How to Get the Highest Pharmacy Technician Salary?
The pharmacy technician salary depends largely on many factors, including region, classification, skills and experience in this field. For example, a new pharmacy technician would typically earn about 9 dollars per hour, the minimum wage in this field of expertise, as opposed to a skilled technician, that has spent at least five years in this profession, which can earn up to 25 dollars per hour.
So, it is pretty clear that wages depend on many things, but how can you find the best salary in the field, to get the most from your time?
Get your Pharmacy Technician Certification! If you don’t have it already getting your pharmacy technician certification in advance will make it easier, not only to get employed but, it will allow you to obtain the highest pharmacy technician salary possible with an entry level position.
Next remember a very easy formula. Expect the worst, but hope for the best. A pharmacy technician salary will be low at first, but it can be higher if you ask for more and are able to negotiate before being hired. For example, we recommend asking for 17 dollars per hour in order to get, let’s say, 15 and a half. This type of tactic works in 50 percent of the time, and when it does not work, you will end up with a slightly lower pay than you hoped for, but still reasonable. Remember, don’t ask for unreasonable pay, as you will never reach the negotiation step of the deal. Be sure to research pay rates in your area prior to your interview.
Here’s a general guideline of what entry level Pharmacy Technician Salary to expect through the various pharmacy technician work locations:
- Retail Drugstore $8.60 – $11.62
- Pharmacy $9.10 – $13.20
- Retail $9.00 – $12.30
- Hospital $11.00 – $16.00
- Pharmaceuticals $9.00 – $12.50
- Retail Grocery Store $8.65 – $13.06
- Healthcare $11.08 – $15.45
Something else to take into consideration when looking for the highest pharmacy technician salary is your location. Pharmacy technician’s salaries vary depending on where in country you are located. For instance the city of Los Angeles and other metropolitan areas would have a higher salary than pharmacy tech’s in smaller towns.
Once you’ve accepted a position another way to start increase your pharmacy technician salary is to become better and better at what you do each day. Your employer will see that he or she needs you, allowing you to get raises every quarter or whenever raises are offered.
These steps are to be used as a general guidelines, before going into negotiation do your research by checking the current pay for these jobs in your local paper or across the internet. You don’t want to shoot yourself in the foot at the interview by asking for something way out of ballpark for your area or your position.
Hope this was helpful. Stay tuned more information to come.
