Pharmacy Technician Job Outlook
The last time we spoke about the Pharmacy Technician career, we explored how it was a growing field with more pharmacy technician jobs expected to pop up in the coming year. In 2020, that upward trend is expected to continue with an increasing rate of employment and more people enrolling in pharmacy tech programs. Our healthcare vocation school in Miami takes a look at the Pharmacy Technician job outlook for 2020.
Job Growth
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of pharmacy technicians is expected to increase by 7 percent from 2018 to 2028. This is faster than the average job growth across all occupations. There are multiple reasons why there is a growing demand for pharmacy technicians. Most of them have to do with the profession adapting to the country’s changing healthcare needs.
- Aging Population – Americans who are getting older typically use more prescription medication which pharmacy technicians help dispense.
- Medical Innovation – Advances in prescription medicine are leading to more people seeking prescription medications to fight numerous diseases.
- Greater Responsibilities – Pharmacists perform more direct patient care. Pharmacy technicians are taking on pharmacy operations previously done by pharmacists, such as collecting patient information, preparing more types of medications, and verifying work of newer technicians.
Florida is one of the states with the highest employment level for pharmacy technicians according to the latest Occupational Employment Statistics. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach area of South Florida is one of the metropolitan areas with the highest employment level.
Expected Salary
Nationally.
According to the latest information published in 2018, the median annual wage for pharmacy technicians was $32,700. Pharmacy technicians don’t just work in pharmacies. Some work in hospitals and long-term care facilities, while others work in general merchandise stores. Here are the median annual wages for pharmacy technicians in the top industries they work for:
- Hospital: state, local, and private – $37,390
- General merchandise stores – $31,450
- Food and beverage stores – $30,640
- Pharmacies and drug stores – $30,470
In Florida.
The annual mean wage for pharmacy technicians working in Florida was $32,090, with the hourly mean wage being $15.43. Wages were higher for South Florida pharmacy technicians who earned an annual mean wage of $33,090 and an hourly mean wage of $15.91.
Enroll in Pharmacy Tech School
If you want to join a growing field and work towards a profession with a healthy rate of job growth projected in the coming years, becoming a pharmacy technician may be the right choice for you. Most pharmacy technicians attend a post-secondary pharmacy technician program and then sit for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE). When they pass, they become Certified Pharmacy Technicians (CPht) To learn more about the pharmacy technician program and PTCE exam prep we offer at FVI School of Nursing and Technology, contact us today![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
