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What are pharmacy technician salaries like in Florida?

The great reason to become a pharmacy technician in Florida is the state's high demand for healthcare services due to its large retiree population. With a significant percentage of elderly residents, the need for prescription medications, chronic disease management and routine healthcare services is higher than average. This demand translates into a steady need for pharmacy technicians in various settings, including retail pharmacies, long-term care facilities and hospitals.

Here are a few other reasons that make Florida appealing for pharmacy technicians:

• Growing healthcare infrastructure: Florida has a rapidly expanding healthcare sector, with new clinics, hospitals and pharmacies opening frequently, especially in cities with high retiree populations like Tampa, Naples, Palm Beach and Sarasota. This growth may create job opportunities and enhance job security.

• High tourist trade: Florida's robust tourism industry adds seasonal demand in pharmacies, as tourists and temporary residents require pharmacy services. This trend keeps pharmacies busy year-round, offering stable and even seasonal employment for pharmacy technicians.

• Career advancement and specializations: With high demand, Florida also offers technicians pathways to specialize in areas like compounding, sterile preparation and medication therapy management. Hospitals and health systems often need technicians with advanced skills, which may lead to career growth.

Overview: Pharmacy technicians in Florida

There are 37,980 people employed as pharmacy technicians in Florida which means nearly four people are pharm techs for every 1,000 people living in the state, said the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In fact the BLS said that Florida is the third highest employer of pharmacy technicians in the country. The median wage per hour is $19 and the forecasted job growth for the coming decade is 7.2%, faster than the job growth rate for all other career fields combined, said the BLS.

The high number of people per thousand may be at least partially attributed to the large retiree population, but Florida is also one of the fastest growing states in the U.S. The demand for pharmacy services in Florida often results in competitive salaries, benefits and shift flexibility for pharmacy technicians, especially in populated areas where the need is high.

Here are five primary employers that frequently hire pharmacy technicians in Florida, along with how they utilize these roles:

• HCA Florida Healthcare, Multiple locations across the state, including major hospitals in Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville and Tampa: At HCA hospitals, pharmacy technicians support inpatient and outpatient pharmacy services by preparing medications, managing drug inventories and compounding sterile products. HCA facilities often need pharmacy technicians skilled in sterile and non-sterile compounding due to high patient volumes and the need for customized medication formulations.
  
• CVS Health, Multiple locations across the state: At CVS, pharmacy technicians work in retail pharmacy settings where they handle prescription processing, assist in filling and dispensing medications and support patient care by explaining medication instructions. CVS also offers training for technicians to specialize in patient care coordination and chronic disease management, especially important for Florida's retiree population.
  
• Publix Pharmacy, Multiple locations within supermarkets in cities like Tampa, Miami, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale: Publix pharmacy technicians help prepare prescriptions, offer customer service and manage medication inventories. Publix pharmacies offer services tailored to retirees and seasonal residents, such as medication synchronization and immunizations. Pharmacy technicians here are integral in coordinating these services and ensuring consistent medication availability for regular customers.
  
• Orlando Health, Multiple hospitals and outpatient clinics in the Orlando area, including Orlando Health Orlando Regional Medical Center: Pharmacy technicians at Orlando Health work in both inpatient and outpatient pharmacy settings. They assist in medication distribution, compounding and preparing IV medications for patients. The hospitals within Orlando Health also require technicians to work with automated dispensing systems and to support pharmacists in emergency room and ICU settings where timely medication delivery is essential.
  
• ExactCare Pharmacy, Multiple locations with services across Florida, including Tampa and Fort Lauderdale: ExactCare specializes in long-term and home-based pharmacy services, primarily for patients with chronic conditions and complex medication regimens. Pharmacy technicians here help with medication packaging, patient communication and coordinating multi-drug regimens. They work directly with pharmacists to ensure patients receive proper doses and understand medication schedules, a critical service for elderly patients who may need assistance with managing multiple prescriptions.

Salary quick stats

While the median national salary for pharmacy technicians rests at $43,460 a year, pay may vary depending upon several factors, including where you work and live in Florida, how much experience you have, what professional certifications you have earned and your level of education.

The salary widget below provides the median national wage for pharmacy technicians along with data for different metro areas in Florida, listed by highest paying first.

Median annual salaries in Florida

Salary range for pharmacy technicians in Florida

The salary range for pharmacy technicians in Florida typically spans from $35,460 for the lowest 10% (entry-level) to $50,620 for the highest 10% (senior-level or management) per year.

Pay by metro area within Florida

Your earning level may depend not only on your experience, but where you live within a state. For example, cities tend to pay better than rural or less populated areas. If your city is an industry hub, say for example you work as a pharmacy technician in Miami or West Palm Beach, pay tends to be more competitive and surpasses the national median at $40,910 annually. That said, here's what the BLS reports as highest paying cities in the U.S. As you can see, California metro areas dominate the top 10. However, the Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metro area ranks at number five for the highest employment level of pharm techs in the U.S., confirming the demand for services where there is a high retiree population.

Salary growth and job outlook

The pharmaceutical industry in general is experiencing growth, with the BLS projecting 7.2% job growth over the next decade for technicians. Florida's pharmacy technician industry is likely to experience faster-than-average growth for several key reasons specific to the state. Here's a breakdown of why Florida's pharmacy technician demand is poised to exceed both national and other states' growth trends:

• Aging population and retiree density: Florida has one of the highest proportions of elderly residents in the country, a demographic that typically requires more healthcare services, including prescription medications. This high retiree density means an increased demand for both community and hospital pharmacy services, where pharmacy technicians are essential for dispensing, organizing and managing medications. With a growing population over the age of 65, this trend will likely accelerate, continuously driving up demand for pharmacy technicians in long-term care facilities, home healthcare and retail pharmacies catering to older adults.
  
• Seasonal population and tourism: Florida's seasonal "snowbird" residents and high volume of tourists create additional demand for pharmacy services. Snowbirds often require continued medication management while they reside in Florida for part of the year, which can significantly increase the need for pharmacy technicians during peak seasonal times. Tourist hubs like Orlando, Miami and Tampa serve millions of visitors annually, adding to the demand in retail and emergency pharmacies, where technicians help manage this seasonal surge.
  
• Increased demand for specialty services: The retiree population in Florida often requires specialty medications for chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and arthritis. Specialty pharmacies and compounding pharmacies, which focus on complex medications and personalized drug formulations, rely heavily on pharmacy technicians trained in these areas.
  
• Broader scope of practice: Florida has expanded the scope of practice for pharmacy technicians in recent years, allowing them to perform more responsibilities under pharmacist supervision. This includes handling medication therapy management, assisting with immunizations and conducting medication synchronization services. The broader scope enhances the role of technicians, making them indispensable in managing an increasing volume of pharmacy-related services. As healthcare providers seek cost-effective solutions to manage patient needs, allowing pharmacy technicians to take on more duties is seen as a cost-saving measure that aligns well with Florida's high demand for accessible healthcare.
  
• Growing home healthcare and assisted living markets: Florida's home healthcare and assisted living markets are expanding due to the high number of elderly residents. Pharmacy technicians play a crucial role in supporting these services, managing complex medication regimens and coordinating with pharmacists to ensure patients receive the right medications at home or in assisted living facilities. Some pharmacy technicians are now working directly with home health providers to support personalized medication packages, which are essential for patients in these settings.

Factors affecting pharm tech salaries in Florida

Pharm tech education and training in Florida

In Florida, becoming a pharmacy technician requires completing specific educational steps, including certification and registration, which are overseen by the Florida Board of Pharmacy. Here's a breakdown of the required steps:

• The first step is to complete high school or obtain a GED. This is a minimum requirement to enroll in a pharmacy technician training program.
• In Florida, pharmacy technicians must complete a training program approved by the Florida Board of Pharmacy. These programs are typically offered at community colleges, vocational schools or technical institutes and take about six-to-12 months to complete. The curriculum generally covers pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacology, pharmacy law and hands-on skills such as sterile and non-sterile compounding. Students will gain knowledge of medication dispensing, customer service, pharmacy ethics and other essential skills for a pharmacy technician role.
• While Florida does not mandate national certification, many employers prefer or even require it. Two major certifications are available: Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), which requires passing the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) and National Healthcareer Association (NHA), which offers the ExCPT exam as an alternative certification. Both credentials require completion of an accredited training program or equivalent work experience.
• Pharmacy technicians must apply for registration with the Florida Board of Pharmacy to practice legally in the state. This includes completing the Florida Board of Pharmacy application, paying the application and registration fees, submitting proof of a completed and approved pharmacy technician training program and completing a background check and fingerprinting are also required as part of the application process.
• Florida pharmacy technicians must renew their registration every two years. The renewal process requires completion of 20 hours of continuing education (CE) credits, including four hours related to drug errors and pharmacy law, and two hours focused on medication safety. If nationally certified, pharmacy technicians must also renew their certification every two years, requiring additional CE hours in line with their certifying body's guidelines.

Cost of living considerations

RentCafe says the cost of living in Florida is 2% lower than the national average, which is accommodating to the slightly lower salaries pharm techs are paid in the state. Housing is the same as the national average and food and groceries are 4% lower than the rest of the U.S. Here are average costs of living for the Florida cities the BLS lists as paying pharmacy techs the highest salaries:

Florida city	Cost of living %
Gainesville	6% lower than the national average
Miami	18% higher than the national average
Fort Lauderdale	19% higher than the national average
Orlando	0% higher than the national average
Tampa	3% lower than the national average

Professional associations for pharm techs

In Florida, pharmacy technicians have access to professional organizations that provide networking, continuing education and career advancement resources. Here are two Florida-based professional groups specifically for pharmacy technicians:

This pharmacy technician salary guide for Florida aims to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the salary landscape and key information regarding becoming a pharmacy tech and the profession within the state. Use this guide as a starting point to make informed decisions about your career path, negotiating salaries and for setting realistic expectations for your educational and professional future.