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

Overview

Arizona is home to more than 6,500 salaried pharmacy technicians. This means, around 2 percent of the nation’s 334,400 salaried technicians reside in The Grand Canyon State. Aspiring pharmacy technicians choose Arizona for:

• The opportunity to work at renowned facilities such as Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix children’s Hospital, and Mayo Clinic (all nationally ranked and high      high-performing in multiple specialties)
• Access to more than 70 other outstanding hospitals
• Access to hundreds of nationally ranked health care and pharmacy technician training programs
• Employment growth: Employment growth has been steady since 2006

Employment and Salary Trends for Arizona Pharmacy Technicians

According the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS.gov), Arizona is home to 6,710 salaried pharmacy technicians, averaging around $32,050 per year. In 2006, they averaged $27,700. This means salaries have increased by an impressive $725 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 Arizona pharmacy technicians can expect a fair amount ofemployment growth in the coming years. In 2006, the state was home to 6,020 pharmacy technicians, so the industry here added a comfortable 690 new jobs between 2006 and today. In addition, the Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale metropolitan area holds the number nine spot on the list of top ten U.S. metropolitan areas with the highest employment levels for pharmacy technicians. 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 Arizona

The top employers for pharmacy technicians are large chain pharmacies and health & personal care stores. Some reports estimate that 50 percent of pharmacy technicians work in these environments, while others report 75 percent. Whether it’s 50 percent, 75 percent, or somewhere in between, this still leaves room for the possibility of other employment options.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacy technicians can find employment at independent pharmacies, computer systems design firms, scientific and technical consulting services, government departments, hospitals and outpatient care centers, clinics, grocery stores, electronic shopping and mail-order houses, academic institutions, and even department stores.

While the state of Arizona is home to many organizations, businesses, and companies in the areas listed above, the state is still packed with large chain pharmacies and health & personal care stores. Some of the biggest pharmacy chains in Arizona include:

• Albertson's
• Costco
• CVS
• Food 4 Less
• Fry’s
• Good Neighbor Independent Pharmacies
• Health Mart Independent Pharmacies
• Kmart
• Osco
• Rite Aid
• Safeway
• Sam’s Club
• Target
• The Apothecary Shop
• United Drugs Independent Pharmacies
• Walgreens
• Walmart

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

• Banner Health System (more than a dozen facilities across Arizona)
• Phoenix Children’s Hospital
• Mayo Clinic
• University Medical Center
• St. Joseph Hospital and Medical Center
• Banner Thunderbird Medical Center
• Chandler Regional Medical Center
• Flagstaff Medical Center
• Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn Medical Center
• Mercy Gilbert Medical Center

Schools Offering Pharmacy Technician Training Programs Include: