Pharmacy technicians count pills, measure liquids, compound medications when necessary and dispense completed prescriptions to customers. They work under the direct supervision of a pharmacist who verifies accuracy of the filled prescriptions. Pharmacy technicians may be classified as level I and level II. Level I pharmacy technicians are at entry level or have less than four years of experience, while level II pharmacy technicians have four or more years of experience. Pharmacy techs in Florida generally make lower salaries than the national average for this occupation.
Florida Specifics
All pharmacy technicians in Florida must be registered with the Florida Board of Pharmacy. The job search website Indeed.com shows over 500 jobs for registered pharmacy techs throughout Florida in January 2011, in retail pharmacies, hospitals and medical centers. Full-time and part-time positions are available, some for night shifts or rotating shifts.
Salary Range
The median salary for level I pharmacy technicians nationwide was about $32,400 per year as of January 2011, according to Salary.com. Those in the middle 50 percent of the earnings range were making $29,250 to $35,650. The bottom 10 percent had annual salaries below $26,400, and the top 10 percent over $38,600. Many job openings listed on Indeed.com ask for level II pharmacy technicians. The median pay rate for pharmacy technician level II was $37,670 in January 2011, with the middle 50 percent making $33,510 to $42,170 per year.
Level I Comparisons
Pharmacy technician salaries in Florida vary somewhat by city. Level I pharmacy techs in Pensacola, for instance, were making about $29,300 in January 2011, while those in Jacksonville had an average salary of $31,520. Pharmacy techs with this level of experience in Tampa were making $30,520, in Orlando $30,880 and in Miami $31,480. The middle 50 percent of these workers in this group of cities was $26,450 to $34,680. The bottom 10 percent had annual salaries below $23,870, and the top 10 percent more than $37,540.
Level II Comparisons
Level II pharmacy technicians earn significantly higher salaries. In Pensacola in January 2011 these techs were making about $34,060 on average, in Tampa $35,480, in Orlando $35,900, in Miami $36,600 and in Jacksonville $36,640. Only the bottom 10 percent of this group had salaries below $26,880, while the top 10 percent were earning more than $44,990 per year. The middle 50-percent range was $30,300 to $41,015 per year.