How to hire pharmacy technicians
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests. • Assist customers by answering simple questions, locating items, or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information. • Enter prescription information into computer databases. • Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients. • Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs. • Operate cash registers to accept payment from customers. • Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages. • Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: High school diploma or equivalent] • Strong active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, critical thinking, active learning and monitoring skills • Working knowledge of customer and personal service, medicine and dentistry, mathematics and English Language • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $22.00 an hour ($45,750 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for pharmacy technicians
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to answer telephones, responding to questions or requests. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to assist customers by answering simple questions, locating items, or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to enter prescription information into computer databases. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Explain something technical from your last job as you would to a new coworker.
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What pharmacy technicians do
- Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests.
- Assist customers by answering simple questions, locating items, or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information.
- Enter prescription information into computer databases.
- Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients.
- Maintain proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
- Operate cash registers to accept payment from customers.
- Receive and store incoming supplies, verify quantities against invoices, check for outdated medications in current inventory, and inform supervisors of stock needs and shortages.
- Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for pharmacy technicians
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 1 to 3 months (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +6.4% over ten years, faster than average · about 44,700 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay pharmacy technicians
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Washington | $58,900 |
| California | $55,110 |
| Oregon | $54,900 |
| Alaska | $52,640 |
| Colorado | $49,970 |
| Alabama | $39,030 |
| Arkansas | $38,680 |
| West Virginia | $38,210 |
See pharmacy technicians pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacy Aides
- Medical Assistants
- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
- Phlebotomists
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
- Nursing Assistants
- Surgical Technologists
- Opticians, Dispensing
- Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.