by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 353 U.S. colleges awarded 8,060 degrees and certificates in Pharmacy Technician/Assistant. Certificates are the most popular award, at 48% of graduates. College Factual ranks 209 schools in its 2027 Best Pharmacy Technician/Assistant Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $27,519 one year after completing, rising to $35,634 after four years.
Studying Pharmacy Technician/Assistant covers Pharmacy Technician/assistant. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Supervision Of Pharmacists, To Prepare Medications, Provide Medications And Related Assistance To Patients, And Manage Pharmacy Clinical And Business Operations. Includes Instruction In Medical And Pharmaceutical Terminology, Principles Of Pharmacology And Pharmaceutics, Drug Identification, Pharmacy Laboratory Procedures, Prescription Interpretation, Patient Communication And Education, Safety Procedures, Record-Keeping, Measurement And Testing Techniques, Pharmacy Business Operations, Prescription Preparation, Logistics And Dispensing Operations, And Applicable Standards And Regulations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, pharmacy technician/assistant is a popular field of study, with 8,060 degrees awarded annually. 353 colleges award pharmacy technician/assistant degrees, an average of 23 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 230.
By level, the 8,060 awards include 3,906 certificates, 1,000 associate degrees and 3,061 master’s degrees.
Women earned 83% of pharmacy technician/assistant degrees and certificates in the latest year (6,676 of 8,060). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Hispanic or Latino (3,313) and White (1,785), and international students earned 23.
College Factual ranks 209 schools in its 2027 Best Pharmacy Technician/Assistant Schools ranking, including 60 for associate degrees. It also ranks pharmacy technician/assistant schools within 18 states. In all, 353 colleges offer pharmacy technician/assistant programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Pharmacy Technician/Assistant Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common pharmacy technician/assistant credential is the certificate: 3,906 of the 8,060 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to pharmacy technician/assistant call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, English Language and Medicine and Dentistry, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
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How long a pharmacy technician/assistant degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 3,906 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,000 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,061 |
Postsecondary certificate is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to pharmacy technician/assistant, at 29.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Postsecondary certificate | 29.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 24.1% |
| Master’s degree | 11.7% |
| Some college courses | 9.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 8.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 6.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to Pharmacy Technician/Assistant, with an average median salary of $59,718; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Pharmacy Laboratory Technician, Drug Coordinator, Pharmacy Technician (Pharm Tech) and Chemotherapy Pharmacy Technician (Chemo Pharmacy Technician).
The occupation related to pharmacy technician/assistant with the most projected jobs is Pharmacy Technicians, at 2,546,481.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technicians | 2,546,481 | 1.6% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
Pharmacy Technician/Assistant graduates earn a median $27,519 one year after completing their program, $35,634 after four years and $32,689 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $27,519 |
| 4 years | $35,634 |
| 5 years | $32,689 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to pharmacy technician/assistant, with a median salary of $72,773.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technicians | $72,773 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Pharmacy Technician/Assistant has 12 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 76,255 degrees a year; the largest are Medical/Clinical Assistant (55,276), Physical Therapy Assistant (5,489) and Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other (4,386). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical/Clinical Assistant | 55,276 |
| Physical Therapy Assistant | 5,489 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other | 4,386 |
| Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance) | 4,277 |
| Occupational Therapist Assistant | 3,204 |
| Radiologist Assistant | 1,676 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Assistant | 663 |
| Anesthesiologist Assistant | 497 |
| Speech-Language Pathology Assistant | 304 |
| Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant | 258 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
