Pharmacy Technician Employment & Salary Trends, and Career Opportunities in Alaska

Overview

Alaska is home to more than 600 salaried pharmacy technicians. This means, just a small percentage of the nation’s 334,400 salaried technicians live in place Americans call “The Last Frontier.” Although the population of pharmacy technicians is small here, salaries are large. In fact, Alaska is the nation’s top paying state for pharmacy technicians. Besides excellent salaries, aspiring pharmacy technicians choose Alaska for:

• The opportunity to work at renowned facilities such as Alaska Native Medical Center, Alaska Regional Hospital, and Providence Alaska Medical Center (all high performing in multiple specialties)
• Access to dozens of other outstanding hospitals and many additional quality medical facilities
• Access to a number of  quality health care and pharmacy technician training programs
• Salary growth: Salaries have increased significantly between 2006 and today

Employment and Salary Trends for Alaska Pharmacy Technicians

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov), Alaska is home to 620 salaried pharmacy technicians. They average $39,010 per year. In 2006, Alaska-based pharmacy technicians averaged $33,610. This means salaries have increased by an impressive $900 each year between 2006 and today. In addition to being the nation’s top paying state for pharmacy technicians, Alaska is home to the nation’s second highest paying nonmetropolitan area—Southeast Alaska. Across the nation, pharmacy technicians average around $28,400 per year, with the top ten percent averaging $41,880 and the bottom ten percent earning $20,310 per year.

Although employment growth isn’t as high as salary growth here, Alaska has still shown improvement when other industries have showed none, lost jobs, or folded altogether. In 2006, Alaska was home to 470 salaried pharmacy technicians, which means the state added 150 jobs between 2006 and today. Overall, the pharmacy technician industry will experience a significant amount of employment growth between now and 2020. The industry expects to add 108,300 new jobs, so employment is expected to grow by an impressive 32 percent.

Pharmacy Technician Career Opportunities in Alaska

Chain pharmacies (usually a part of health and personal care stores) are the largest employers of pharmacy technicians, followed by hospitals. However, According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacy technicians do have other options. Experienced professionals in this field may find work in the lucrative technology sector (computer systems design firms), scientific and technical consulting services,  outpatient care centers, retirement homes, rehabilitation facilities, clinics, grocery stores, department stores, electronic shopping and mail-order houses, government department, and colleges,  universities, and professional schools.

The state of Alaska is home to many establishments and organizations in these areas, but if you’re interested in starting at a chain pharmacy or a hospital, some of the largest (or most recognized) chains in the state include:

• Carrs Pharmacy
• Fred Meyer Pharmacy
• Costco Pharmacy
• Geneva Woods Medical Pharmacy
• Sam’s Club Pharmacy
• Target Pharmacy
• Walgreens
• Walmart

Some of Alaska’s largest hospitals/hospital systems include:

• Alaska Native Medical Center
• Alaska Regional Hospital
• Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation
• Fairbanks Memorial Hospital
• PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center
• Petersburg Medical Center
• Providence Alaska Medical Center
• Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center
• Providence Seward Medical Center
• South Peninsula Hospital
• Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Regional Hospital

Schools Offering Pharmacy Technician Training Programs Include: