Pharmacy Technicians

At a Glance

Median Salary
$38,059

Local Jobs
709

Entry-Level Education
Certification

Occupation Profile

Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.

By The Numbers

Median Annual Earnings

$38,059

Median Annual Earnings are the midpoint earned by 50 percent of workers who are the lowest paid and 50 percent of workers who are the highest paid in a particular occupation

Local Jobs

709

Jobs are any position in which a worker provides labor in exchange for monetary compensation (note: one individual may hold multiple jobs)

Entry-Level Education

Certification

This is the most common education level requested in entry-level job listings.

Daily Tasks

Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
Enter prescription information into computer databases.
Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.
Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
Assist customers by answering simple questions, locating items, or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information.
Operate cash registers to accept payment from customers.
Price and file prescriptions that have been filled.
Mix pharmaceutical preparations, according to written prescriptions.
Order, label, and count stock of medications, chemicals, or supplies and enter inventory data into computer.
Prepack bulk medicines, fill bottles with prescribed medications, and type and affix labels.
Clean and help maintain equipment or work areas and sterilize glassware, according to prescribed methods.

Occupational Skills

What skills are necessary for Pharmacy Technicians?

Hard Skills

Cash Register
Inventory Control
Inventory Management
Medical Prescription
Medication Dispensation
Merchandising
Pharmaceuticals
Pharmacist Assistance
Quality Improvement
Warehousing

Soft Skills

Clerical Works
Communications
Compassion
Computer Literacy
Coordinating
Customer Service
Mathematics
Operations
Packaging And Labeling
Scheduling

Hard skills are specific, learnable, measurable, often industry- or occupation-specific abilities related to a position.

Soft skills can be self-taught and usually do not necessitate a certain completed level of education. They are essential in many industries and occupations.

Education Programs

Del Mar College