2021 Pharmacy Technician Salary in Washington
If you are keen to launch your career as a Pharmacy Technician in Washington, you should know that a pharmacy technician salary in Washington is $42,440, employing around 7,190 pharmacy technicians. With a starting salary of $32,220, health and personal care stores are the biggest pay masters in the state. The employment growth in WA has been 7.36%, from 2013 to 2017 and salaries have increased by 6.34%. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue gives the maximum payment in WA at $43,660. The BLS has approximated an enormous growth of 9% through the years 2016 to 2026.
Pharmacy Technician Average Salary in Washington
A pharmacy technician on an average earns an annual salary of $42,440 in Washington, which is substantially higher than the national average salary. Part-timers earn an hourly wage of $20.41. Compared to the national average, WA pays a 28.3% higher salary to its pharmacy technicians.
| Type | Average Salary |
| Hourly Wage | $20.41 |
| Monthly Salary | $3,537 |
| Annual Salary | $42,440 |
Pharmacy Technician Salary by Experience in WA
Pharmacy techs in WA earn an average income of $42,440 per year; it is the second highest paying state in the country. The starting salary is $31,220 annually; you can then attain a rise to $36,190 in 1-4 years. By 5-9 years the income could well increase to $42,640 annually and in about 10-19 years you would be earning $48,640. 20 years of experience promises you a salary of $54,100 annually.
| Level of Experience | Hourly | Annual |
| Less than 1 year (Starting) | $15.49 | $32,220 |
| 1-4 years | $17.40 | $36,190 |
| 5-9 years | $20.50 | $42,640 |
| 10-19 years | $23.38 | $48,640 |
| 20 years or more | $26.30 | $54,710 |
Total Number of PTCB Certified Pharmacy Techs in Washington: 5,191
Certification is a requirement to work as a pharmacy technician in Washington. There are 5,191 PTCB certified pharmacy technicians working in Washington.
Salary Growth
With an average annual salary of $42,440 in 2017, WA has seen a 6.34% growth from 2013, when the average income of a pharmacy technician was $39,910. The expansion in salary is most definitely heartening and the cause is an increasing demand of pharmacy technicians in the state.
| Year | Annual Salary | Growth |
| 2013 | $39,910 | 0.71% |
| 2014 | 0.71% | 0.98% |
| 2015 | $40,980 | 1.69% |
| 2016 | $42,170 | 2.90% |
| 2017 | $42,440 | 0.64% |
| Total | $2,530 | 6.34% |
Employment Growth
There has been a growth rate of 7.36% from 2013 to 2017. The population of WA is 7.53 million; the medical requirements of the state are ever rising, thus generating a huge need for pharmacy technicians.
| Year | Employment | Growth |
| 2013 | 7,070 | - 1.12% |
| 2014 | 7,180 | 1.56% |
| 2015 | 7,320 | 1.95% |
| 2016 | 7,330 | 0.14% |
| 2017 | 7,590 | 3.55% |
| Total | 520 | 7.36% |
Industry Wise Salary and Employment
Retail pharmacy stores recruit the maximum number of pharmacy technicians, currently 3,980 pharmacy technicians work in these pharmacies, earning an average salary of $39,730 per year. Department stores employ the lowest number of pharmacy techs; about 180 and they earn an average pay packet of $44,930.
| Industry | Employment | Hourly Salary | Annual Salary |
| Retail Pharmacies | 3,980 | $19.10 | $39,730 |
| Hospitals | 1,150 | $23.49 | $48,850 |
| Grocery Stores | 780 | $20.28 | $42,170 |
| Other General Merchandise Stores | 620 | $18.88 | $39,280 |
| Department Stores | 180 | $21.60 | $44,930 |
Washington City Wise Salary and Employment
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue employs the maximum number of pharmacy techs in the state - 4,350, paying an annual salary of $43,660. Coming in second is Vancouver-Hillsboro, employing 2,580 pharmacy technicians and paying an average remuneration of $40,420 yearly. Mount Vernon-Anacortes employs 110 pharmacy technicians and pays 44,110 annually; the highest in the state.
| Area Name | Employment | Hourly | Annual | Starting Salary | Experienced Salary |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | 4,350 | $20.99 | $43,660 | $32,920 | $56,960 |
| Vancouver-Hillsboro | 2,580 | $19.43 | $40,420 | $31,010 | $50,390 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | 620 | $19.33 | $40,210 | $32,200 | $50,170 |
| Olympia-Tumwater | 300 | $19.81 | $41,210 | $31,610 | $55,940 |
| Yakima | 250 | $18.29 | $38,040 | $27,070 | $48,870 |
| Kennewick-Richland | 230 | $19.86 | $41,300 | $33,010 | $50,000 |
| Bellingham | 190 | $19.77 | $41,130 | $29,480 | $52,680 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale | 190 | $20.82 | $43,300 | $33,330 | $53,230 |
| Lewiston | 130 | $15.97 | $33,210 | $22,960 | $47,410 |
| Longview | 130 | $20.15 | $41,910 | $32,640 | $51,400 |
| Wenatchee | 120 | $19.81 | $41,200 | $32,080 | $50,760 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes | 110 | $21.21 | $44,110 | $34,680 | $53,350 |
| Walla Walla | 60 | $19.13 | $39,790 | $30,520 | $48,620 |
Pharmacy Tech Job Outlook in WA
As of 2016, there are 7,190 pharmacy technicians employed in WA and the number of PTCB CPhTs in WA is 5,191; these numbers have been projected to rise by 20% by the year 2026. With some of the biggest employers of pharmacy technicians as well as 7 ASHP accredited schools offering Pharmacy Technician training programs, Washington is a highly advantageous state for you to work as a pharmacy tech. Annually 710 job openings are created in WA, which is significantly more than the national employment growth rate.
| 2016 Employment | 2026 Employment | Percent Change | Projected Annual Job Openings | |
| Washington | 7,190 | 8,650 | + 20.31% | 710 |
| United States | 372,500 | 407,200 | +9% | 7,160 |
Pharmacy Technician Washington VS Pharmacy Technician National
Pharmacy technicians in WA earn a staggering 28.3% higher remuneration then the national average. While the national average annual salary is $33,060, in WA a pharmacy technician on an average gets paid $42,440.
| Type | Washington Salary | US Salary | Difference | % Difference |
| Hourly Wage | $20.41 | $15.90 | +$4.51 | +28.36% |
| Monthly Salary | $3,537 | $2,755 | +$782 | +28.38% |
| Annual Salary | $42,440 | $33,060 | +$9,380 | +28.37% |
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