Occupations · Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
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.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 29-2052.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 91% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $43,470 | 26,860 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $45,570 | 17,140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $48,600 | 16,040 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $45,290 | 11,680 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $44,220 | 10,050 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | $44,940 | 10,000 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $39,450 | 9,120 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $45,390 | 8,630 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | $47,880 | 8,410 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $40,050 | 8,370 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $45,550 | 6,840 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $39,610 | 6,320 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: High school diploma or equivalent · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
- Enter prescription information into computer databases.
- Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
- Compute charges for medication or equipment dispensed to hospital patients and enter data in computer.
- Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
- Prepare and process medical insurance claim forms and records.
- Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.
- Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
- Assist customers by answering simple questions, locating items, or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information.
- Operate cash registers to accept payment from customers.
- Transfer medication from vials to the appropriate number of sterile, disposable syringes, using aseptic techniques.
- Mix pharmaceutical preparations, according to written prescriptions.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2021-08
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2021-08
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
Tasks O*NET flags as emerging
- Enter prescription information into computer databases.
O*NET 25.3 emerging tasks
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2015
Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning.
Now listed 7
No longer listed 3
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| pharmacy technician | 3213.2 | exact |
| pharmacy assistant | 3213.1 | close |
| pharmacist | 2262.1 | close |
| medical goods specialised seller | 5223.7.24 | close |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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