Pharmacy Technician Salary in Washington and How to increase your Pay

The pharmacy technician salary in Washington is $45,533 yearly on average.

Epic Travel Services, Health Advocates Network, Inc. and Medcadre Inc. are top paying companies, while the cities of Auburn, Burien and Puyallup are the ones with the highest-paying jobs.

This post also explores salaries paid in similar occupations to pharmacy technician, employee perks, and tips to enhancing a pharmacy technician’s salary in Washington.

Pharmacy Technician Salary in Washington Cities

Here is salary information for pharmacy technicians across cities in Washington:

	City	Hourly Salary	Annual Salary
1.	Seattle	$24.22	$47,453
2.	Spokane	$21.64	$42,398
3.	Tacoma	$23.17	$45,385
4.	Vancouver	$21.10	$41,338
5.	Bellevue	$23.38	$45,807
6.	Kent	$20.71	$40,577
7.	Everett	$24.39	$47,787
8.	Spokane Valley	$21.73	$42,568
9.	Renton	$21.07	$41,282
10.	Federal Way	$23.03	$45,109
11.	Yakima	$21.18	$41,488
12.	Bellingham	$23.67	$46,373
13.	Kirkland	$23.12	$45,296
14.	Auburn	$30.97	$60,678
15.	Kennewick	$20.01	$39,198
16.	Pasco	$22.75	$44,580
17.	Redmond	$22.76	$44,587
18.	Marysville	$22.98	$45,028
19.	Sammamish	$24.66	$48,316
20.	South Hill	$17.12	$33,546
21.	Lakewood	$23.68	$46,389
22.	Richland	$24.81	$48,597
23.	Shoreline	$33.32	$45,679
24.	Olympia	$23.05	$45,162
25.	Lacey	$20.48	$40,129
26.	Burien	$26.10	$51,140
27.	Bothell	$23.26	$45,579
28.	Bremerton	$22.80	$44,667
29.	Puyallup	$24.87	$48,725
30.	Edmonds	$22.57	$44,222

Skill-based Pharmacy Technician Salary in Washington

The salary of a pharmacy technician in Washington is influenced by certain skills, including:

• Root Cause Analysis; +58.93%.
• Aseptic Technique; +21.64%
• Infusion Experience; +17.70%
• Medical Terminology; +17.42%
• Hospital Experience; +12.54%.

Experience-based Pharmacy Technician Salary in Washington

In Washington, a pharmacy technician’s salary is affected by the level of experience they have.

Pharm techs with less than one year of experience earn around $43,656, while those with a decade or more of experience make roughly $54,196 yearly in Washington.

10 Cities with Highest Pharmacy Technician Salary in Washington

Here are some of the best paying cities for pharmacy technicians in Washington:

	City	Hourly Salary	Annual Salary
1.	Auburn	$30.97	$60,678
2.	Burien	$26.10	$51,140
3.	Puyallup	$24.87	$48,725
4.	Richland	$24.81	$48,597
5.	Sammamish	$24.66	$48,316
6.	Everett	$24.39	$47,787
7.	Seattle	$24.22	$47,453
8.	Lakewood	$23.68	$46,389
9.	Bellingham	$23.67	$46,373
10.	Bellevue	$23.38	$45,807

10 Companies with Highest Pharmacy Technician Salary in Washington

Here are some of the top paying companies for pharmacy technicians in Washington:

	Company	Hourly Salary	Annual Salary
1.	Epic Travel Services	$43.13	$84,501
2.	Health Advocates Network, Inc.	$39.53	$77,440
3.	Medcadre Inc	$34.90	$68,365
4.	eTeam Inc	$33.62	$65,873
5.	Kaiser Permanente	$33.07	$64,781
6.	US Department of Veterans Affairs	$32.51	$63,690
7.	MultiCare Health System	$32.04	$62,763
8.	Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center	$30.99	$60,715
9.	Shields Health Solutions	$30.13	$59,029
10.	Valley Medical Center	$28.84	$56,494

10 Highest Paying Pharmacy Technician Jobs in Washington

Here are the top paying pharmacy technician jobs in Washington:

1. Pharmacy Technician Intern; $38,859
2. Senior Certified Pharmacy Technician; $33,539
3. Certified Pharmacy Technician; $59,968
4. Pharmacy Technician II; $84,206
5. Senior Pharmacy Technician; $55,288
6. Pharmacy Technician Supervisor; $68,966
7. Walgreens Pharmacy Technician; $35,830
8. Specialty Pharmacy Technician; $56,876
9. Hospital Pharmacy Technician; $47,198
10. Pharmacy Technician Team Leader; $69,000.

