# Pharmacy Technicians

US SOC code 29-2052. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/29-2052

Also called: Pharm tech, Certified pharmacy technician, CPhT, Pharmacy tech, Hospital pharmacy technician.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **471,680** US pharmacy technicians, with median pay of **$45,750** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the highest was **487,920**, in May 2024, close to the May 2025 count. The earliest figure here is [an estimate](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm) of **135,000** from 1990, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for pharmacy technicians: ScriptPro / Parata robotic dispensing + PTCB certification, 1994 to 2010.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 6.4% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=29-2052&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **42.6%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)
- **0.92** estimated probability that the whole occupation could be computerised, over an unspecified number of years. Not a forecast of job losses. [Frey and Osborne, 2013](https://oms-www.files.svdcdn.com/production/downloads/academic/The_Future_of_Employment.pdf)

### Since the 2013 prediction

In 2013, Frey and Osborne put this job's probability of computerisation at 0.92. BLS counted **362,690** of these jobs in May 2013 and **471,680** in May 2025 (+30%, a change derived by Future History).

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Pharmacy Technicians employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1968
- Latest US employment: 471,680 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [3]
- Latest US median pay: $45,750 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [6]
- Outlook: +6.4% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [22]

### In other countries

The latest figure each country's statistics agency publishes for this job. Each uses its own occupation definition, survey basis and currency, so the numbers are not directly comparable with each other or with the US figures.

- **Canada** (NOC 32124)
  - Employment, 2020: 26,560. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [4]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021: number of persons with employment income in NOC 32124 Pharmacy technicians, Canada, reference year 2020. A recipients basis (anyone with employment income during the year), slightly broader than a point-in-time employed count. Statistics Canada Open Licence.
  - Median pay, 2020: C$49,200. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [7]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021 (Table 98-10-0586): median employment income for NOC 32124 Pharmacy technicians, Canada, reference year 2020, full-year full-time workers (the basis comparable to the US OEWS full-time median). Statistics Canada Open Licence.

### All 25 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1990 | 135,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook [1] |
| 2000 | 190,940 | $20,650 | BLS OEWS 2000 [2] |
| 2003 | 211,270 | $22,760 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [3] |
| 2004 | 255,290 | $23,650 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [3] |
| 2005 | 266,790 | $24,390 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [3] |
| 2006 | 282,450 | $25,630 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [3] |
| 2007 | 301,950 | $26,720 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [3] |
| 2008 | 324,110 | $27,710 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [3] |
| 2009 | 331,890 | $28,070 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [3] |
| 2010 | 333,500 | $28,400 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [3] |
| 2011 | 343,550 | $28,940 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [3] |
| 2012 | 353,340 | $29,320 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [3] |
| 2013 | 362,690 | $29,650 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [3] |
| 2014 | 368,760 | $29,810 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [3] |
| 2015 | 379,430 | $30,410 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [3] |
| 2016 | 398,390 | $30,920 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [3] |
| 2017 | 417,720 | $31,750 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [3] |
| 2018 | 417,860 | $32,700 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [3] |
| 2019 | 417,780 | $33,950 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [3] |
| 2020 | 415,310 | $35,100 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [3] |
| 2021 | 436,630 | $36,740 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [3] |
| 2022 | 453,630 | $37,790 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [3] |
| 2023 | 460,280 | $40,300 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [3] |
| 2024 | 487,920 | $43,460 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [3] |
| 2025 | 471,680 | $45,750 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [3] |

## Sources (92)

### Employment series

1. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Pharmacy Technicians (historical employment context; PTCB founding history 1995)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
2. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
3. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
4. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Wage series

5. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
6. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
7. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Tool eras

