Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012

29-2052 Pharmacy Technicians

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.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
353,340 0.7 % $14.63 $30,430 0.3 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $9.89 $11.69 $14.10 $17.22 $20.38
Annual Wage (2) $20,580 $24,320 $29,320 $35,810 $42,400

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Health and Personal Care Stores 188,260 18.80 $13.91 $28,940
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 56,710 1.08 $16.54 $34,410
Other General Merchandise Stores 26,710 1.64 $13.80 $28,710
Grocery Stores 23,730 0.95 $13.97 $29,060
Department Stores 18,140 1.17 $13.34 $27,750

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Health and Personal Care Stores 188,260 18.80 $13.91 $28,940
Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers 5,020 2.67 $15.40 $32,030
Other General Merchandise Stores 26,710 1.64 $13.80 $28,710
Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses 4,400 1.60 $14.43 $30,000
Department Stores 18,140 1.17 $13.34 $27,750

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 5,770 0.28 $19.54 $40,650
Outpatient Care Centers 3,410 0.53 $18.63 $38,750
Offices of Physicians 4,770 0.20 $17.81 $37,040
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 1,100 0.04 $17.77 $36,960
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 200 0.02 $17.61 $36,630

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 30,540 2.14 0.79 $18.82 $39,150
Texas 27,660 2.61 0.96 $15.13 $31,460
Florida 23,490 3.23 1.19 $13.66 $28,410
New York 16,260 1.90 0.70 $14.91 $31,010
Illinois 15,740 2.79 1.03 $14.40 $29,950




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Tennessee 11,970 4.50 1.66 $13.68 $28,450
West Virginia 3,160 4.44 1.64 $12.30 $25,580
Missouri 9,870 3.79 1.40 $13.38 $27,820
Maine 2,150 3.70 1.36 $13.91 $28,930
Kentucky 6,480 3.67 1.35 $12.26 $25,510




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 800 1.22 0.45 $19.50 $40,560
Washington 7,150 2.59 0.95 $19.05 $39,630
Alaska 620 1.96 0.72 $19.00 $39,520
California 30,540 2.14 0.79 $18.82 $39,150
Hawaii 1,260 2.15 0.79 $17.77 $36,960





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 9,090 1.76 0.65 $16.11 $33,500
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 8,470 2.33 0.86 $14.75 $30,690
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 7,290 1.88 0.69 $17.70 $36,810
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA 5,790 2.56 0.94 $13.46 $27,990
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 5,760 2.18 0.80 $15.42 $32,080
Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division 5,200 2.48 0.91 $16.31 $33,910
St. Louis, MO-IL 4,660 3.66 1.35 $14.42 $29,990
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL 4,560 4.05 1.49 $13.82 $28,740
Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, AZ 4,490 2.59 0.96 $15.61 $32,470
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 4,480 2.46 0.91 $14.56 $30,290