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 |
| Northeast Minnesota | 510 | 58 | $14.68/hr | $0.76/hr | $10.15/hr | $11.43/hr | $14.03/hr | $17.23/hr | $20.35/hr |
| Minnesota | 7,040 | 352 | $15.76/hr | $0.25/hr | $10.70/hr | $12.71/hr | $15.31/hr | $18.44/hr | $21.88/hr |
| U S | 343,550 | 2,748 | $14.74/hr | $0.04/hr | $9.97/hr | $11.76/hr | $14.21/hr | $17.40/hr | $20.57/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 2010 - 2020 | |
| Medical Secretaries | 590 | $15.56/hr | 25.2% |
| Dental Assistants | 280 | $17.79/hr | 11.0% |
| Medical Records and Health Information Technicians | 240 | $16.18/hr | 16.1% |
| Opticians, Dispensing | 120 | $16.52/hr | 4.9% |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | 120 | $28.78/hr | 19.7% |
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.