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

Overview

Florida is home to more than 21,000 salaried pharmacy technicians. This means, just over 6 percent of the nation’s 334,400 salaried technicians live in The Sunshine State. Aspiring pharmacy technicians choose Florida for:

• The opportunity to work at renowned facilities such as Mount Sinai Medical Center, University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital, Baptist Medical Center, and Florida Hospital (all nationally ranked in multiple specialties)

• Access to 207 other outstanding hospitals and the fourth largest collection of health care facilities in the U.S.

• Access to hundreds of quality health care and pharmacy technician training programs

• Employment: Florida has the nation’s third highest employment level for this occupation

Employment and Salary Trends for Florida Pharmacy Technicians

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov), Florida is home to 21,760 salaried pharmacy technicians. They average $28,190 per year. In 2006, Florida-based pharmacy technicians averaged $25,270. This means salaries have increased by $500+ each year. 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.

In addition to salary growth, aspiring Florida pharmacy technicians can expect some employment growth in the coming years. In 2006, the state was home to 20,660 pharmacy technicians. This means, the industry here added 1,100 new 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.

One metropolitan area in Florida made the list of top 10 metropolitan areas with the highest employment level for pharmacy technicians. The Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area is listed at number 10 with an employment figure of 4,310 and an average salary of $28,150 or $13.53 an hour.

Although Florida’s metro areas did not make the list of metro areas with the highest salaries, pharmacy technicians living in this metro area earn much more than the nations bottom 10 percent ($20,310) and only $250 less than the national average of $28,400 per year.

Pharmacy Technician Career Opportunities in Florida

There is no shortage of jobs for pharmacy technicians at large chain pharmacies and health & personal care stores. But for those interested in the road less traveled, opportunities do exist in other fields. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacy technicians may also find employment at computer systems design firms, in management, at scientific and technical consulting services, in government departments, at hospitals and outpatient care centers, clinics, mom and pop pharmacies, grocery stores, department stores, and at electronic shopping and mail-order houses.

The state of Florida is home to many mom and pop drug stores, health and medical facilities, retail stores, schools, and of course, large chain pharmacies and personal care stores. Some of the biggest health and personal care chains in Florida include:

• CVS

• Publix Pharmacies

• Rite-Aid

• Target Pharmacy

• Walgreens

• Walmart

• Winn-Dixie Pharmacies

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

• Adventist Health System

• All Children’s Hospital

• Baptist Medical Center

• Cleveland Clinic Florida

• Florida Hospital

• Mayo Clinic

• Miami Children’s Hospital

• Moffit Cancer Center

• Mount Sinai Medical Center

• Orlando Regional Medical Center

• Shands at the University of Florida

• Tampa General Hospital

• University of Florida Health

• University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital

Schools Offering Pharmacy Technician Training Programs Include: