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

Overview

Michigan is home to more than 12,000 salaried pharmacy technicians. This means, around 3 percent of the nation’s 334,400 salaried technicians reside in The Great Lakes State. Aspiring pharmacy technicians choose Michigan for:

• The opportunity to work at renowned facilities such as University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers, Children's Hospital of Michigan, and Harper University Hospital (all nationally ranked in multiple specialty areas)

• Access to 112 other outstanding hospitals and the tenth largest collection of health care facilities in the country

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

• Employment: Michigan is home to more salaried pharmacy technicians than at least 20 other states

Employment and Salary Trends for Michigan Pharmacy Technicians

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov), Michigan is home to 12,010 salaried pharmacy technicians, averaging around $27,530 per year. In 2006, they averaged $26,520. Although slower than average, salaries here have increased by $1,010 at a time when salaries in other occupations have declined. 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 Michigan pharmacy technicians can expect a fair amount of employment growth in the coming years. In 2006, the state was home to 9,310 pharmacy technicians, so the industry here added an impressive 2,700 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 a dramatic 32 percent.

Pharmacy Technician Career Opportunities in Michigan

Although the top employers for pharmacy technicians are large chain pharmacies and health & personal care stores, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, several other areas offer employment opportunities. Independent pharmacies, computer systems design firms, scientific and technical consulting services, government departments, hospitals and outpatient care centers, clinics, mom and pop pharmacies, grocery stores, department stores, and electronic shopping and mail-order houses offer a variety of jobs for aspiring technicians. If you’re interested in teaching, dozens of colleges and professional schools frequently seek out the expertise of educators in this field. 

The state of Michigan is home to a number of independent drug stores, schools, retail stores, and health and medical facilities. The state is also packed with large chain pharmacies and personal care stores. Some of the biggest pharmacy chains and health and personal care stores in Michigan include:

• Advanced Care Pharmacy
• CVS
• Kmart Pharmacy
• Meijer Pharmacies
• Rite Aid
• Savon
• Target
• Walgreens
• Walmart

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

• Adventist Health System
• Beaumont Hospital
• Children's Hospital of Michigan
• Harper University Hospital
• Henry Ford Hospital
• McLaren Regional Medical Center
• Oakwood Hospital and Medical Center
• Sinai-Grace Hospital
• Spectrum Health
• St. John Hospital and Medical Center
• University of Michigan Hospitals and Health Centers

Schools Offering Pharmacy Technician Training Programs Include: