Technicians work the same hours that pharmacists work. These may include evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Because some hospital and retail pharmacies are open 24 hours a day, technicians may work varying shifts. As their seniority increases, technicians often have increased control over the hours they work. There are many opportunities for part-time work in both retail and hospital settings.

The median hourly wage for pharmacy technicians is $11.37, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Based on a 40-hour week, that works out to an annual salary of $23,650. The average salary range is $18,720 - $32,240 per year. Pharmacy technician salaries also vary a good deal by state, city, employer and experience.

Pharmacy technicians may find jobs in retail pharmacies, either independently owned or part of a drugstore chain, grocery store, or mass retailer.  Also technicians work in hospitals, long term care facilities, mail-order pharmacies, internet pharmacies, clinics, pharmaceutical wholesalers, the Federal Government, and even as drug reps and insurance screeners.

Although most pharmacy technicians receive informal on-the-job training, employers increasingly favor those who have completed formal training and certification. Employers also prefer applicants with strong customer service and communication skills and with experience managing inventories, counting, measuring, and using computers. Technicians entering the field need strong mathematics, spelling, and reading skills. A background in chemistry, English, and health education also may be beneficial. Some technicians are hired without formal training, but under the condition that they obtain certification within a specified period to retain employment.

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board administers the National Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination. This exam is voluntary in most States and displays the competency of the individual to act as a pharmacy technician. However, more States and employers are requiring certification as reliance on pharmacy technicians grows. Eligible candidates must have a high school diploma or GED and no felony convictions, and those who pass the exam earn the title of Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT). The exam is offered several times per year at various locations nationally. Employers, often pharmacists, know that individuals who pass the exam have a standardized body of knowledge and skills. Many employers will also reimburse the costs of the exam as an incentive for certification.

HGTC offers a diploma program in Pharmacy Tech. The program is four quarters in length, after core classes are finished.  It is a part-time program, usually in the evening. Students gain hands-on experience in local pharmacies in retail, hospitals, and institutional supply. Upon completion of the pharmacy techology program, students will be eligible to sit for the NPT Certification Exam.

Successful pharmacy technicians are alert, observant, organized, dedicated, and responsible. They should be willing and able to take directions. They must enjoy precise work—details are sometimes a matter of life and death. Although a pharmacist must check and approve all their work, they should be able to work on their own without constant instruction from the pharmacist. Candidates interested in becoming pharmacy technicians cannot have prior records of drug or substance abuse.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills are needed because there is a lot of interaction with patients, coworkers, and healthcare professionals. Teamwork is very important because technicians are often required to work with pharmacists, aides, and other technicians.

Good job opportunities are expected for full-time and part-time work, especially for technicians with formal training or previous experience. Job openings for pharmacy technicians will result from the expansion of retail pharmacies and other employment settings, and from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.

Employment of pharmacy technicians is expected to grow faster than the average through 2012 due to the increased pharmaceutical needs of a larger and older population, and to the greater use of medication. The increased number of middle-aged and elderly people—who, on average, use more prescription drugs than do younger people—will spur demand for technicians in all practice settings. With advances in science, more medications are becoming available to treat more conditions.

Cost-conscious insurers, pharmacies, and health systems will continue to emphasize the role of technicians. As a result, pharmacy technicians will assume responsibility for more routine tasks previously performed by pharmacists. Pharmacy technicians also will need to learn and master new pharmacy technology as it surfaces. For example, robotic machines are used to dispense medicine into containers; technicians must oversee the machines, stock the bins, and label the containers. Thus, while automation is increasingly incorporated into the job, it will not necessarily reduce the need for technicians.

In some States, technicians have assumed more medication dispensing duties as pharmacists have become more involved in patient care, resulting in more technicians per pharmacist.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median hourly earnings of wage and salary pharmacy technicians in 2002 were $10.70. with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $7.44, and the highest 10 percent earning more than $15.82.  Certified technicians may earn more.