subject: Average Pharmacy Technician Salary: Is It High Enough For You? [print this page] With today's high unemployment rate and down economy, there's no better time to transition into a more fulfilling and higher paying career. According to the US Department of Labor Statistics, jobs in the medical industry are growing at a phenomenal rate compared to many other industries in the country.
Though many careers in the health care industry require elaborate degrees or heavy start up costs, there are also many clerical positions, administrative positions and communications positions that are easier to train for and offer many opportunities for those looking to gain entry into the field.
Becoming a pharmacy technician can be easier than you think and open up a world of employment opportunities. The average pharmacy technician salary ranges from about 10 to 18 dollars an hour according to US Department of Labor statistics in 2008, and the field is expected to grow by as much as 25% between 2010 and 2018.
Average Pharmacy Technician Salary, Benefits and Job Description
The average pharmacy technician salary is earned by assisting pharmacists in labeling, packaging and counting medications, performing other administrative duties as needed and assisting with running the pharmacy business. This may include customer service, data management and record keeping. The average pharmacy technician salary of 10-18 dollars an hour can be a pretty decent wage for those just coming off a layoff or attempting to transition into the medical field.
Pharmacy technicians can be trained in HIT (health information technology) programs in major colleges and universities, but those degrees encompass a number of fields associated with the health care industry. It's often quite possible to amass the appropriate credentials to earn the average pharmacy technician salary with much shorter vocational programs or even on-the-job training.
Average Pharmacy Technician Training
Vocational schools usually offer pharmacy technician training programs to qualified students that last as little as 3 months or as long as a year. Basic curriculum covered includeds introductions to common medications, how they are stamped and labeled as far as medication names and dosage, what common reactions, side affects and allergies are associated with them and the all the rest having to do with the chemical aspects of the job. Clerical skills are also taught in many more elaborate programs, such as communications skills for customer service scenarios, administrative duties such as record keeping and billing and coding practices for dealing with insurance companies within a pharmacy.
Pharmacy Technician Training Online
The average pharmacy technician salary can fluctuate based on whether or not a technician is certified, so many educational programs will either place students in externships for on-the-job training or at least prep them for certification tests. Many programs are available online as well, for those wishing to transition into a health care career while continuing another job. Many accredited online programs exist and can be completed on the student's time at their own desired pace. Check out the programs offered online and you can find yourself earning the average pharmacy technician's salary a lot quicker than you think.
