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
Short-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.
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Pharmacy aides support pharmacy operations and play a front-line role in customer-facing settings. With national employment of about 41,000 and an estimated 6,000 annual openings, this career offers a consistent flow of opportunities for new and experienced workers. The national median salary of $37,000 provides a clear benchmark for evaluating job offers and planning career steps. Projected employment growth is -0.1%, indicating that overall headcount is expected to be essentially flat in the coming years. However, ongoing annual openings suggest continued hiring as positions turn over. Typical entry into this field requires a high school diploma or equivalent, making it accessible to individuals starting their careers or changing fields. Strong skills in customer service, interpersonal communication, attention to detail, and basic mathematics are particularly important. For people interested in healthcare settings who value direct interaction with customers and structured procedures, pharmacy aide roles can serve as a stable, skills-based career path or a starting point for longer-term development.
Pharmacy aides earn a national median annual salary of $37,000, which provides a useful reference point when comparing job opportunities across locations. Salaries vary by state and metro area. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington shows a higher median salary of $45,110, while California offers $42,200. New York, Massachusetts, and Colorado are closer to the national benchmark, with median salaries ranging from about $37,390 to $38,040. At the metro level, several areas stand out for higher pay: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA has a median salary of $47,450, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA offers $46,830. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro is closer to the national figure at $38,550. These variations mean that location choice can significantly influence earning potential, especially for workers open to relocating or comparing offers across multiple regions.
Pharmacy aides have national employment of about 41,000 workers, with projected employment growth of -0.1%. This projection indicates that the total number of positions is expected to remain essentially stable over time rather than expand significantly. Even with flat projected growth, the occupation is expected to generate about 6,000 annual openings. These openings can arise from workers changing jobs, leaving the labor force, or moving into other roles. For job seekers, this combination means that while the number of positions is not expected to increase, there will still be regular hiring activity. People considering this career should focus on developing the key skills associated with pharmacy aide roles—such as customer service, attention to detail, and reliability—to be competitive for these openings. The overall outlook suggests a steady, replacement-driven job market where maintaining strong skills and work habits will be important for securing and keeping positions.
Location plays a major role in the opportunities available to pharmacy aides. Among states, California stands out with a median salary of $42,200 and employment of 8,440, paired with an opportunity score of 67.38. New York also offers a relatively large employment base of 2,360 and a median salary of $38,040, with an opportunity score of 65.78. Massachusetts, Colorado, and Washington have smaller employment counts—from 340 to 1,990—but still rank highly on opportunity scores, between 56.29 and 65.87. Washington combines one of the higher median salaries at $45,110 with a solid opportunity score of 56.29. At the metro level, San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA and New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ post the highest opportunity scores, 77.42 and 77.27, respectively, with median salaries of $47,450 and $38,550. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV also offer notable combinations of salary and opportunity, giving candidates multiple strong regional options.
Pharmacy aide positions typically require a high school diploma or equivalent, making this role accessible to individuals without postsecondary degrees. This education level allows both recent high school graduates and adults changing careers to enter the field. Success in this occupation depends heavily on a well-rounded set of skills. Customer service and interpersonal abilities are central, as pharmacy aides interact with the public and colleagues. Being detail oriented and comfortable with basic mathematics supports accurate, reliable work. Adaptability, leadership potential, fine motor skills, mechanical aptitude, and physical strength and stamina can also be valuable, depending on the specific workplace and tasks. Competence with computers and information technology is another important element, reflecting the use of digital tools and systems in modern work environments. Together, these skills complement the baseline educational requirement and help candidates demonstrate that they are prepared for the practical and customer-focused demands of pharmacy aide roles.
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