Pharmacy Technician: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Pharmacy Technician programs equip learners with the essential knowledge and hands-on skills required to support pharmacists in delivering safe, accurate, and efficient medication services. This training emphasizes precision, compliance, and patient-centered care within clinical and operational pharmacy environments.
- Medical and Pharmaceutical Terminology: Master the specialized language used in healthcare settings to accurately interpret and communicate drug-related information.
- Principles of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutics: Understand how medications work in the body and the science behind drug formulation, stability, and delivery methods.
- Drug Identification and Classification: Develop the ability to recognize prescription and over-the-counter medications by name, form, strength, and purpose.
- Pharmacy Laboratory Procedures: Gain proficiency in compounding, mixing, and preparing customized medications following sterile and safety protocols.
- Prescription Interpretation: Learn to read, analyze, and verify prescriptions for accuracy, dosage, and potential drug interactions.
- Patient Communication and Education: Cultivate skills to interact professionally with patients, explain medication use, and promote adherence and safety.
- Safety and Regulatory Compliance: Adhere to strict protocols for handling controlled substances, preventing errors, and maintaining a secure, compliant pharmacy environment.
- Record-Keeping and Documentation: Maintain accurate, confidential, and legally sound records of prescriptions, inventory, and patient interactions.
- Measurement and Testing Techniques: Apply precise methods for measuring, weighing, and verifying medication quantities and quality.
- Pharmacy Business Operations: Understand the administrative side of pharmacy, including billing, insurance processing, and inventory management.
- Prescription Preparation and Dispensing: Perform efficient and error-free processes for packaging, labeling, and distributing medications to patients.
- Logistics and Workflow Management: Optimize the flow of medications and tasks within a pharmacy to support timely and reliable service delivery.
- Standards and Regulations: Stay current with federal, state, and professional guidelines governing pharmacy practice and patient safety.
Pharmacy Technician Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Pharmacy Technician Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Pharmacy Technician degrees, including Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary and Pharmacy Technicians. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 717,640 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1071 | $105,620 | $51,760 - $239,200 | 229,720 | N/A |
| Pharmacy Technicians 29-2052 | $43,460 | $35,100 - $59,450 | 487,920 | $20.90 |
Pharmacy Technician Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $46,735 in Hawaii to $108,105 in Arkansas—a 131% difference. The highest-paying states include Arkansas, District of Columbia, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 717,640 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Pharmacy Technician by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 99 institutions offering Pharmacy Technician programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Pharmacy Technician is found at Martinsburg College (MC) (264 graduates), NUC University (NUC) (250 graduates), Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) (178 graduates), Miller-Motte College, Chattanooga (153 graduates), and Global Medical & Technical Training Institute (GMTTI) (136 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 5,129 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martinsburg College (MC) |
Other Award
|
264 | Martinsburg, West Virginia | Private | martinsburgcollege.edu |
| NUC University (NUC) |
Associate's
|
250 | Bayamon, Puerto Rico | Private | nuc.edu |
| Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) |
Associate's
|
178 | Clearwater, Florida | Private | ultimatemedical.edu |
| Miller-Motte College |
Associate's
|
153 | Chattanooga, Tennessee | Private | miller-motte.edu |
| Global Medical & Technical Training Institute (GMTTI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
136 | Miami, Florida | Private | gmtti.edu |
| FVI School of Nursing and Technology |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
132 | Miami, Florida | Private | fvi.edu |
| Mountainland Technical College (MTECH) |
Other Award
|
130 | Lehi, Utah | Public | mtec.edu |
| Concorde Career College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
119 | Memphis, Tennessee | Private | concorde.edu |
| Ross College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
101 | Sylvania, Ohio | Private | rosseducation.edu |
| American Career College (ACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
88 | Los Angeles, California | Private | americancareercollege.edu |
| Rasmussen University |
Other Award
|
85 | St. Cloud, Minnesota | Private | rasmussen.edu |
| Northwest Career College (NCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
81 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Private | northwestcareercollege.edu |
| Florida Education Institute (FEI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
80 | Miami, Florida | Private | fei.edu |
| UEI College (UEI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
77 | Fresno, California | Private | uei.edu |
