by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Pharmacy Technician/Assistant covers Pharmacy Technician/assistant. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Supervision Of Pharmacists, To Prepare Medications, Provide Medications And Related Assistance To Patients, And Manage Pharmacy Clinical And Business Operations. Includes Instruction In Medical And Pharmaceutical Terminology, Principles Of Pharmacology And Pharmaceutics, Drug Identification, Pharmacy Laboratory Procedures, Prescription Interpretation, Patient Communication And Education, Safety Procedures, Record-Keeping, Measurement And Testing Techniques, Pharmacy Business Operations, Prescription Preparation, Logistics And Dispensing Operations, And Applicable Standards And Regulations. Continue reading for the important information every pharmacy technician/assistant major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering pharmacy technician/assistant programs.
Across the country, pharmacy technician/assistant is a popular field of study, with 7,541 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Pharmacy Technician/Assistant Schools ranking analyzes these 365 schools to determine the best overall colleges for pharmacy technician/assistant students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of pharmacy technician/assistant programs later in this article.
Coursework for Pharmacy Technician/Assistant emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations pharmacy technician/assistant graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a pharmacy technician/assistant program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a pharmacy technician/assistant major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several pharmacy technician/assistant degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 3,682 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,189 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,581 |
People currently working in careers related to pharmacy technician/assistant tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Postsecondary certificate | 29.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 24.1% |
| Master’s degree | 11.7% |
| Some college courses | 9.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 8.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 6.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in pharmacy technician/assistant careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in pharmacy technician/assistant prepares you for a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to pharmacy technician/assistant.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to pharmacy technician/assistant.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technicians | 2,546,481 | 1.6% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of pharmacy technician/assistant graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $27,434 |
| 4 years | $29,082 |
| 5 years | $32,352 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for pharmacy technician/assistant graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers pharmacy technician/assistant grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technicians | $72,773 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
With 365 different pharmacy technician/assistant programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased pharmacy technician/assistant school rankings to help you.
Those considering pharmacy technician/assistant, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical/Clinical Assistant | 52,819 |
| Physical Therapy Assistant | 5,633 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other | 4,065 |
| Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance) | 3,923 |
| Occupational Therapist Assistant | 3,178 |
| Radiologist Assistant | 1,513 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Assistant | 614 |
| Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant | 431 |
| Anesthesiologist Assistant | 423 |
| Speech-Language Pathology Assistant | 363 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
