Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Moderate-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Pharmacy technicians support pharmacy operations and work with both medications and people. Nationally, this occupation employs about 490,000 workers, reflecting a sizable presence in the healthcare workforce. The national median annual salary of $43,460 places pharmacy technicians in a stable, wage-earning role with clear compensation data. Projected employment growth of 6.4% and an estimated 49,000 annual openings suggest ongoing demand for new entrants as well as opportunities for experienced workers to move between employers or locations. The role draws on a mix of technical and people-focused strengths, including detail orientation, customer service, mathematics, science, and computers and information technology. Strong interpersonal, speaking and listening, adaptability, and leadership abilities also matter, along with project management skills. For individuals interested in a healthcare-related job that typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent, pharmacy technician positions offer a defined entry path, a measurable employment outlook, and a variety of geographic options, from large metro areas to numerous states with strong opportunity scores.
Pharmacy technicians earn a national median annual salary of $43,460, providing a clear benchmark for evaluating potential earnings. Pay varies considerably by location. Among states with strong opportunity scores, Washington reports a median salary of $58,900 and California $55,110, both noticeably higher than the national median. Colorado at $49,970 and Massachusetts at $46,470 are also above that benchmark, while New York at $43,930 is close to the national figure. At the metro level, salary differences are even more pronounced. San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA stands out with a median salary of $75,490, and San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA reports $60,550. Other major metros, including Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV; Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH; and New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ, cluster around the mid-$40,000 range. These figures highlight the importance of location when assessing earning potential as a pharmacy technician.
Pharmacy technicians have a defined national employment footprint and a measurable growth outlook. About 490,000 people work in this occupation nationwide, indicating wide availability across the healthcare system. Projected employment growth of 6.4% points to an expanding field rather than a static one. In practical terms, this growth, along with turnover and other workforce changes, translates into an estimated 49,000 annual openings. Those openings represent opportunities for new workers entering the field, as well as for experienced pharmacy technicians seeking to change employers, locations, or work settings. The consistency of the 6.4% growth figure across highlighted states and metro areas suggests that this projected expansion is not confined to a single region. For job seekers, the combination of an established employment base, clear growth projection, and substantial annual openings indicates that pharmacy technician roles are expected to remain available across the coming period, with room for both entry and mobility within the occupation.
Location plays a significant role in pharmacy technician opportunities and pay. Several states show particularly strong indicators. California leads with a median salary of $55,110, employment of 39,860, and an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York also stand out, with opportunity scores above 65 and median salaries of $46,470 and $43,930, respectively. Colorado and Washington offer higher median pay—$49,970 in Colorado and $58,900 in Washington—along with solid opportunity scores in the mid-50s. At the metro level, differences become even more distinct. San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA combines an opportunity score of 77.42 with a median salary of $75,490, the highest among the listed areas. New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ has a similarly high opportunity score of 77.27 and sizable employment of 25,420. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA, Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH also present strong combinations of median pay, employment levels, and opportunity scores, giving candidates multiple geographic options to consider.
Pharmacy technician roles typically require a high school diploma or equivalent, providing a relatively accessible entry point into a healthcare-related career. While the formal education requirement is not extensive, success in this field depends on a well-rounded mix of skills. Technical strengths such as mathematics, science, and comfort with computers and information technology are important, supporting accurate handling of pharmacy-related tasks. Being detail oriented is critical, as is strong customer service, since pharmacy technicians interact regularly with patients and colleagues. Interpersonal skills, speaking and listening, and adaptability help in working effectively with diverse individuals and changing situations. Leadership and project management skills can support taking on additional responsibilities and coordinating daily activities within the pharmacy environment. Together, this skill profile suggests that candidates who combine solid basic education with both technical and people-focused abilities are well positioned to enter and grow within pharmacy technician roles.
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