Pharmacy Technician Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of pharmacy technicians to grow 6.4% from 2025 to 2035 (about 30,100 more jobs), with about 44,700 openings a year, and the May 2025 median pay of $45,750 a year ranks 651st of 825 occupations.
- Projected change
- +6.4%
- Openings a year
- 44,700
- Median pay
- $45,750
- Pay rank
- 651st of 825
Is employment of pharmacy technicians growing or shrinking?
Growing: BLS projects employment of pharmacy technicians to rise 6.4% (about 30,100 more jobs) from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% projected across all occupations. That is slower than the +8.0% summed from BLS's employment levels across the 71 healthcare practitioners and technical occupations with a projection. That change ranks 141st of 830 projected occupations.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Employment, 2025 | 471,200 |
| Employment, 2035 | 501,300 |
| Projected change | +6.4% |
| Openings a year | 44,700 |
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035. A projection is a BLS estimate, not a count. The 471,200 jobs here differ from the 471,680 on the salary page because Employment Projections also counts the self-employed and a wider set of workers, while OEWS counts wage and salary jobs in May 2025. BLS published these projections on August 27, 2026; checked November 10, 2026. Confirm any figure in the BLS Employment Projections tables.
BLS's reasons for this projection are at the Occupational Outlook Handbook. State projections are at Projections Central; projections by industry are left to BLS. Education, licensing and work context at O*NET.
How many job openings are there each year?
About 44,700 openings a year, from job growth and from workers leaving the occupation, the 91st most of 830 occupations. About 93% of them replace workers who change occupations or leave the labor force; the rest come from the 3,010 jobs added in an average year.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
How does pay for pharmacy technicians rank?
The median of $45,750 a year ranks 651st of 825 occupations with a published median. It sits in the upper half of occupations on openings and the lower half on pay.
Source: BLS OEWS national file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Ranks count only the occupations with that published figure: 830 for projected change, 830 for openings, 825 for median pay, which is why the totals differ.
What does it take to start?
- Typical entry-level education: high school diploma or equivalent.
- Typical on-the-job training: moderate-term on-the-job training.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, education and training assignments.
How do related jobs compare on outlook?
| Occupation | Change | Openings a year | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacists | +5.2% | 12,500 | $140,910 |
| Veterinary Technologists and Technicians | +9.4% | 13,400 | $47,380 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | +3.0% | 51,800 | $64,400 |
| Surgical Technologists | +5.0% | 7,100 | $64,650 |
| Opticians, Dispensing | +4.2% | 5,600 | $47,260 |
| Medical Records Specialists | +7.8% | 14,000 | $51,140 |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | +3.7% | 3,400 | $74,310 |
| Physician Assistants | +21.1% | 11,500 | $135,880 |
Related occupations from O*NET; projections from BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035; pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.