How Much are Non-Certified Pharmacy Technicians Paid?

Working in a pharmacy as a non-certified pharmacy technician is possible straight out of high school. You can use your work experience as a time to learn for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam. Otherwise, you can continue to work without a certification.

What Are the Duties of A Non-Certified Pharmacy Technician?

A non-certified pharmacy technician fulfills many small jobs in the pharmacy, from filling and labeling prescriptions to managing stock levels. They work underneath the Pharmacist in any pharmaceutical establishment.

Other duties include mixing pharmaceutical preparations for customers and stocking shelves. Pharmacy techs also show customers where off-the-shelf medicines and supplements are. They also receive any deliveries and assist with other administration tasks.

A non-certified pharmacy technician is expected to provide exceptional customer service and must ensure that the pharmacy remains a safe and clean environment at all times. Often first-class customer service ensures a customer’s return visit in the future, so it is important to value this aspect of the job highly.

What Are Total Pay Estimates for A Non-Certified Pharmacy Technician at Different Companies?

Non-certified pharmacy technician pay can vary drastically from company to company and state to state. The rates are sourced from salary data collected from non-certified pharmacy technician jobs across the country.

When choosing which state is the best place to work as a non-certified pharmacy technician, all sorts of costs need to be considered. These include medical care premium costs, actual housing sales data, property taxes, and effective income tax rates. This will determine which state gives the best pay compared to the cost of living.

A non-certified pharmacy technician in the US is paid $37,688 a year and $18 an hour on average. The yearly salary range is between $28,077 and $44,472.

• Avella Specialty Pharmacy $28.24 per hour
• US Department of Veterans Affairs $26.34 per hour
• Express Scripts $24.63 per hour
• Catalent Pharma Solutions $21.69 per hour
• Option Care Health $21.42 per hour
• Costco Wholesale $20.82 per hour
• Cleveland Clinic $20.77 per hour
• Pharmedium $20.75 per hour
• AlixaRx $19.95 per hour
• Humana $19.81 per hour

Hourly Pay

The hourly pay for non-certified pharmacy technician jobs can be anything from $18 to $26+, depending on the state, company, and how much experience you have. This has been determined by analyzing the salary database of various companies and the ERI’s compensation data.

When looking for work, make sure to have an idea of the average hourly rate for a person of your experience level in the state where you’re applying. This will ensure that you don’t short-change yourself.

Average Pay Rate Per State

The hourly rate your receive as a non-certified pharmacy technician varies from state to state, so it is worth browsing the list to see where it is best to work as a non-certified pharmacy technician.

It is also important to remember that some top-paying states also have the highest living expenses, so you won’t necessarily be making more money. It is better to look for a job from a company with a higher hourly rate than the state average, as this will help you to make more money.

Finding a job in a state with lower living expenses is a better option in the long term, as it allows you to gain good experience while saving some money. You’ll also have lower school fees if you choose to study while you work, which you may wish to do to become a certified pharmacy technician.

Here are the different hourly salaries for each state, as taken from each state’s salary database:

Can You Expect Career Growth?

There is some career growth that can happen for a non-certified pharmacy technician. However, if you want to improve your career growth, it is recommended that you take the PTCB exam to become certified and gain access to certified pharmacy technician jobs.

The career growth for a non-certified pharmacy technician is relatively slow and is mainly experience focussed. This means your pay will increase with more experience, but there is only a ladder to climb with adding extra training. 

Alternatively, you could consider training toward a full Pharmacist degree, which will allow you to have a lot of career growth in different directions and drastically increase your earning potential.

FAQs

Who pays the most for pharmacy technicians?

The west coast states such as Washington, California, and Alaska are some of the highest paying states for non-certified pharmacy technician jobs in the USA. However, it is essential to remember that some of these states also have the highest living costs so the higher pay may be more of an illusion than anything else. 

Is being a pharmacy technician hard?

Yes, being a pharmacy technician can be a challenging job. Many responsibilities come with the job, including filling prescriptions, making labels, and checking scripts. 

You need to pay attention to detail as you’ll need to fill in customer information and dosage instructions carefully. You’ll need to be bright and cheery even under challenging circumstances, which can take a lot of resilience. 

You’ll also spend your days managing stock levels, compounding medicines, advising patients on over-the-counter medications, and many other important tasks!

How can you improve your pay as a non-certified pharmacy technician?

Becoming certified is easy to improve your pay as a non-certified pharmacy technician, which will immediately make an entirely new salary bracket available. 

All this requires is completing the necessary work experience or training through pharmacy department employment. After which, you must pass the PTCB exam to become a certified pharmacy technician. 

Another way to increase your pay is to work at an in-hospital pharmacy rather than an off-site pharmacy. Working at an in-hospital facility will allow you to take on more responsibilities and make it possible for you to get more training opportunities. 

For example, you might get an IV tech certificate, which will allow you to administer IV medications to patients in the hospital. 

If you want to avoid additional training, you’ll need to prove your worth as an employee. Provide first-class customer service, perform all the duties in your job description well, keep the pharmacy clean and well-run, and you’ll build a good name for yourself. This will help you to improve your salary over time. 

https://www.pharmacytechnicianguide.com/Salary/

https://www.indeed.com/career/pharmacy-technician/salaries

https://www.erieri.com/salary/job/non-certified-pharmacy-technician/united-states

https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/atlanta-non-certified-pharmacy-technician-salary-SRCH_IL.0,7_IM52_KO8,41.htm

https://www.salaryexpert.com/salary/job/non-certified-pharmacy-technician/united-states/colorado

https://www.indeed.com/m/jobs?q=Non+Certified+Pharmacy+Technician

https://www.simplyhired.com/search?q=non+certified+p

What non-certified pharmacy technicians earn

If you are thinking about working as a pharmacy technician without certification, pay is one of the first things you want to know. The honest answer is that non-certified techs earn less than their certified counterparts, and the gap can grow over time. Understanding where that gap comes from helps you make a smarter decision about your next step.

Pharmacy technician pay varies by state, employer type, and whether you hold a national certification. If you work in a state that requires certification by law, your options without it are limited from the start. Some states allow you to work as a trainee or intern under a pharmacist’s supervision while you work toward certification, but that trainee status usually comes with a lower pay rate.

How employer type affects your pay

Where you work matters as much as where you live. Retail pharmacy chains, independent pharmacies, hospitals, mail-order pharmacies, and long-term care facilities all pay differently.

Retail pharmacies

Large retail chains like CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart tend to hire entry-level technicians without certification, at least in states that allow it. Starting pay in retail is often at or just above minimum wage for a non-certified tech. Hours are usually part-time at first, and raises are tied to performance reviews rather than credentials.

Hospital pharmacies

Hospitals generally pay more than retail, but they also expect more. Most hospital pharmacy jobs require certification or set a deadline for you to earn it after hire. Getting your foot in the door without certification at a hospital is possible but less common.

Mail-order and specialty pharmacies

Mail-order pharmacies often hire in large batches and may bring on non-certified staff during busy periods. The work is more repetitive than retail, but the pay can be slightly higher because the volume demands are greater.

The pay difference between certified and non-certified roles

Certification has a direct effect on what employers are willing to pay you. A certified pharmacy technician, someone who holds the CPhT credential from PTCB or NHA, signals to an employer that they have passed a standardized exam and met a knowledge benchmark. That credential is worth money.

Non-certified techs are often hired at a lower starting rate. Some employers cap how high a non-certified tech can rise on the pay scale. Others require you to earn certification within six months to a year to keep your job or get a raise.

If you plan to stay in pharmacy long-term, working as a non-certified tech is usually a short-term situation, not a permanent career path.

Factors that raise your pay without certification

Even without a credential, a few things can push your pay higher.

Prior experience

If you have worked in a pharmacy before, even in a different state or at a different type of facility, employers will often start you at a higher rate. Experience counts, especially if you can show you already know dispensing software, drug names, and insurance billing basics.

Bilingual skills

If you speak Spanish or another language common in your area, some pharmacies will pay a small premium. This is especially true in communities with large non-English-speaking populations.

Shift availability

Evening, overnight, and weekend shifts often come with a differential, meaning extra pay per hour. If you are flexible about when you work, you can earn more without any credential change.

Location

Pay in rural areas tends to be lower than in urban markets, but cost of living differs too. A position in a major metro area may list a higher wage, but your actual purchasing power depends on local housing and transportation costs.

States where non-certified techs face the most restrictions

Some states have moved to require certification for all practicing pharmacy technicians. In those states, working without a CPhT or equivalent credential is not legal beyond a defined trainee period. Before you accept a non-certified role, check your state board of pharmacy rules. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy keeps current state-by-state information on its website.

States with stricter rules include those that have adopted model regulations from national pharmacy organizations. If your state is moving in that direction, a non-certified position could become unavailable within a few years.

The real cost of staying non-certified

The pay gap adds up over time. A lower hourly rate means less money every week. Over a full year, the difference between a certified and non-certified tech’s earnings can be several thousand dollars. That is money you could use for tuition, rent, or savings.

Certification exams are not free, and preparing for them takes time. But the exam fees are far smaller than the cumulative pay you lose by staying non-certified for an extra year or two. For most people, earning certification as quickly as possible is the financially smarter move.

Advancement paths that open with certification

Certification is not just about the starting rate. It changes which jobs you can apply for at all.

Lead technician roles

Many pharmacies have a lead tech or senior tech position that handles scheduling, inventory, and training of new staff. These roles almost always require certification and pay more than a standard tech position.

Specialty certifications

PTCB, the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, has introduced specialty credentials for areas like sterile compounding and hazardous drug management. These advanced credentials open doors to hospital and specialty pharmacy work where pay is highest.

Pharmacy technician trainer

Some large chains and hospital systems hire senior techs to train incoming staff. This role usually requires both certification and a certain number of years of experience. It comes with a pay bump and sometimes a shift to regular daytime hours.

How to move from non-certified to certified

If you are currently working as a non-certified tech, the path to certification is straightforward. You need to pass either the PTCB exam or the ExCPT exam from NHA. Both are multiple-choice tests that cover pharmacy law, drug names, dosage calculations, and pharmacy operations.

Many community colleges and vocational schools have pharmacy technician programs that prepare you for these exams. Programs typically run from a few months to about two years, depending on whether you pursue a certificate or an associate degree. Some programs can be completed while you are still working, with evening or online class options.

Your current employer may even pay for part of your training. It is worth asking your pharmacy manager or HR department about tuition assistance before you pay out of pocket.

What to look for in a pharmacy technician program

When you start comparing programs, a few details matter more than others.

Accreditation

Look for programs accredited by ASHP, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and ACPE, the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. Accreditation means the program meets national standards and is recognized by employers.

Externship hours

A good program includes hands-on hours in a real pharmacy setting. These externship hours count toward the work experience requirement for the PTCB exam and give you practical skills that classroom learning alone cannot provide.

Exam pass rates

Ask any program you consider what percentage of their graduates pass the PTCB or ExCPT exam on the first attempt. A program that cannot or will not share this number is worth questioning.

Schedule flexibility

If you are already working, look for programs that offer evening classes, weekend sessions, or a hybrid format with some online coursework. Completing training while employed keeps your income going and your experience building at the same time.

Taking the next step

Working as a non-certified pharmacy technician can give you real experience inside a pharmacy, but it is a starting point, not a destination. Certification lifts your pay, expands the jobs available to you, and protects your position in states where non-certified work is restricted by law.

If you are ready to move forward, exploring accredited pharmacy technician programs is a practical next step. Compare programs in your area, ask about externship placements, and find out which ones have strong exam pass rates. The sooner you earn your credential, the sooner your pay reflects the work you are already doing.

Browse pharmacy technician programs on this site to find options that fit your schedule and your goals.