmacy. Got the lucky opportunity to get trained in IV's and now I am getting $22/hr. I am going to start looking into hospital soon, as they will pay more, so guys, DON'T SELL YOURSELF SHORT! And don't be discouraged. Make connections and always look out for opportunities. They will show themselves to you if you look for them. I realize that $22/hr may not be much to some, but it's a slow step. But then again, it may be where some of you guys want to be. The cost of living here is a little higher than most, so I think it kind of works itself out. I've been a tech for five years now, but I am also only 23 years old, so I am hopeful. Eventually I would like to move into management, but I know that that will not happen for a while. Slow steps.

If you are desperately in need of a job, then take what you can. You can always leave when a better opportunity arises. More exposure means more experience which is key. Work hard, be a team player. That will attract people and more importantly, opportunities. No one likes a Debbie Downer, even when things get stressful. You have to realize that the world of pharmacy is a small world. I have been lucky in having connections. While I am a hard worker, I know that I would not be where I am today if it weren't for the people I know. Half of it is luck, and the other half is what you make of it. When I look at co-workers or at the pharmacists I work with, I always imagine the possibility that they could someday be my manager, so I always keep a positive attitude. Realize, though, that we all have to start somewhere so good luck!! And keep your connections!!

Ernest in San Francisco, CA in Walnut Creek, California said: Well, hospitals will always pay more than retail pharmacies, and also depends where you live, here in san francisco, retail pays about 16 to 17 per hour where as hospital inpatient you get 24 per hour and yes, there is a lot overtime in the inpatient department.

I would like to suggest all the pharmacy technician's who have a lot of work experience to apply at the Department of Public Health. They do offer better hourly wage and salary $60,892.00 - $74,022.00/year, holidays, paid vacation, and other benefits. What county or city and state do you live? San Francisco Department of Public Health have job openings right now.

Hello everyone, I started off as a regular clerk here in NY. I made minimum wage and after a year, I was a pharmacy tech at the retail store I was in. they only boosted up my pay $1. I stayed though. after being in the retail pharmacy for 2 years I got a job at the airport in a retail store and got paid $10. I had completed my pharmacy tech course and passed my ptcb right before leaving tje pharmacy. I posted my resume on indeed.com and in a few days two pharmacies messaged me with interviews. I gotta say I feel pretty lucky. Please please work on ur resumes! Its important. The pharmacy I just got a job with is offering me $12.75 and thats way better then what I was getting before.. I recently saw a pharm tech position at NY resbyterian hospital. Although I only have 2 yra of experience, I applied. Two days later I was called for a phone interview.. And two days later I was called for a hospital interview. The intwrview is in a couple of days and im so anxious/nervous!!!!! I have to take an english exam, math exam, ans data entry exam. Has anyone had to do this for a hospital job? Can u tell me what it was like? And I hopeeeeee that the pay is at leaaaast 16 or 17 an hour. Should bs right? Since its in a hospital? If anyone could answer my questions about the hospital exams I wouls realllly appreciate it! Thankssss

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.

I live in WI. and I also have searched for what Pharmacy Techs "Should Be Paid". However WI. always goes under the pay ranges. Other states get 15-17.00 an hour. That is a liveable wage. I suppose it also helps if your a good looking woman to get hired. LOL. But.. WI. wages over all.. in all areas are much lower. I work in retail for now and am being treated like a decorator and getting paid $8.00 an hour. Decorators get paid two or three times this else where. I think also because the economy is in the tank, that the employers can throw us all scraps and except us to bite the bait. I was told by two employers that I would not find more then that wage. However... I am worth more and never here have been asked what I am looking for as if .. "take what crumbs are given or leave it" In the last state.. I was asked what I am looking for Or.. paid by my years of experience. I don't think its a fair state by far. That is why so many are out of work here then any other state and why so many are on public assistant here. A liveable wage is not 8-10.00 an hour. That lowers your self worth and hope. So.. if your planning to move to another state .. yes there is hope. In WI. you will always be under paid and valued for your personal experience. I don't think its fair to be paid what others are if you have more experience.

Wisconsin does not require BOTH certification and registration, as do many other states. The states that require both do pay better. I am originally from Wisconsin and had thought about coming back there to work. After researching it, I saw that Wisconsin paid anywhere from 30 to fify percent less per hour.

You see Texas requires state certification. They do an extensive background check. If you have any durogotory history, or did not finish high school, etc.,Plus you have to renew every two years and have 20 hours of continuing education at every renewal. you will not get registered and cannot work in pharmacy as a tech in texas.

Techs in states that do not require registration should push for it, it will make a difference in the wage eventually.

Good Luck!

Hey everyone, i have an interview with walgreens tomorrow for a pharmacy tech position. Anyone have any idea on what the starting pay might be for the Arlington,VA area?