8. [United States Pharmacopeia (Wikipedia) — founding 1820, national drug quality standards establishing the knowledge base within which apprentices worked](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Pharmacopeia), Wikipedia / USP
9. [Walgreens (Wikipedia) — founding 1901, chain expansion (493 stores by 1940), pharmacy clerk employment model](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walgreens), Wikipedia
10. [Compounding (Wikipedia) — "Pharmacists continued to compound most prescriptions until the early 1950s when the majority of dispensed drugs came directly from the large pharmaceutical companies"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compounding), Wikipedia
11. [Durham-Humphrey Amendment (Wikipedia) — signed October 26, 1951; formalized Rx/OTC distinction establishing framework for high-volume dispensing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham%E2%80%93Humphrey_Amendment), Wikipedia
12. [American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) — pharmacy technician training guidelines history and workforce development (1968 guidelines context)](https://www.ashp.org/pharmacy-technician/about-pharmacy-technicians/pharmacy-technician-history), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
13. [BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — Pharmacy Technicians (historical development context; ASHP and PTCB roles)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
14. [Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) — founding 1995 history; first PTCE administered November 3, 1996](https://ptcb.org/history/), Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
15. [Parata Systems — pharmacy automation technology overview (robotic dispensing for retail and institutional pharmacy)](https://parata.com/about-us/), Parata Systems
16. [Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (Wikipedia) — "signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 8, 2003; largest overhaul of Medicare in the program's 38-year history"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_Modernization_Act), Wikipedia
17. [Drug Quality and Security Act (Wikipedia) — signed November 27, 2013; FDA registration for compounding pharmacies; regulatory response to 2012 NECC meningitis outbreak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_Quality_and_Security_Act), Wikipedia
18. [American Pharmacists Association (APhA) — immunization authority for pharmacy technicians: state-by-state expansion overview](https://www.pharmacist.com/Practice/Patient-Care-Services/Immunizations), American Pharmacists Association
19. [PTCB — Pharmacy Technician Certification Board: expanded credential programs (CSPT, HDMT) launched 2020-2021; immunization administration endorsement](https://ptcb.org/credentials/), Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
20. [CVS Health (Wikipedia) — "plans to close 900 stores nationwide over the next three years" (announced November 2021)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CVS_Health), CVS Health / Wikipedia
21. [Rite Aid (Wikipedia) — Chapter 11 bankruptcy October 15, 2023; 778 stores closed by August 2024; complete liquidation October 2025](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rite_Aid), Rite Aid / Wikipedia

### Forecasts and exposure studies

22. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 29-2052 Pharmacy technicians (2025: 471.2 thousand; 2035: 501.3 thousand; +6.4%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=29-2052&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
23. [Frey & Osborne (2013), "The Future of Employment: How Susceptible Are Jobs to Computerisation?", Appendix (SOC 29-2052 Pharmacy Technicians: probability 0.92, rank 562 of 702)](https://oms-www.files.svdcdn.com/production/downloads/academic/The_Future_of_Employment.pdf), Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford
24. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 29-2052.00, human-rated β 0.426)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

25. [United States Pharmacopeia (Wikipedia) — "11 physicians came together...to protect patients from being harmed by the inconsistent and poor-quality medical preparations" (1820 founding)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Pharmacopeia), Wikipedia / USP
26. [American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) — pharmacy technician history and 1968 training guidelines](https://www.ashp.org/pharmacy-technician/about-pharmacy-technicians/pharmacy-technician-history), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
27. [Parata Systems — pharmacy automation history and robotic dispensing product overview (includes context on the 1990s commercialization era)](https://parata.com/about-us/), Parata Systems
28. [Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) — founding 1995 and first PTCE examination November 3, 1996](https://ptcb.org/history/), Pharmacy Technician Certification Board
29. [Medicare Modernization Act (Wikipedia) — "signed into law by President George W. Bush on December 8, 2003; largest overhaul of Medicare in the program's 38-year history"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicare_Modernization_Act), Wikipedia
30. [CVS Health (Wikipedia) — COVID-19 vaccination program (30M+ doses by mid-2021); PREP Act authorization for pharmacy technicians](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CVS_Health), CVS Health / Wikipedia
31. [Rite Aid (Wikipedia) — Chapter 11 October 15, 2023; liquidation October 2025; 5,059 stores and 112,800 employees at 2008 peak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rite_Aid), Wikipedia

