Medical Assistants vs Pharmacy Technicians salary

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for Medical Assistants is $38,190, while the average annual salary for Pharmacy Technicians is $37,970. This means that these two occupations have comparable salaries.

Keep in mind, however, that the amount of pay an employee receives can be influenced by factors like location, experience, and the specific setting in which they work. For instance, Medical Assistants in Washington may have higher earnings (averaging $47,320 per annum) compared to those in Louisiana ($30,620). To give another example, the average salary of Pharmacy Technicians in California is 55% higher compared to those in West Virginia.

Medical Assistants vs Pharmacy Technicians overview

Medical Assistants and Pharmacy Technicians are fundamental to the Hospitals industry. People are often interested in learning about the differences between these occupations, as well as the average pay for each.

Medical Assistant job description

Medical Assistants perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

Medical Assistant education and experience

45% of Medical Assistants hold a Post-Secondary Certificate, 21% have a High School Diploma, and 17% hold a Bachelor's Degree. In terms of experience, 41% of Medical Assistant jobs require a 6 months to 1 year of experience in the field. A smaller part of jobs (20%) require no previous experience.

Medical Assistant average salary

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that in 2021, there were 727,760 Medical Assistants working in the United States, and on average, they earned $38,190 per year. The bottom 10 percent earned $29,070 or less, and the top 10 percent earned $48,170 or more. Compared to the previous year, the average salary has increased by 3.4%.

Do Medical Assistants make good money?

Medical Assistants are not typically well paid, as their average salary is about a third lower than the average salary in the United States ($58,260). Additionally, they earn about a half less than the average pay of the Health Care Services industry ($70,360).

Medical Assistants are not typically well paid, as their average salary is about a third lower than the average salary in the United States ($58,260).

Medical Assistants job growth

In 2021, there have been 17,560 more Medical Assistant roles than the previous year nationwide, which marks a growth of 2.5%. Job growth has averaged 2.6% for the last 3 years.

Pharmacy Technician job description

Pharmacy Technicians prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.

Pharmacy Technician education and experience

42% of Pharmacy Technicians have obtained a Post-Secondary Certificate, 36% hold a High School Diploma, and 15% have a College Course Certificate. With regard to experience, 39% of Pharmacy Technician occupations do not require any previous experience. A smaller portion of roles (15%) require a previous experience of 1 to 3 months.

Pharmacy Technician average salary

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 436,630 Pharmacy Technicians employed in the United States in 2021, and they earned an average annual income of $37,970. The bottom 10 percent had earnings of $28,740 or less, and the top 10 percent had earnings of $47,580 or more. The average salary has an increase of 4.2% in comparison to the previous year.

Do Pharmacy Technicians make good money?

Pharmacy Technicians salaries are generally not as competitive as those of other professions, since their mean salary is about a third below the average pay in the United States ($58,260). Additionally, they make 20% less than the mean salary of the Health and Personal Care Stores industry ($47,490).

Pharmacy Technicians salaries are generally not as competitive as those of other professions, since their mean salary is about a third below the average pay in the United States ($58,260).

Pharmacy Technicians job growth

In 2021, there have been 21,320 more Pharmacy Technician job opportunities than the previous year across the nation, and that shows an increase of 5.1%. Job growth has averaged 1.5% over the past 3 years.

FAQ

Do Medical Assistants or Pharmacy Technicians make more?

The salaries for these two jobs are similar. The average annual salary for Pharmacy Technicians is $37,970, while Medical Assistants earn $38,190 per year.

How long does it take to become a Medical Assistant vs Pharmacy Technician?

Both Medical Assistant and Pharmacy Technician occupations typically require a Post-Secondary Certificate. Completing a Post-Secondary Certificate most often takes between 1 year and 2 years of study.

Is it harder to become a Medical Assistant vs Pharmacy Technician?

It is not harder to become a Medical Assistant versus a Pharmacy Technician, as they both require the same level of education.