More Benefits for Pharmacy Technicians in Washington

Employers in Washington offer pharmacy technicians some benefits, including:

1. Childcare Vouchers

Childcare vouchers are offered by many employers in the county. Some companies even offer childcare programs that are subsidized by tax-deductible contributions.

2. Health Insurance

Employers often offer health insurance to their employees, so as a pharmacy technician in Washington, you should have this benefit at your disposal.

This allows you to see your doctor and receive medical treatment; it also protects you against excessive costs should a medical emergency arise.

3. Life Insurance

Life insurance is important for pharmacy technicians who expect to retire at some point in the future.

The job can be physically demanding, and you may not have the opportunity to take time off if your health fails.

With life insurance, you’ll have the security of having financial help if something should happen to you.

4. 401K Match

Many employers match a certain amount of your contributions to their company’s 401K plan. If you’re offered a 401K program, make sure you contribute fully; this money is for retirement, so it’s money that you won’t need during the course of your career.

What Related Job Titles to Pharmacy Technician Earn in Washington

Here is what related job titles to pharmacy technician earn in Washington:

1. Medical transcriptionist; $44,620
2. Medical technician; $47,013
3. Medical assistant; $53,535
4. Laboratory technician; $75,582.

Pharmacy Technician Salary and Job Outlook in Washington

According to BLS reports, the job outlook for pharmacy technicians in Washington is very favorable, with a growth rate of 16.69%.

The number of pharmacy technician positions in Washington is projected to increase from 7130 in 2020 to 8320 in 2030, with an average of 530 jobs each year.

How to increase your Pay as a Pharmacy Technician in Washington

If you want to increase your salary as a pharmacy technician in Washington, then consider these ideas:

1. Get a certification or additional training.

Certifications and additional training can help you move up the career ladder, especially if you want to apply for a managerial or supervisory position.

2. Ask for a raise.

If your pay is not what you think it should be, then go to your supervisor and ask for a raise.

You may have to prove your worth by showcasing your hard work; don’t expect instant gratification.

Showing initiative, however, will always payoff in the long run.

3. Apply for a higher paying job.

If you think you are being underpaid, then apply for a higher paying job. Before you go in and ask to be interviewed, make sure to practice answering basic interview questions and learn about the company’s services and products.

4. Find additional work.

If your employer doesn’t pay competitive salaries or bonuses, look elsewhere for opportunities that provide these benefits.

You may have to take on a second job or freelance gig to earn more money; these extra hours will also help you gain valuable experience while expanding your network at the same time.

More tips to enhance your earnings as a pharmacy technician in Washington State:

1. Keep up-to-date on your skills and education
2.  Network with pharmacy techs from other jobs
3. Take advantage of gap or entry level programs.

More Career Opportunities for Pharmacy Technicians in Washington

If you’re looking to explore a related field to that of pharmacy technology, these roles may be of interest to you:

1. Health care coordinator

A health care coordinator is a member of a team that coordinates the flow of patients from care on the Hill down to the E.R.

In addition to working with doctors, nurses and hospital staff, these coordinators are responsible for informing callers about all aspects of their medical care or treatment.

They are also responsible for communicating with insurance companies and other outside parties where necessary.

2. Medical scribe

A medical scribe is an assistant to a doctor who tracks the progress of each visit, detailing the patient’s medical history, vital signs and treatments.

Scribes also take x-rays, assist with patient lab work, and observe consultations with other health care professionals.

3. Patient care technician

Patient care technicians perform non-medical clerical duties as assigned by licensed nurses or physicians.

Their responsibilities include checking patients for identification, collecting insurance information, taking payments, scheduling appointments, and answering phones.

4. Laboratory technician

A laboratory technician is responsible for equipment in a lab setting, including centrifuges and microscopes.

Their duties can vary depending on the nature of their job, but they are usually responsible for keeping the equipment up to date, testing samples, and ordering materials.

Conclusion

A pharmacy technician is a highly regarded job in Washington with a very promising future.

You can improve your job prospects and salary by taking advantage of opportunities for additional training and certification.

This post has provided detailed information on the pharmacy technician salary in Washington, to help you make the best decision in your career, including working in the State of Washington as a pharm tech.

Information sources: salary.com, indeed.com, and bls.gov.