How to Make More Money As A Pharmacy Technician
The typical pharmacy technician pay rate can vary depending on your experience level, your training and whether or not you are already a certified pharmacy technician. In this post I’m going to give you an idea of not only the average national rate for pharmacy technicians and what you can expect. But I’ll also list some ways that you can increase your salary and marketability. Two things that are sorely overlooked by most technicians.
Have you ever thought about what separates a good lawyer from a great lawyer? Or a good financial consultant from a great financial consultant? You might answer that it’s their education. Who they know. Or a hundred other things that aren’t the answer.
The truth is that what separates a good (fill in the blank) from great (fill in the blank) isn’t anything huge. It’s a lot of little things and…a couple hundred thousand dollars.
It’s true.
For almost any profession you choose, even as a pharmacy technician, there is a wide disparity between the top and the bottom of the pay scale. And trust me, the difference between the good technicians and the great ones is doing a lot of the little things better. And in the process, it moves them to the front of the food chain.
But, before I get into how you can move yourself to the top of the salary scale lets look at the averages.
Average pharmacy technician pay rates
Nationally and on average as a pharmacy technician you can expect to start out in the $11 to $12 an hour range. Some technicians, depending on experience and locale, may be as low as $9 an hour all the way up to $14 an hour. In my area, you could expect to start out at the higher end of the range, say $12 to $13 an hour.
The lowest average pay scale was slightly under $9 an hour with a national high of nearly $17 an hour.
My personal experience with technician salaries
As I’ve stated before, the trick (and the challenge) to becoming a pharmacy technician who makes well above these average salary numbers is to become a great technician. The one’s who do can see their pay race past the $20 an hour mark.
Advice on moving up the pay scale
Like I said above focus on the doing the little things well.
Sure, any technician can show up to work on time. But a great technician will show up 15 minutes early every day. A great technician will also stay late if asked. No, you probably won’t get paid for it in the beginning but it sends a clear signal that you are willing to do what needs to be done and then some. If you are working for a good company and pharmacist it won’t be long before they notice your extra effort.
Let me share a story about the best pharmacy technicians I’ve had and why they got paid more.
First of all, they were hard workers. While this seems like a cliche (and I guess it is) it’s true. Hard work is a commodity that is unfortunately in short supply today. They showed up on time. They stayed late when they needed to. They were teachable. They were correctable. They didn’t cop an attitude when something didn’t go their way. They took on extra responsibilities and performed them flawlessly.
In short, at the end of their first year they were the technicians I went to when I needed something down now and done right.
Incidentally, when it came time for reviews and raises – their name was at the top of the list and the top of the pay scale. Period.
A side note
Sometimes, as a technician, you pick a dud. By that I mean who you work for.
For example, sometimes you do everything right. You put in the extra effort. You work hard. You don’t cry or whine. You do your job and are dependable and they count on you. But at the same time they refuse to give you the recognition you deserve. Especially when it comes to pay.
That’s why I always harp on forming a network.
Word gets around fast in the pharmacy world. Get known for being a technician who can get things done and is a cut above the rest and it won’t be long before you have all kinds of great offers coming your way.
If your employer isn’t smart enough to recognize that fact then you need to leave them in your rear view mirror.
Unfortunately too many technicians I know are like battered spouses. They continue to take abuse in the form of low pay and low recognition even though they know that they deserve better. For some reason they think that tomorrow, or the next day, or next week their dense employer is suddenly going to realize their value and change their ways and come crawling in at their feet, begging for forgiveness.
Ain’t gonna happen…
I’ve known employers and pharmacists who were exactly like this. These people are leaches. They literally suck the life right out of you and then ask for more. If, after six months you not seeing any headway it’s time to think about a change of venue.
Before you think about jumping ship though, it’s important for you to be very honest about how valuable you really have been. Some technicians (not you) will read what I wrote above and assume that you are really a cut above the rest and are just getting shafted.
While that may be true I can honestly tell you that few technicians fit that criteria. Most assume they are better than what they really are and are somehow being taken advantage of by their employer.
Here’s my trick: ask your employer. If he or she says you are doing great and there isn’t anything you can change call them on it and ask why you haven’t got a raise. Also, ask another pharmacist or technician who you work with and whose opinion you truly value.
Often times the first people to come to you will be those outside your current place of employment because they’ve heard (through the grapevine) how great you are and are basically offering you a job. They want a good tech and know that you fit the bill. This is generally your tip-off.
However, if you don’t have anybody coming up to you and telling you how you are being vastly underpaid than chances are (and yes, I can be wrong but this is again a best guess measure) you are being paid a fair wage.
Only you can decide how much the extra work and effort is. In my experience, it can be worth an extra $15,000 to $20,000 a year. Not to mention you simply get treated better. So, is that worth it?
Another option
While I’ve never actually seen this pulled off, it always seemed like a pretty good idea to me because if you were able to set it up fairly your compensation would be tied to how well the pharmacy performs overall. Yes, I’m talking about setting up a profit-sharing program.
Sit down with your employer and present them with an option similar to this: offer to work for a lower than average base salary. Then, tie yourself into bonuses (you can set them up monthly or quarterly) based on the performance of the pharmacy. For example, say 1% of gross profits from the pharmacy for the year go to you in the form of profit-sharing.
It will be a risk free deal for the pharmacy because if you don’t perform they are off the hook and only pay you a low base rate. If the pharmacy does well it’s worth it too because you were a part of that and are basically being rewarded for your hard work.
Some technicians might say this is impossible and that it’s never done. I’ve got news for them; fifty years ago nobody though we could walk on the moon either. And, as an FYI, this type of setup is done all the time in industries where they pay for performance. For example, best selling authors, direct-response copywriters, athlete endorsements, etc.
The difference between you and them is that those industries are cut throat with thousands upon thousands of competitors. Trust me, the competition for this kind of set up will be much less then those industries.
If it were me I would go to my employer and be sure to spell out the benefits he or she would receive. It’s a low risk offer. The money is only paid if the pharmacy (and you) do well. If it’s a bad year, then you’re helping them because you’ll make less.
Could it turn out badly for you? Sure, the pharmacy could take and you’ll make less than you normally would have. But, if you are a great pharmacy technician that likely would help bring patients and customers in the door – increasing business.
You’ve got little to lose and a lot to gain. Perhaps it’s worth a shot?