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Healthcare

Pharmacy Aides

Record drugs delivered to the pharmacy, store incoming merchandise, and inform the supervisor of stock needs. May operate cash register and accept prescriptions for filling.

Median salary (BLS)

$37,680

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$30k – $56k

Job outlook

No separate BLS projection for this specific role

AI exposure

Plan a path to Pharmacy Aides

Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$200–$1,150

Time to qualify

8 mo

Renewal

$75/yr

  1. 1

    High school diploma or GED

    Course

    Expected by most employers; if you need the GED, test fees run $0–$150 depending on the state.

    $0–$150 · 3 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    On-the-job training

    Experience

    Employer-provided and typically paid — days to a few months for most no-degree roles.

    Cost varies · 3 months source

  3. 3

    National & state licensure

    License

    A national board/registry exam plus a state license application (the NCLEX pattern). Exact exam and fees depend on the role and state.

    $200–$1,000 · 2 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Pharmacy Aides" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Pharmacy Aides

    Entry / Junior

    $29,820

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Pharmacy Aides

    Established

    $37,680

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Pharmacy Aides

    Senior

    $46,845

Key skills

A typical day

  • Greet customers and help them locate merchandise.
  • Accept prescriptions for filling, gathering and processing necessary information.
  • Operate cash register to process cash or credit sales.
  • Answer telephone inquiries, referring callers to pharmacist when necessary.
  • Receive, store, and inventory pharmaceutical supplies or medications, check for out-of-date medications, and notify pharmacist when inventory levels are low.

Fields of study

Any field

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.