JOB OPPORTUNITIES / SALARY

There is a tremendous projected growth in career opportunities for pharmacy technicians over the next several years. California has a projected growth of 6-8% in pharmacy technician job openings between 2023 and 2033 (source: O*Net Onine). Many of those employment opportunities will be in retail or community pharmacies, especially with chain drug stores.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the median annual wage for pharmacy technicians nationally at $40,300/$19.37 per hour (May, 2023) with the lowest 10% earning less than $32,720 and the hightest 10% earning more than $57,130.

- Per the BLS, the median salary for pharmacy technicians in California in 2023 was approximately $55,710 per year/$26.79 per hour.

Entry-level salaries may depend on previous experience and the technical ability of the applicant.

Pharmacy technicians who work in acute care (hospital), home infusion, and compounding pharmacies may earn pay at a higher rate due to the requirement for a more advanced level of technical skill. Students who want to work in one of these practice sites must complete the ASHP-accredited certificate or the associate degree program.

Note that many retail pharmacies also employ pharmacy clerks. Pharmacy clerks are not licensed by the California State Board of Pharmacy and there are no specific educational requirements for clerk jobs. Students who are enrolled in the Pharmacy Technology program are encouraged to apply for clerk jobs to gain additional experience in the pharmacy workplace. Pharmacy clerks generally earn $16.00per hour, though experienced clerks may earn approximately $20+ per hour.

Pharmacy technicians can expect to work varying shifts. Many pharmacies are open seven days a week, with daytime and evening hours. Some pharmacies provide 24-hour service. Part-time and per diem (on-call) positions are also available for pharmacy technicians.

Additional information on pharmacy technician salaries can be found at www.salary.com. Pharmacy technician salaries can be found under the "Pharmaceutical" or "Healthcare Technicians" job category. Choose the location where you want to work. Select either the Pharmacy Technician I or Pharmacy Technician II job title and click "create salary report".

​​​​Pharmacy technicians must be licensed with the State Board of Pharmacy before they can begin to work in California.