What work hours and wages should a Pharmacy Technician expect?
Pharmacy technicians work the same hours and schedules as pharmacists do. In both retail and hospital pharmacies, pharmacy technicians should expect to work weekdays and some weekends. Hospital pharmacies are often open and staffed 24 hours a day. Pharmacy technicians should not expect to work the 9 – 5 weekday schedule common to some occupations. Pharmacy technicians must be able to handle non-traditional work schedules, and the demands they place on family and friends. However, evening, night and weekend schedules may be advantageous for some people, especially those interested in continuing their education. There is a broad range of starting salaries for pharmacy technicians, depending on the type and location of pharmacy where they are employed. The starting salary in hospital pharmacy in in the range of U.S. $7.00 to $9.00 per hour (approximately $15,000-$19,000 per year), while in retail pharmacy the starting salary range is generally lower (approximately $5.00 to $8.00 per hour
