U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsPrepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 333,500 | 0.8 % | $14.10 | $29,330 | 0.3 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $9.54 | $11.24 | $13.65 | $16.62 | $19.57 |
| Annual Wage (2) | $19,840 | $23,370 | $28,400 | $34,560 | $40,710 |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health and Personal Care Stores | 181,200 | 18.39 | $13.42 | $27,910 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 55,580 | 1.08 | $15.94 | $33,160 |
| Other General Merchandise Stores | 23,130 | 1.52 | $12.85 | $26,720 |
| Grocery Stores | 22,680 | 0.92 | $13.88 | $28,880 |
| Department Stores | 17,300 | 1.14 | $12.62 | $26,250 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health and Personal Care Stores | 181,200 | 18.39 | $13.42 | $27,910 |
| Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers | 3,110 | 1.61 | $14.84 | $30,870 |
| Other General Merchandise Stores | 23,130 | 1.52 | $12.85 | $26,720 |
| Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses | 3,300 | 1.35 | $14.52 | $30,210 |
| Department Stores | 17,300 | 1.14 | $12.62 | $26,250 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 5,650 | 0.28 | $19.20 | $39,940 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | (8) | (8) | $18.60 | $38,680 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | 920 | 0.03 | $17.72 | $36,850 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 1,240 | 0.07 | $17.58 | $36,560 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 1,670 | 0.78 | $17.36 | $36,100 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 29,270 | 2.09 | 0.80 | $17.92 | $37,280 |
| Texas | 27,860 | 2.76 | 1.05 | $14.38 | $29,920 |
| Florida | 20,060 | 2.82 | 1.08 | $13.41 | $27,890 |
| Illinois | 15,340 | 2.78 | 1.06 | $14.18 | $29,500 |
| Ohio | 14,500 | 2.95 | 1.12 | $12.57 | $26,150 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 2,940 | 4.27 | 1.63 | $11.55 | $24,020 |
| Kentucky | 6,790 | 3.95 | 1.51 | $11.98 | $24,920 |
| Tennessee | 10,130 | 3.94 | 1.50 | $13.24 | $27,530 |
| Missouri | 9,440 | 3.65 | 1.39 | $12.57 | $26,140 |
| Alabama | 6,390 | 3.53 | 1.35 | $11.93 | $24,810 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 610 | 1.98 | 0.76 | $18.85 | $39,210 |
| Washington | 6,880 | 2.55 | 0.97 | $17.93 | $37,290 |
| California | 29,270 | 2.09 | 0.80 | $17.92 | $37,280 |
| Hawaii | 910 | 1.58 | 0.60 | $16.79 | $34,920 |
| District of Columbia | 670 | 1.05 | 0.40 | $16.75 | $34,850 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL Metropolitan Division | 8,780 | 2.48 | 0.94 | $14.92 | $31,030 |
| Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX | 6,820 | 2.73 | 1.04 | $14.64 | $30,440 |
| New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 6,760 | 1.36 | 0.52 | $16.19 | $33,680 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division | 6,510 | 1.71 | 0.65 | $17.56 | $36,520 |
| Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division | 4,990 | 2.77 | 1.05 | $13.98 | $29,080 |
| Dallas-Plano-Irving, TX Metropolitan Division | 4,880 | 2.44 | 0.93 | $15.09 | $31,390 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA | 4,770 | 2.17 | 0.83 | $13.79 | $28,680 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 4,540 | 3.61 | 1.38 | $13.26 | $27,580 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 4,480 | 2.66 | 1.01 | $14.83 | $30,850 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 4,240 | 2.52 | 0.96 | $15.24 | $31,700 |