Pharmacy Aides

Overview

Pharmacy Aides has a national median salary of $37,680 per year, with -0.7% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

Record drugs delivered to the pharmacy, store incoming merchandise, and inform the supervisor of stock needs. May operate cash register and accept prescriptions for filling.

Work Values

• Relationships
• Support
• Independence

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• Process medical insurance claims, posting bill amounts and calculating copayments.
• Answer telephone inquiries, referring callers to pharmacist when necessary.
• Prepare prescription labels by typing or operating a computer and printer.
• Operate cash register to process cash or credit sales.
• Prepare, maintain, and record records of inventories, receipts, purchases, or deliveries, using a variety of computer screen formats.

Work Activities

• Getting Information
• Working with Computers
• Processing Information
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Assisting and Caring for Others
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Analyzing Data or Information

Detailed Work Activities

• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a bachelor's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Bachelor's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for a high school diploma or equivalent.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Pharmacy Aides:

Video Resources