DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA
29-2052 Pharmacy Technicians
Occupational Description:
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.| Percentiles | |||||||||
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| Geography | Employment | Emp SE* | Mean | Mean SE* | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
| Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA | 5,280 | 634 | $19.23/hr | $0.67/hr | $13.30/hr | $15.88/hr | $18.71/hr | $22.77/hr | $26.47/hr |
| Minnesota | 8,120 | 682 | $18.62/hr | $0.45/hr | $12.97/hr | $15.51/hr | $18.15/hr | $21.90/hr | $25.14/hr |
| U S | 417,780 | 3,342 | $17.13/hr | $0.05/hr | $11.72/hr | $13.59/hr | $16.49/hr | $19.64/hr | $23.86/hr |
| *SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate. | |||||||||
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| Occupation (click title for details) | OES | Projections | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | Median Wage | % Change - | |
| Medical Secretaries | 9,330 | $21.12/hr | N/A |
| Dental Assistants | 3,760 | $26.39/hr | N/A |
| Opticians, Dispensing | 1,250 | $19.10/hr | N/A |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | 640 | $32.41/hr | N/A |
Tasks for Pharmacy Technicians
- Assists pharmacist to prepare and dispense medication.
- Prepares intravenous (IV) packs, using sterile technique, under supervision of hospital pharmacist.
- Counts stock and enters data in computer to maintain inventory records.
- Cleans equipment and sterilizes glassware according to prescribed methods.
- Mixes pharmaceutical preparations, fills bottles with prescribed tablets and capsules, and types labels for bottles.
- Receives and stores incoming supplies.
- Processes records of medication and equipment dispensed to hospital patient, computes charges, and enters data in computer.
