# Pharmacy Technicians

> Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pharmacy-technicians
- SOC code: 29-2052.00
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $45,750 (10th percentile $36,020, 90th percentile $61,040)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +6.4%
- Openings a year: 44,700
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code CRS)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 54 |
| Investigative (I) | 33 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 39 |
| Enterprising (E) | 25 |
| Conventional (C) | 100 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 82/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 79/100)
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards (importance 78/100)
- Processing Information (importance 77/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 76/100)
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships (importance 74/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 73/100)
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings (importance 73/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 71/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 71/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Monitoring, Service Orientation, Social Perceptiveness

## Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service, Medicine and Dentistry, Mathematics, English Language, Computers and Electronics, Law and Government, Administrative, Production and Processing, Chemistry, Public Safety and Security

## Also called

Accredited Pharmacy Technician, Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), Chemotherapy Pharmacy Technician (Chemo Pharmacy Technician), Compounding Pharmacy Tech (Compounding Pharmacy Technician), Compounding Technician, Drug Coordinator, Hospital Pharmacy Tech (Hospital Pharmacy Technician), Inpatient Pharmacy Tech (Inpatient Pharmacy Technician), OR Pharmacy Tech (Operating Room Pharmacy Tech), Pharmacist Assistant

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5108) (CIP 5108, 1,063 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Connecticut UCONN](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-connecticut-uconn-2902) | Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | $38,020 | $79,657 | $19,500 |
| [Ohio State University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ohio-state-university-main-campus-2000) | Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | $45,321 | $73,594 | $19,829 |

## Related careers

- [Pharmacists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pharmacists): $140,910 median pay
- [Pharmacy Aides](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pharmacy-aides): $37,680 median pay
- [Medical Assistants](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/medical-assistants): $45,690 median pay
- [Veterinary Technologists and Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/veterinary-technologists-and-technicians): $47,380 median pay
- [Phlebotomists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/phlebotomists): $45,230 median pay
- [Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/licensed-practical-and-licensed-vocational-nurses): $64,400 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.