How Much Do Pharmacy Techs Make in Florida?
Have you always wanted to work in a healthcare industry position where you have daily contact with patients? If so, a rewarding option is to become a pharmacy technician. Florida pharmacy techs work closely with pharmacists to dispense, label, and store medications, in addition to performing many other tasks.
But how much do pharmacy techs make in Florida? That’s a crucial question, and its answer can impact whether you pursue that path or not. With that in mind, here is a closer look at what you can expect to make if you become a pharmacy tech in Florida.
What Is the Average Salary for Pharmacy Techs in Florida?
Each state has a slightly different average salary for pharmacy tech positions, which combine to create a national average.
Statewide Average
In Florida, the statewide average hourly wage for a pharmacy technician is around $17. That means you can expect an annual salary of about $35,360.
But how does it hold up against the national average?
Comparison to the National Average
Pharmacy techs around the country tend to make more than those in Florida, but not by a significant margin. The national hourly wage for pharmacy techs is $18.25, which provides an annual salary of $37,970. As an entry-level tech in Florida, you’ll be making about $3,000 less per year than in some other states.
Factors That Influence Pharmacy Tech Salaries in Florida
Numerous factors can impact the exact salary you make as a pharmacy tech in Florida, including the following examples.
Experience Level
It makes sense that someone who’s just begun working as a pharmacy tech should make less than someone who has years of experience in the profession. A starting salary for someone with less than one year of experience can be $13.87 an hour and $28,840 annually, for example.
As you gain experience, those numbers will increase. Someone who has five to nine years of experience can expect an hourly average of around $17.57 and an annual salary of $36,550. People who have 20 years or more of experience tend to make $22.27 an hour and $46,330 per year.
Geographic Location in Florida
It’s important to remember that salaries vary significantly throughout Florida depending on whether you’re in a more rural or urban area. In Miami, for example, the average pharmacy tech salary is about $37,470. Other cities, like Tampa and Jacksonville, offer slightly lower salaries, coming in at $35,710 and $36,200 per year, respectively.
The locations where you can expect the lowest salaries are places like Sebring. There, a pharmacy tech only makes an average of $32,940.
Type of Employer
Whether you work in retail pharmacies, hospitals, or mail-order pharmacies also influences your salary. Of all these, hospitals pay the highest salaries, offering an average of $19.76 an hour. These are also the positions that require the most experience, however, and that’s represented in the wages.
Retail pharmacies pay an average of $16.09 per hour, and they typically don’t require as much experience. The lowest-paying employers for pharmacy techs are grocery store pharmacies, which generally offer $15.66 an hour.
Certifications and Education
Getting a degree or PTCB certification can boost your salary. Some employers will be willing to pay a bit more to hire someone who’s been certified. You can also help your salary average by pursuing specialized roles, like becoming a compounding technician.
How to Increase Your Salary as a Pharmacy Tech in Florida
So, how much do pharmacy techs make in Florida? It depends on several factors, including which city you intend to work in. However, no matter where you’re located in the state, there are ways to help yourself earn a higher salary as a pharmacy tech.
Pursue Additional Certifications
Getting different certifications can help you stand out among applicants, as well as make it more likely that employers will offer larger salaries to hire you. Some of the most useful certifications you can choose include pharmacy informatics and sterile/nonsterile compounding.
Gain More Experience
As you spend more time in the field, your salary will typically increase. Once you get a few years under your belt, you’ll be able to ask for raises or apply for positions that offer better wages.
Explore High-Paying Employers
The highest-paying employers, like hospitals, retail pharmacies, and mail-order pharmacies, are also the ones in which you’ll have the most competition when applying. You can rise above other applicants by having certifications and experience. Take extra courses, too, and make sure you have a few years of experience when applying.
Consider Relocating Within Florida
If you live in a more rural area where it’s impossible to make a living working as a pharmacy tech, an option you have is to relocate to some of the bigger cities. Tampa and Miami both offer better salaries.
Do keep in mind, of course, that larger cities also mean more competition, so it may not be the right step if you’ve just started your career. You may want to wait until you have a few years of experience so that you can compete with other job applicants in the larger cities.
How Can RxCe Help You With Your Florida Pharmacy Tech Journey?
Learning the answer to “How much do pharmacy techs make in Florida?” is an important first step. By knowing what to expect from the process and having a clear idea of what impacts your potential salaries, you can take the right steps toward earning a good wage in a fulfilling job.
To help you, RxCe offers numerous courses that meet your pharmacy tech CE requirements and certifications in other areas. Our pharmacy technician certification programs consist of eight one-hour modules that also count for your continuing education credits.
You can give your career a boost with RxCe’s help. And because our certificate programs are affordable, you can do so without putting a strain on your finances.
