Pharmacy Technician Employment & Salary Trends, and Career Opportunities in South Carolina

Overview

South Carolina is home to more than 6,000 salaried pharmacy technicians. This means, nearly 2 percent of the nation’s 334,400 salaried technicians live in The Palmetto State Aspiring pharmacy technicians choose South Carolina for:

• The opportunity to work at renowned facilities such as the Medical University of South Carolina, Greenville Memorial Hospital, Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, AnMed Health, and McLeod Health (all nationally ranked or high performing in multiple specialties
• Access to 60+ other outstanding medical facilities
• Access to hundreds of competitive health care and pharmacy technician training programs
• Employment: The Anderson, SC metropolitan area has the fifth highest concentration of jobs and location quotients for pharmacy technicians

Employment and Salary Trends for South Carolina Pharmacy Technicians

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov), South Carolina is home to 6,230 salaried pharmacy technicians, earning an average salary of $27,330 per year. In 2006, South Carolina-based pharmacy technicians averaged $24,090, meaning, salaries have increased by $500+ each year between 2006 and today. 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 South Carolina pharmacy technicians can expect  a comfortable amount employment growth in the coming years. In 2006, the state was home to 4,650 pharmacy technicians. This means, the industry here added 1,580 new jobs between 2006 and today. Overall, the pharmacy technician industry will experience a significant amount of growth between now and 2020. Employment is expected to grow by 32 percent, meaning the industry expects to add an impressive 108,300 new jobs.

Pharmacy Technician Career Opportunities in South Carolina

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a number of employment options for aspiring pharmacy technicians. In addition to chain pharmacies, pharmacy technicians can also find employment at computer systems design firms, scientific and technical consulting services, electronic shopping and mail-order houses, government departments (federal executive branch), hospitals, outpatient care centers, small independent drug stores, department stores, grocery stores, and academic institutions.

While jobs are available in a wide variety of environments, many beginning pharmacy technicians still choose to work at chain pharmacies or medical facilities. Fortunately, South Carolina is home to hundreds of chain pharmacies and dozens of top-rated medical facilities. Some of the biggest (or most recognized) pharmacy chains in South Carolina are:

• CVS
• Hawthorne Pharmacy
• BI-LO Pharmacy
• Kmart Pharmacy
• Kroger Pharmacy
• Long’s Pharmacy
• Rite Aid
• Publix Pharmacy
• Sam’s Club Pharmacy
• Target Pharmacy
• Walgreens
• Walmart Pharmacy

Some of South Carolina’s largest hospitals/systems include:

• AnMed Health
• Beaufort Memorial Hospital
• Carolinas Hospital
• Greenville Memorial Hospital
• Mary Black Memorial Hospital
• McLeod Health
• Medical University of South Carolina
• Medical University of South Carolina Children’s Hospital
• Roper Hospital
• Spartanburg Regional Medical Center

Schools Offering Pharmacy Technician Training Programs Include: