Employers
There are approximately 463,900 pharmacy technicians employed in the United States. Most opportunities for pharmacy technicians are in retail. An externship provides a suitable way to segue into this position. Technicians also work in hospitals and long-term care facilities as well as in clinics at military bases, prisons, and colleges. Technicians are also finding work with home health care agencies, mail-order and Internet pharmacies, and with the federal government.
Starting Out
In some cases you may be able to pursue education and certification while employed as a pharmacy technician. Some chain drugstores pay the certification fees for their techs and also reward certified techs with higher hourly pay.
Pharmacy technicians often are hired by the hospital or agency where they interned or externed; others may find jobs through networking, professional organizations, or a general job search.
Professional pharmacy associations often offer job listings at their Web sites. For example, the National Pharmacy Technician Association offers a career page at https://careers.pharmacytechnician.org.
- Addiction Therapists
- Advanced Practice Nurses
- Aerospace Medicine Physicians
- Allergists/Immunologists
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Anesthesiologists
- Behavioral Health Technicians
- Biochemical Engineers
- Biochemists
- Bioinformatics Specialists
- Biologists
- Biomedical Engineers
- Biomedical Equipment Technicians
- Biotechnology Patent Lawyers
- Biotechnology Production Workers
- Biotechnology Research Assistants
- Cancer Exercise Specialists
- Cardiologists
- Cardiovascular Technologists
- Chemical Engineers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Child Life Specialists
- Chiropractors
- Clinical Applications Specialists
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners
- Clinical Research Coordinators
- Community Health Nurses
- Community Health Workers
- Contact Tracers
- Cosmetic Surgeons
- Creative Arts Therapists
- CRISPR Scientists
- Critical Care Nurses
- Cytogenetic Technologists
- Cytotechnologists
- Dental Assistants
- Dental Hygienists
- Dental Laboratory Technicians
- Dental Therapists
- Dentists
- Dermatologists
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
- Dialysis Technicians
- Dietetic Technicians
- Dietitians
- Directors of Telehealth
- Dispensing Opticians
- Drug Developers
- Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists
- Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Emergency Nurses
- Endocrinologists
- Endodontists
- Endoscopy Technicians
- Epidemiologists
- Ergonomists
- Gastroenterologists
- General Practitioners
- Genetic Counselors
- Genetic Engineers
- Genetic Scientists
- Geriatric Nurses
- Geriatric Psychiatrists
- Geriatric Social Workers
- Geriatricians
- Grief Therapists
- Health Advocates
- Health Data Analysts
- Health Educators
- Health Informaticists
- Hematologists
- Histologic Technicians
- Holistic Physicians
- Home Health Care Aides
- Home Health Care and Hospice Nurses
- Hospice Workers
- Hospitalists
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
- Informatics Nurse Specialists
- Kinesiologists
- Laboratory Technicians and Technologists
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Licensed Practical Nurses
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Manufacturing Production Technicians
- Manufacturing Supervisors
- Medical Assistants
- Medical Laboratory Technicians
- Medical Screeners
- Medical Scribes
- Medical Technologists
- Microbiologists
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists
- Music Therapists
- Naturopaths
- Neonatal Nurses
- Neurologists
- Neuropsychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists
- Neuroscientists
- Nuclear Medicine Physicians
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists
- Nurse Anesthetists
- Nurse Assistants
- Nurse Managers
- Nurse Practitioners
- Nurse-Midwives
- Nutritionists
- Obstetricians/Gynecologists
- Occupational Health Nurses
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides
- Oncological Nurses
- Oncologists
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
- Ophthalmologists
- Optometrists
- Oriental Medicine Practitioners
- Orientation and Mobility Specialists
- Orthodontists
- Orthoptists
- Orthotic and Prosthetic Technicians
- Orthotists and Prosthetists
- Osteopathic Physicians
- Pathologists
- Pediatricians
- Pedorthists
- Perfusionists
- Periodontists
- Pharmaceutical Industry Workers
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacologists
- Phlebotomy Technicians
- Physiatrists
- Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapy Assistants
- Physician Assistants, Physician Associates
- Physicians
- Podiatrists
- Preventive Medicine Physicians
- Product Development Directors
- Product Management Directors
- Product Managers
- Prosthodontists
- Psychiatric Nurses
- Psychiatric Technicians
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Radiologic Technologists
- Radiologists
- Receptionists
- Recreational Therapists
- Registered Nurses
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Respiratory Technicians
- Respiratory Therapists
- School Nurses
- Senior Care Pharmacists
- Social Workers
- Special Procedures Technologists
- Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
- Sports Physicians
- Sports Psychologists
- Surgeons
- Surgical Technologists
- Toxicologists
- Transplant Coordinators
- Urologists