Pharmacy Technicians vs Pharmacists
Median pay is about $95k higher for Pharmacists. The usual entry education is high school for Pharmacy Technicians and doctoral (PharmD) plus license for Pharmacists.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Pharmacy Technicians | Pharmacists |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $45,750 | $140,910, higher |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $37,850 | $129,380, higher |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $49,990 | $161,840, higher |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +6.4% Growing fast, higher | +5.2% Growing fast |
| Openings a year | 44,700 | 12,500 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | High school | Doctoral (PharmD) plus license |
| Difficulty modeled | 2 / 5 | 4 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Very low | Very low |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 2nd pct | 42nd pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Pharmacy Technicians
- Active Learning
Only Pharmacists
- Writing
Both lean on active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, critical thinking, monitoring.
More comparisons
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Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.