| American Career College (ACC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
71 | Ontario, California | Private | americancareercollege.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
70 | Bakersfield, California | Private | uei.edu |
| Arkansas Tech University (ATU) |
Other Award
|
68 | Russellville, Arkansas | Public | atu.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
67 | El Paso, Texas | Private | pmi.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
61 | Chula Vista, California | Private | pmi.edu |
| Carrington College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
60 | Sacramento, California | Private | carrington.edu |
| Wichita Technical Institute (WTI) |
Other Award
|
60 | Wichita, Kansas | Private | wti.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
59 | Gardena, California | Private | uei.edu |
| American Career College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
59 | Anaheim, California | Private | americancareercollege.edu |
| Tulsa Technology Center (Tulsa Tech) |
Other Award
|
59 | Tulsa, Oklahoma | Public | tulsatech.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
58 | Riverside, California | Private | uei.edu |
| High Desert Medical College (HDMC) |
Other Award
|
58 | Lancaster, California | Private | hdmc.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
51 | Visalia, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| Hacienda La Puente Adult Education (HLPAE) |
Other Award
|
50 | La Puente, California | Public | hlpae.com |
| Ivy Tech Community College (Ivy Tech) |
Other Award
|
49 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | ivytech.edu |
| San Jacinto Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
49 | Pasadena, Texas | Public | sanjac.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
48 | West Covina, California | Private | uei.edu |
| Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE SCE) |
Other Award
|
48 | Riverside, California | Public | riversidesce.org |
| Davis Technical College (DATC) |
Other Award
|
47 | Kaysville, Utah | Public | davistech.edu |
| Unitech Training Academy |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
47 | Lafayette, Louisiana | Private | unitechta.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
47 | McAllen, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| Lone Star College System (LSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
46 | The Woodlands, Texas | Public | lonestar.edu |
| Santa Ana College (SAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
43 | Santa Ana, California | Public | sac.edu |
| Houston Community College (HCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
43 | Houston, Texas | Public | hccs.edu |
| San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
42 | San Bernardino, California | Public | valleycollege.edu |
| Fortis College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
41 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Private | fortis.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
41 | Hesperia, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
39 | Bakersfield, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| CCI Training Center |
Other Award
|
39 | Arlington, Texas | Private | ccitraining.edu |
| Cerritos College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
37 | Norwalk, California | Public | cerritos.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
37 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| College of the Desert (COD) |
Other Award
|
35 | Palm Desert, California | Public | collegeofthedesert.edu |
| Downey Adult School (DAS) |
Other Award
|
35 | Downey, California | Public | das.edu |
| Southern Careers Institute (SCI) |
Other Award
|
35 | Pharr, Texas | Private | scitexas.edu |
| Foothill College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
34 | Los Altos Hills, California | Public | foothill.edu |
| Los Angeles Mission College (LAMC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
34 | Sylmar, California | Public | lamission.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Cupey) |
Associate's
|
34 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| Unitech Training Academy |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
34 | West Monroe, Louisiana | Private | unitechta.edu |
| Dixie Technical College |
Other Award
|
34 | Saint George, Utah | Public | dixietech.edu |
| Southern Careers Institute (SCI) |
Other Award
|
34 | Brownsville, Texas | Private | scitexas.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
34 | Lancaster, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
33 | Tucson, Arizona | Private | pmi.edu |
| UEI College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
33 | Reseda, California | Private | uei.edu |
| Arizona College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
33 | Glendale, Arizona | Private | arizonacollege.edu |
| North-West College (NWC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
32 | West Covina, California | Private | nw.edu |
| GateWay Community College |
Other Award
|
32 | Phoenix, Arizona | Public | gatewaycc.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
32 | Ontario, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| Southern Careers Institute (SCI) |
Other Award
|
31 | San Antonio, Texas | Private | scitexas.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
31 | Salida, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| Ana G. Mendez University (AGMU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
31 | Orlando, Florida | Private | agmu.edu |
