Pharmacy Technicians
SOC Code: 29-2052 Job Zone 3: Medium Preparation Needed
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.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Pharmacy Technicians. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $48,214 | $59,821 | $71,448 | $83,054 |
| Napa, CA | $48,901 | $59,176 | $69,472 | $79,747 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $48,173 | $57,803 | $67,413 | $77,043 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $44,179 | $53,810 | $63,461 | $73,091 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $47,382 | $54,184 | $61,006 | $67,808 |
| Vallejo, CA | $42,598 | $50,960 | $59,322 | $67,683 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $43,638 | $51,189 | $58,718 | $66,269 |
| Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA | $44,845 | $50,669 | $56,472 | $62,296 |
| Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA | $41,496 | $48,214 | $54,933 | $61,651 |
| San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA | $40,290 | $47,382 | $54,454 | $61,547 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.0 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 | |
| Speaking | 3.8 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.2 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.1 | |
| Monitoring | 3.1 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 | |
| Active Learning | 3.1 | |
| Service Orientation | 3.1 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.6 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | 3.9 |
| Mathematics | 3.8 |
| English Language | 3.8 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.7 |
| Law and Government | 3.5 |
| Administrative | 3.3 |
| Production and Processing | 3.2 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Some college | 42.0% |
| High school diploma | 35.7% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 14.6% |
| Bachelor's degree | 3.8% |
| Associate's degree | 3.8% |
Typical Tasks
- Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
- Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
- Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
- Assist customers by answering simple questions, locating items, or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information.
- Price and file prescriptions that have been filled.
- Clean and help maintain equipment or work areas and sterilize glassware, according to prescribed methods.
- Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
- Order, label, and count stock of medications, chemicals, or supplies and enter inventory data into computer.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Apple Safari MEDITECH software Microsoft Edge Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Mozilla Firefox Billing and reimbursement software Compounder software Database software Drug compatibility software Inventory management software Label-making software
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