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 |
| Northwest Minnesota | 650 | 57 | $14.75/hr | $0.30/hr | $10.70/hr | $12.45/hr | $14.66/hr | $17.13/hr | $18.71/hr |
| Minnesota | 6,810 | 320 | $15.67/hr | $0.25/hr | $10.64/hr | $12.66/hr | $15.34/hr | $18.30/hr | $21.56/hr |
| U S | 353,340 | 2,473 | $14.83/hr | $0.04/hr | $10.03/hr | $11.85/hr | $14.29/hr | $17.46/hr | $20.66/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 | 550 | $16.00/hr | 28.0% |
| Medical Records and Health Information Technicians | 530 | $17.80/hr | 16.7% |
| Dental Assistants | 520 | $17.41/hr | 18.2% |
| Opticians, Dispensing | 80 | $14.46/hr | 27.9% |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | 60 | $26.14/hr | 25.6% |
| Animal Breeders | N/A | N/A | 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.