| Columbia Central University (CCU) |
Associate's
|
30 | Caguas, Puerto Rico | Private | columbiacentral.edu |
| Southern Careers Institute |
Other Award
|
30 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Private | scitexas.edu |
| Rio Grande Valley College |
Other Award
|
30 | Pharr, Texas | Private | rgvcollege.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Carolina) |
Associate's
|
29 | Carolina, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| Bryan University |
Other Award
|
28 | Tempe, Arizona | Private | bryanuniversity.edu |
| City College of San Francisco (CCSF) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
28 | San Francisco, California | Public | ccsf.edu |
| Front Range Community College (FRCC) |
Other Award
|
28 | Westminster, Colorado | Public | frontrange.edu |
| Asher College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
28 | Sacramento, California | Private | asher.edu |
| Unitech Training Academy |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
28 | Alexandria, Louisiana | Private | unitechta.edu |
| San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
28 | Temecula, California | Private | sjvc.edu |
| Contra Costa Medical Career College (CCMCC) |
Other Award
|
28 | Antioch, California | Private | ccmcc.edu |
| Carrington College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
27 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | carrington.edu |
| Walters State Community College (WSCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Other Award
|
27 | Morristown, Tennessee | Public | ws.edu |
| Carrington College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
27 | Stockton, California | Private | carrington.edu |
| Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC) |
Other Award
|
26 | Belleville, Illinois | Public | swic.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
26 | Mesa, Arizona | Private | pmi.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
26 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Private | pmi.edu |
| Orange Technical College (OTC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
25 | Orlando, Florida | Public | orangetechcollege.net |
| Vincennes University (VU) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
25 | Vincennes, Indiana | Public | vinu.edu |
| Clover Park Technical College (CPTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
25 | Lakewood, Washington | Public | cptc.edu |
| North-West College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
25 | Riverside, California | Private | north-westcollege.edu |
| Concorde Career Institute |
Other Award
|
25 | Orlando, Florida | Private | concorde.edu |
| The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
25 | Fort Worth, Texas | Private | chcp.edu |
| Western Maricopa Education Center (West-MEC) |
Other Award
|
25 | Glendale, Arizona | Public | west-mec.edu |
| West Los Angeles College (WLAC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
24 | Culver City, California | Public | wlac.edu |
| Ayers Career College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
24 | Shreveport, Louisiana | Private | ayers.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Associate's
|
24 | Aguadilla, Puerto Rico | Private | aguadilla.inter.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
24 | Arecibo, Puerto Rico | Private | arecibo.inter.edu |
| Universidad Ana G. Mendez (UAGM Gurabo) |
Associate's
|
24 | Gurabo, Puerto Rico | Private | uagm.edu |
| Pima Medical Institute (PMI) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
23 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Private | pmi.edu |
| Sullivan University |
Other Award
|
23 | Louisville, Kentucky | Private | sullivan.edu |
| Ogden-Weber Technical College |
Other Award
|
23 | Ogden, Utah | Public | otech.edu |
| Osceola Technical College (oTECH) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
23 | Kissimmee, Florida | Public | osceolaschools.net |
| Charter College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
22 | Anchorage, Alaska | Private | chartercollege.edu |
| North Seattle College (NSC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
|
22 | Seattle, Washington | Public | northseattle.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Pharmacy Technician programs
How much can I earn with a Pharmacy Technician degree?
Salaries for Pharmacy Technician graduates vary by role and location. Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary earn a median of $105,620 annually, while Pharmacy Technicians earn around $43,460. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Arkansas average $108,105 compared to $46,735 in Hawaii. Approximately 717,640 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Pharmacy Technician programs?
Currently 365 accredited institutions offer Pharmacy Technician degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Martinsburg College (MC) (264 graduates), NUC University (NUC) (250 graduates), and Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) (178 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Pharmacy Technician growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 21,246 in 2010 to 7,541 in 2023-24. This represents a 65% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Pharmacy Technician degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, Pharmacy Technicians, . Related occupations employ approximately 717,640 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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