Pharmacy Technician Employment & Salary Trends, and Career Opportunities in Washington State

Overview

Washington is home to more than 7,000 salaried pharmacy technicians. This means, around 2.1 percent of the nation’s 334,400 salaried technicians live in The Evergreen State. Aspiring pharmacy technicians choose Washington for:

• The opportunity to work at renowned facilities such as University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Harborview Medical Center, and Virginia Mason Medical Center (all nationally ranked in multiple specialties)
• Access to more than 60 other outstanding medical facilities
• Access to a number of quality health care and pharmacy technician training programs
• Salary and employment growth: Washington is one of the nation’s highest paying states for pharmacy technicians and employment has been in the rise for the past six years

Employment and Salary Trends for Washington Pharmacy Technicians

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov), Washington is home to 7,220 salaried pharmacy technicians. They average $38,390 per year, which is the second highest average salary for pharmacy technicians in the U.S. In addition, the state is home to the nation’s fifth highest paying nonmetropolitan area—Northwestern Washington. Pharmacy technicians living in the Northwestern Washington area average $37,910.

Not only are salaries among the highest here, they have been on the rise since 2006, which is no small feat in a struggling economy. In 2006, the average salary for Washington pharmacy technicians was $33,100. This means, the average salary here has increased by $881 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 Washington pharmacy technicians can expect significant employment growth in the coming years. In 2006, the state was home to 4,940 pharmacy technicians. This means, the industry here added 2,280 new jobs between 2006 and today. Overall, the pharmacy technician industry will experience a significant amount of growth between now and 2020. The Bureau predicts a 32 percent increase in employment growth, meaning, pharmacy technicians can expect 108,300 new jobs between now and 2020.

Pharmacy Technician Career Opportunities in Washington

Employment options for pharmacy technicians are more diverse than you might think. Sure, chain pharmacies employ a large percentage of the nation’s pharmacy technician’s, but these talented individual’s are also needed at hospitals, outpatient care centers, academic institutions, computer systems design firms, management, scientific, and technical consulting services, electronic shopping and mail-order houses, government departments (federal executive branch), independent drug stores, grocery stores, and even department stores. The state of Washington is home to a number of companies, organizations, and institutions in these areas, as well as hundreds of chain pharmacies.

Some of Washington’s most popular chain pharmacies include:

• A&H Stores
• Albertson’s Pharmacy
• Bartell Drugs
• Costco Pharmacies
• CVS
• Fred Meyer Pharmacy
• Haggen Food & Pharmacy
• Kmart Pharmacy
• Rite Aid
• Safeway Pharmacy
• Target Pharmacy
• Walgreens
• Walmart

Some of Washington’s largest hospitals and hospital systems include:

• Central Washington Hospital
• Harborview Medical Center
• Harrison Medical Center
• Northwest Hospital and Medical Center
• Providence Holy Name Family Hospital
• Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center and Children's Hospital
• Seattle Children’s Hospital
• Southwest Washington Medical Center
• St. Joseph Medical Center
• Swedish Medical Center
• University of Washington Medical Center
• Valley Medical Center
• Virginia Mason Medical Center

Schools Offering Pharmacy Technician Training Programs Include: