There are no federal and few state requirements for formal education or training of pharmacy technicians. Pharmacy technicians work the same hours and schedules as pharmacists and should expect to work weekdays, evenings, and some weekends. Hospital pharmacies are often open and staffed 24 hours a day. Pharmacy technicians must be able to handle non-traditional work schedules and the demands they place on family and friends. There is a broad range of starting salaries for pharmacy technicians.
Salaries depend on job responsibilities, location, and hours of work.
Many employers also provide fringe benefits such as paid sick leave, medical and dental insurance, and retirement plans. The increasing clinical emphasis of pharmacist s responsibilities, the increasing pharmacy workload, and the increasing need to control healthcare costs make the employment outlook for well-trained pharmacy technicians very good. Currently, pharmacy technicians are assuming more responsibility for tasks previously performed by pharmacists and will be responsible for mastering new pharmacy technology, as it becomes available. Opportunities for advancement vary with the pharmacy technician s employer. Many large hospitals have career ladders with technicians advancing to supervisory roles or advanced specialized, technical duties.