### Predecessors & successors

32. [BLS OOH — Pharmacy Technicians vs. Pharmacy Aides (31-9096): distinction between clerical aide role and preparation-focused technician role](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics
33. [US Army 68Q Pharmacy Specialists — training and civilian pharmacy tech certification crosswalk (army.mil article)](https://www.army.mil/article/11842/pharmacy_specialists_take_on_independent_role), US Army
34. [BLS OOH — Pharmacists (29-1051): Pharm.D. entry requirement; technician experience as pathway](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacists.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 — Pharmacy Technicians (29-2052.00): tasks, technology skills (Pyxis MedStation listed), work activities, knowledge areas, wage and employment data](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-2052.00), accessed 2026-05-24
- [BLS OOH — Pharmacy Technicians: 490,400 employed 2024; median annual wage $43,460; projected growth 6% 2024-2034 (faster than average); ~49,000 annual openings; ~40% of tasks carry high automation potential but aging-population demand sustains growth](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacy-technicians.htm), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Omnicell Titan XT launch (December 2025) — next-generation automated dispensing system on OmniSphere cloud platform; AI-enabled inventory demand sensing; DynamicRestock guided workflow produces ~70% time savings on restocking workflows](https://www.omnicell.com/resources/news/announcing-omnicell-titan-xt-the-next-generation-automated-dispensing-system-designed-to-empower-autonomous-medication-management/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [BD Pyxis Pro + BD Incada Connected Care Platform (US 2025, Europe April 2026) — AI-powered cloud analytics layer; natural language search; enterprise inventory visibility; 75% reduction in dispensing distribution errors vs. manual cassette systems; Wellstar Health System + Henry Ford Health partnerships](https://investors.bd.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/946/bd-launches-ai-enabled-medication-dispensing-system-to-the-european-market), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Parata Max 2 — high-speed robotic vial-filling for community/outpatient pharmacies; covers up to 80% of prescription volume; near-zero error rates; image verification of every vial; replaces hours of manual pill counting per shift](https://rxinsider.com/market-buzz/parata-max-2-high-speed-automation-for-smarter-vial-filling/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [ScriptPro SP 200 — robotic prescription dispensing at up to 150 Rx/hr from 200 dispensing cells; 99.7% count accuracy; gravity-fed system eliminates cross-contamination; deployed at VA hospitals and large retail pharmacies (RXinsider, May 2025)](https://rxinsider.com/market-buzz/21024-scriptpro-rsquo-s-sp-200-automating-accuracy-and-efficiency-in-pharmacy-operations/), accessed 2026-06-22
- [ARxIUM RIVA Automated IV Compounding System — fully automated hospital IV preparation; barcode + weight validation per component; UV sterility assurance; meets USP \<797\>, NIOSH, OSHA; KLAS best IV robot three consecutive years as of 2025](https://www.arxium.com/robotic-iv-automation-compounding-systems), accessed 2026-05-24
- [CoverMyMeds AI Prior Authorization Automation — 43M PAs processed in 2025; FHIR-based AI auto-populates forms and submits electronically; Latent Health partnership for complex PA intelligence; 83% PA turnaround reduction; 26% approval rate increase](https://www.covermymeds.health/articles/healthcare-technology/latent-health-intelligent-automation-fhir), accessed 2026-05-24
- [DoseSpot Connect (launched February 2025) — ePrescribing with real-time PA capabilities; FHIR insurance verification; merged with Arrive Health 2026 combining ePrescribing with pharmacy/medical benefit data; reduces staff time on manual PA form completion](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/2/18/3027916/0/en/DoseSpot-Ends-Sticker-Shock-at-the-Pharmacy-with-Launch-of-New-ePrescribing-Solution-that-Gives-Patients-Best-Pricing-and-Pharmacy-Choice.html), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Inmar Intelligence pharmacy supply chain AI — processes returns for 40,000+ pharmacies; AI predicts drug shortages with 85% accuracy; 45% of organizations report reduced operational costs from supply chain AI; 65% of pharma supply chains globally report AI adoption (up from 41%)](https://www.inmar.com/blog/insights/healthcare/pharmacy-supply-chain-ready-its-digital-reckoning), accessed 2026-05-24
- [PTCB 2025 — 98% of employers require or encourage CPhT; advanced CPhT-Adv, CSPT (sterile compounding), and specialty certificates in pharmacy automation/hazardous drug management; hospital sector pays ~$12,000/yr more than retail ($49,920 vs $37,900)](https://ptcb.org/credentials/certification/certified-pharmacy-technician/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Robotic dispensing safety literature (PMC 2022; ScienceDirect 2026) — dispensing errors reduced from 0.204% to 0.044% after automation; unprevented errors from 0.015% to 0.002%; dispensing time per Rx reduced 60s to 23s; 99.40% traceability code collection rate in 2025-2026 hospital deployments](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9526262/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science): occupational LLM exposure framework](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-24
- [PharmTechsOnly 2025 — AI agents auto-input electronic prescriptions (drug, strength, sig, patient, provider) with high accuracy; technicians handle exception management for ambiguous faxed/handwritten orders and clinical edge cases](https://www.pharmtechsonly.com/resource-center/blog/the-future-of-pharmacy-technicians-ai-automation-w/index.html), accessed 2026-05-24

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.