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

Overview

Tennessee is home to more than 11,000 salaried pharmacy technicians. This means, roughly 3.3 percent of the nation’s 334,400 salaried technicians live in The Volunteer State. Aspiring pharmacy technicians flock to Tennessee for:

• The opportunity to work at renowned facilities such as Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Methodist Hospitals of Memphis, and Monroe Carell Jr. Hospital at Vanderbilt (all nationally ranked in multiple specialties)
• Access to more than 100 other outstanding hospitals and the eighth largest collection of health care facilities in the country
• Access to hundreds of top-tier health care and pharmacy technician training programs
• Employment: Tennessee has the nation’s second highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation

Employment and Salary Trends for Tennessee Pharmacy Technicians

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov), Tennessee is home to 11,180 salaried pharmacy technicians. They average $28,140 per year, which is just a few hundred dollars shy of the national average. In 2006, Tennessee-based pharmacy technicians averaged $25,820, which means that although Tennessee pharmacy technicians make a little less than the national average, salaries have increased by nearly $400 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 Tennessee pharmacy technicians can expect significant employment growth in the coming years. In 2006, the state was home to 8,020 pharmacy technicians. This means, the industry here added 3,160 new jobs between 2006 and today. Overall, the pharmacy technician industry will experience a significant amount of growth between now and 2020. The industry expects to add 108,300 new jobs, meaning, employment is expected to grow by 32 percent.

Several metropolitan areas and one nonmetropolitan area made a number of top ten lists for employment. They are:

Morristown, TN
Number one metropolitan area with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients for pharmacy technicians
Average Salary: $28,540 per year
Employment: 360

Johnson City, TN
Number three metropolitan area with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients for pharmacy technicians
Average Salary: $26,000 per year
Employment: 430

Cleveland, TN
Number four metropolitan area with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients for pharmacy technicians
Average Salary: $25,750 per year
Employment: 200

Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA, TN
Number ten metropolitan area with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients for pharmacy technicians
Average Salary: $27,070 per year
Employment: 560

North Central Tennessee
Number five nonmetropolitan area with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients for pharmacy technicians
Average Salary: $27,340
Employment: 680

In addition, as stated earlier, Tennessee has the second highest concentration of jobs and location quotients for pharmacy technicians, with West Virginia claiming the number one spot, Kentucky at number three, Maine at number four, and Missouri at number five.

Pharmacy Technician Career Opportunities in Tennessee

Most pharmacy technician’s start out at chain pharmacies, and many remain there for the life of their career. However, others may choose a different path, whether it’s right out of school or after spending a few years working at a major pharmacy. According to the Bureau of labor Statistics, pharmacy technicians may also find work at hospitals, outpatient care centers, independent drug stores, grocery stores, department stores, academic institutions and professional schools, computer systems design firms, management, scientific, and technical consulting services, electronic shopping and mail-order houses, and even government departments (federal executive branch).

The state of Tennessee is home to many businesses, companies, and organizations in these areas, but it is also home to a large collection of healthcare facilities and chain pharmacies. The largest in the state are:

• Kroger Pharmacy
• CVS
• Rite Aid
• Target Pharmacy
• Walgreens
• Walmart

Some of Tennessee’s largest hospitals/systems include:

• Vanderbilt University Medical Center
• Methodist Hospitals of Memphis
• Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
• Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital
• St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
• Indian Path Medical Center     
• Johnson City Medical Center
• Baptist Memorial Hospital
• University of Tennessee Medical Center
• St. Thomas Hospital

Schools Offering Pharmacy Technician Training Programs Include: