Occupations/29-2052.00
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.
Usually a certificate, vocational program, or associate degree — not a bachelor’s.
AI automation risk
64%
Higher automation risk
Human characteristics
60%
Balanced human and task mix
Task orientation
86%
Higher automation risk
A day in this job
- Mostly human
Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
- Mostly routine
Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.
- Task
Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
Split from the wording of these tasks, shown next to the occupation’s AI risk. It is not a separate score for each task, and it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
- 02Enter prescription information into computer databases.
- 03Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
- 04Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
- 05Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.
- 06Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks4.39
- Degree of automation2.44
- Time sitting1.86
- Originality (ability)2.12
- Conflict situations3.63
- Hands-on objects/tools3.67
- Outdoors / weather1.05
- Disease exposure3.39
- Decision freedom3.28
Top abilities
- Written Comprehension4.00
- Oral Expression4.00
- Oral Comprehension4.00
- Near Vision4.00
- Speech Recognition3.88
- Problem Sensitivity3.75
- Information Ordering3.75
- Category Flexibility3.62
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension3.75
- Active Listening4.00
- Writing3.00
- Speaking3.75
- Mathematics3.00
- Science1.88
- Critical Thinking3.25
- Active Learning3.12
- Learning Strategies2.88
- Monitoring3.12
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 32 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Emory University Atlanta, GA · Private nonprofit | Pharmacy Technician/Assistant 51.0805 | $60,800 | 11% | 91% | 1 yr $167,572 2 yr $162,817 Master's · CIP 51.08 |
Northern Virginia Community College Annandale, VA · Public | Pharmacy Technician/Assistant 51.0805 | $5,700 | 100% | 35% | 1 yr $48,600 2 yr $54,778 Associate · CIP 51.08 |
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA · Public | Pharmacy Technician/Assistant 51.0805 | $19,600 | 55% | 86% | 1 yr $38,004 2 yr $37,671 Associate · CIP 51.08 |
Century College White Bear Lake, MN · Public | Pharmacy Technician/Assistant 51.0805 | $6,000 | 100% | 31% | 1 yr $37,856 2 yr $38,721 Associate · CIP 51.08 |
Minnesota State University Moorhead Moorhead, MN · Public | Pharmacy Technician/Assistant 51.0805 | $9,800 | 71% | 61% | 1 yr $34,847 2 yr $31,585 Certificate · CIP 51.08 |
Miami Dade College Miami, FL · Public | Pharmacy Technician/Assistant 51.0805 | $2,900 | 100% | 41% | 1 yr $33,459 2 yr — Associate · CIP 51.08 |
University of Minnesota-Rochester Rochester, MN · Public | Pharmacy Technician/Assistant 51.0805 | $14,200 | 72% | 73% | 1 yr $32,119 2 yr $29,685 Associate · CIP 51.08 |
Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia, PA · Public | Pharmacy Technician/Assistant 51.0805 | $5,200 | 100% | 21% | 1 yr $30,771 2 yr $29,685 Associate · CIP 51.08 |
Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN · Public | Pharmacy Technician/Assistant 51.0805 | $5,900 | 100% | 28% | 1 yr — 2 yr $30,409 Certificate · CIP 51.08 |
Lincoln College of Technology-Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN · Private for-profit | Pharmacy Technician/Assistant 51.0805 | $18,600 | 100% | 64% | 1 yr $30,150 2 yr $32,162 Bachelor's · CIP 51.08 |
Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH · Public | Pharmacy Technician/Assistant 51.0805 | $12,800 | 53% | 83% | 1 yr $28,849 2 yr $30,988 Bachelor's · CIP 51.08 |
Anoka-Ramsey Community College Coon Rapids, MN · Public | Pharmacy Technician/Assistant 51.0805 | $5,800 | 100% | 33% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Associate · CIP 51.08 |