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

Overview

North Carolina is home to more than 11,000 salaried pharmacy technicians. This means, around 3 percent of the nation’s 334,400 salaried technicians live in The Tar Heel State. Aspiring pharmacy technicians choose North Carolina for: 

• The opportunity to work at renowned facilities such as Duke University Medical Center, University of North Carolina Hospitals, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, and Carolinas Medical Center (all nationally ranked in multiple specialty areas)

• Access to 99 other outstanding hospitals and one of the largest collections of health care facilities in the country

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

• Employment and Salary Growth: North Carolina pharmacy technicians can expect a promising increase in employment and salaries between 2010-2020

Employment and Salary Trends for North Carolina Pharmacy Technicians

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov), North Carolina is home to 11,390 salaried pharmacy technicians, earning an average salary of $27,390 per year. In 2006, North Carolina-based pharmacy technicians averaged $23,640, meaning, salaries have increased by $600+ 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 North Carolina pharmacy technicians can expect  employment growth in the coming years. In 2006, the state was home to 9,280 pharmacy technicians. This means, the industry here added 2,110 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 North Carolina

Pharmacy technicians in the state of North Carolina work mainly in chain pharmacies and health and personal care stores. However, this doesn’t mean opportunities are unavailable elsewhere. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists other options for aspiring pharmacy technicians such as 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 colleges.

While jobs are available in a wide variety of environments, many beginning pharmacy technicians still choose to work at chain pharmacies, health and personal care stores, and hospitals. Fortunately, North Carolina is home to hundreds of chain pharmacies and dozens of renowned medical facilities. Some of the biggest pharmacies chains in North Carolina are:

• CVS
• Harris Teeter Pharmacy
• Kerr Drug Store
• Kmart Pharmacy
• Kroger Pharmacy
• Lowes Food Pharmacy
• Rite Aid
• Sam's Club Pharmacy
• Target Pharmacy
• Walgreens
• Walmart Pharmacy

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

• Duke University Medical Center
• University of North Carolina Hospitals
• Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
• Carolinas Medical Center
• WakeMed Health and Hospitals
• Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast
• Mission Hospital
• Durham Regional Hospital
• Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital
• First Health Moore Regional Hospital
• Gaston Memorial hospital
• Rex Healthcare
• Southeastern Regional Medical Center
• High Point Regional Hospital

Schools Offering Pharmacy Technician Training Programs Include: