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

Overview

Kentucky is home to nearly 7,000 salaried pharmacy technicians. This means, the state’s population of pharmacy technicians accounts for more than 2 percent of the nation’s 334,400 salaried technicians. Aspiring pharmacy technicians choose The Bluegrass State for:

• The opportunity to work at top hospitals such as Kosair Children’s Hospital, Norton Healthcare, Baptist Hospital East, and St. Elizabeth Edgewood (all nationally ranked and/or high performing in multiple specialties)
• Access to more than 75 other outstanding hospitals
• Access to hundreds of quality health care and pharmacy technician training programs
• Employment: The several metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas are in the top five areas for employment levels and concentration of jobs

Employment and Salary Trends for Kentucky Pharmacy Technicians

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov), Kentucky is home to 6,810 salaried pharmacy technicians. They average $25,660 per year. In 2006, Kentucky-based pharmacy technicians averaged $22,920, so salaries have increased by $450+ each year. Across the nation, pharmacy technicians now average around $28,940 per year (median), with the top ten percent averaging $41,880 and the bottom ten percent earning $20,310 per year.

Employment is on the rise as well. In 2006, Kentucky was home to 5,800 pharmacy technicians. This means, the state added 1,010 new jobs between 2006 and today. The state of Kentucky overall, and several specific areas are listed in the top five areas for employment and job concentrations. They are:

State of Kentucky

Number three on the list of top five states with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients for pharmacy technicians

Average Salary: $25,660 per year

Employment: 6,810

Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH

Number two on the list of top ten metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients for pharmacy technicians

Salary: $27,040

Employment: 620

South Central Kentucky

Number two on the list of top five nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment for pharmacy technicians

Salary: $24,390

Employment: 1,080

East Kentucky

Number four on the list of top five nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment for pharmacy technicians

Salary: $26,410

Employment: 950

East Kentucky

Number one on the list of top five nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients for pharmacy technicians

Salary: $26,410

Employment: 950

South Central Kentucky

Number three on the list of top five nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients for pharmacy technicians

Salary: $24,390

Employment: 1,080

Across the nation, the pharmacy technician industry will enjoy a tremendous amount of employment growth between now and 2020. The industry expects to add 108,300 new jobs over the next 8 years. This means, employment overall is expected to grow by an impressive 32 percent.

Pharmacy Technician Career Opportunities in Kentucky

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that aspiring pharmacy technicians have a variety of working environments to choose from—outside of large chain pharmacies and hospitals. Other options include computer systems design firms, scientific and technical consulting services, government departments, outpatient care centers, independent pharmacies, grocery stores, department stores, electronic shopping and mail-order houses, and schools.

Like other states, however, Kentucky is home to a significant number of large chain pharmacies and major hospitals. For some technicians, a large chain pharmacy or hospital is a great place to start. Some of Kentucky’s biggest chain pharmacies are:

• CVS
• Kmart Pharmacy
• Omnicare Pharamcy
• Rite Aid Pharmacy
• Kroger Pharmacy
• Target Pharmacy
• Walgreens
• Walmart

Just a few of the Kentucky’s largest hospitals/hospital systems include:

• Kosair Children’s Hospital
• Norton Healthcare
• Baptist Hospital East
• St. Elizabeth Edgewood
• Jewish Hospital
• University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital
• Pikeville Medical Center
• Central Baptist Hospital
• King’s Daughters Medical Center
• Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital
• Owensboro Medical Hospital
• St. Elizabeth Fort Thomas
• St. Joseph East
• St. Joseph Hospital

Schools Offering Pharmacy Technician Training Programs Include: