Occupation Profile

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Pharmacy Technicians
(SOC Code : 29-2052)
in California

Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications.

Employers usually expect an employee in this occupation to be able to do the job after Moderate-term on-the-job training (1-12 months) .

Occupational Wages[Top]
AreaYearPeriodHourly MeanHourly by Percentile
25thMedian75th
California 20231st Qtr$26.00$20.61$23.99$29.84

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Occupational Projections of Employment (also called "Outlook" or "Demand")[Top]
 AreaEstimated Year-Projected YearEmploymentEmployment ChangeTotal Job Openings
EstimatedProjectedNumberPercent
California 2018 - 202837,60042,6005,00013.337,360

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Job Openings from JobCentral National Labor Exchange[Top]
 
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Possible Licenses Required and Issuing Authority[Top]
License Title
License Authority
Pharmacy TechnicianDepartment of Consumer Affairs
Board of Pharmacy
Licensing Unit
http://www.pharmacy.ca.gov

About Licenses
 

Industries Employing This Occupation (click on Industry Title to View Employers List)[Top]
Industry Title
Number of Employers in State of California
Percent of Total
Employment for Occupation in State of California
General Medical and Surgical Hos1,51118.5%
Grocery and Convenience Retailer15,0744.1%
Offices of Physicians 58,9743.9%
Outpatient Care Centers 10,3321.7%
Employment Services5,0961.0%

About Staffing Patterns
 

Training Programs (click on title for more information)[Top]
Program Title
Pharmacy Technician/Assistant

About Training & Apprenticeships
 

About This Occupation (from O*NET - The Occupation Information Network)[Top]
Top Tasks (Specific duties and responsibilities of this job.)
Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
Prepack bulk medicines, fill bottles with prescribed medications, and type and affix labels.
Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
Assist customers by answering simple questions, locating items, or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information.
Price and file prescriptions that have been filled.
Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
Order, label, and count stock of medications, chemicals, or supplies and enter inventory data into computer.
Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.
Mix pharmaceutical preparations, according to written prescriptions.

More Tasks for Pharmacy Technicians


Top Skills used in this Job
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others` reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Time Management - Managing one`s own time and the time of others.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others` actions.

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Top Abilities (Attributes of the person that influence performance in this job.)
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

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Top Work Values (Aspects of this job that create satisfaction.)
Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees.

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Top Interests (The types of activities someone in this job would like.)
Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

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Alternate Titles
Pharmacy Technologists; Pharmacy Laboratory Technicians; Pharmacist Technicians; Certified Pharmacy Technicians; Pharmaceutical Care Associates; and Pharmacist Assistants
 
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