The following page shows the career & education requirements, salary and job outlook for Medication Technician around the country.
What We Do
A medication technician holds responsibility for providing non-injection prescription medication to patients. They are supervised directly by registered nurses or other members of the health care team and they are tasked to prepare and distribute medication, after which they will monitor its effects on patients. Medication technicians spend most of their days on their feet, so they need to be physically fit.
Work Environment
Medication technicians can be found in any professional setting where medication has to be dispensed. This includes the various wards in state, local, and private hospitals, and also nursing homes and retirement centers. Although there is a drive for increased in-home care, it is rare to find medication technicians there due to the fact that they must be supervised by a superior at all times.
How to Become a Medication Technician
There is no national or federal requirement for medication technicians to be registered or trained to a certain degree. However, because the health care system as a whole is committed to improving the quality of care, it is now generally expected for medication technicians to have completed an associate’s degree in a health care organization, vocational school, or community college. This demonstrates that they have had the necessary theoretical instruction, as well as significant practical experience.
Training & Certification Requirements
Those who have completed an approved training program can usually become certified nursing assistants (CNAs), which is what most employers now look for in medication technicians. Each state has its own CNA certification exam and sets its own requirements for admission, as well as for the maintenance of certification. Once passed, CNAs are listed on a state registry and are informed of how they can maintain their license. Usually, they must demonstrate having worked for a set number of years, completing continuous education credits, and taking part in a clinical update course. Alternatively, people can choose to retake the CNA examination.
Medication Technician Related Job Titles
According to Indeed.com, the following career/job titles with salary figures are most closely related to Medication Technician.
Career/Job Title | Average Salary |
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Oncology Pharmacy Technician | $28,000 |
Pharmacy Technician Medication Historian | $12,000 |
Pharmacy Technician Riverbend | $32,000 |
Pharmacy Technician Float | $36,000 |
Pharmacy Technician Outpatient Core | $34,000 |
Monitor Technician Medical Telemetry | $31,000 |
Pharmacy Technician Medical Recon | $37,000 |
Pharmacy Technologist Pharmacy | $33,000 |
Medication Technician | $20,000 |
Bilingual Pharmacy Technician | $30,000 |
Medication Technician Earning Potential
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) classifies medication technicians in the same category as nuclear medicine technologists. They report that their average salary as of May 2015 was $73,360 per year.
Medication Technician Job Outlook
According to the BLS, growth in demand for nuclear medicine technologists, and thus also medication technicians, is almost stagnant, at just 2% from 2014 to 2024. This is much slower than the national average. One of the reasons for this is that most health settings are now strongly focused on lowering costs.
According to Indeed.com, the average national salary of jobs for Medication Technician was $30,000.00 with a high confidence ranking based on over 250 sources. Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide are 47% lower than average salaries for all job postings nationwide.
Medication Technician Salary by State
The following lists Medication Technician salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings by employers through Indeed.com. For example, DC had the largest quoted salary of $38,000 while Hawaii had the smallest quoted salary of $19,000.
Alaska – $22,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 48th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Alaska are 26% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 48th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Safeway Inc, Providence Health & Services, and Leidos. | |||||||||||
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Alabama – $31,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 13th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Alabama are 1% higher than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Jackson Hospital, CSL Plasma, Leidos, and UAB Medicine. | |||||||||||
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Arkansas – $31,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 14th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Arkansas are 2% higher than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Fresenius Medical Care, Catholic Health Initiatives, Mercy, and Saline Memorial Hospital. | |||||||||||
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Arizona – $25,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 43rd | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Arizona are 18% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 43rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like North Country Health Care Inc, MENTOR NETWORK, Tucson Medical Center, and Atria Senior Living. | |||||||||||
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California – $33,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 7th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in California are 7% higher than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kaiser Permanente, Safeway, Atria Senior Living, and Fresenius Medical Care. | |||||||||||
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Colorado – $27,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 35th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Colorado are 11% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kaiser Permanente, Sky Ridge Medical Center, CSL Plasma, and Banfield Pet Hospital. | |||||||||||
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Connecticut – $35,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 4th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Connecticut are 15% higher than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Banfield Pet Hospital, Rite Aid, Lawrence & Memorial Hospital, and Cornell Scott Hill Health Corporation. | |||||||||||
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DC – $38,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 1st | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Washington, DC are 25% higher than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Children's Hospital, Quadrant, Inc., Omnicare, Inc, and Safeway. | |||||||||||
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Delaware – $27,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 36th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Delaware are 12% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Christiana Care, Fresenius Medical Care, CVS Health, and Rite Aid. | |||||||||||
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Florida – $28,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 30th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Florida are 7% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CVS Health, Banfield Pet Hospital, Consulate Health Care, and Florida Hospital. | |||||||||||
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Georgia – $35,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 5th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Georgia are 14% higher than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like 856 – The Little Clinic – Georgia, Dept Behavioral Hlth& Dev Disb, Fresenius Medical Care, and Rite Aid. | |||||||||||
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Hawaii – $19,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 51st | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Hawaii are 38% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 51st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CVS Health, Leidos, Fresenius Medical Care, and Kaiser Permanente. | |||||||||||
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Iowa – $30,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 20th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Iowa are 2% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like The Maschhoffs, Fresenius Medical Care, MedPro Healthcare Staffing, and Octapharma Plasma, Inc.. | |||||||||||
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Idaho – $20,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 50th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Idaho are 34% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 50th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Rite Aid, Enlivant, Kootenai Health, and St. Luke's Health System. | |||||||||||
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Illinois – $35,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 6th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Illinois are 13% higher than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like RPh on the Go, NorthShore University HealthSystem, The CSI Companies, and Lutheran Senior Services. | |||||||||||
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Indiana – $29,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 25th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Indiana are 4% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Damar Services, Inc., MPW Industrial Services, Meijer, and Williams Bros. Health Care Pharmacy. | |||||||||||
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Kansas – $28,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 31st | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Kansas are 9% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Presbyterian Manors of Mid America, Overland Park Regional Medical Center, Brookdale, and UnitedHealth Group. | |||||||||||
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Kentucky – $26,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 41st | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Kentucky are 14% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 41st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CVS Health, CSL Plasma, Leidos, and The CSI Companies. | |||||||||||
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Louisiana – $27,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 37th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Louisiana are 11% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Christus Health, CSL Plasma, MedVet Medical & Cancer Center for Pets, and Promise Healthcare. | |||||||||||
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Massachusetts – $37,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 3rd | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Massachusetts are 20% higher than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Elite Medical Scribes, UMass Memorial Medical Center, AllCare Plus Pharmacy, and Rite Aid. | |||||||||||
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Maryland – $32,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 10th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Maryland are 3% higher than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Trivergent Health Alliance, Rite Aid, Safeway, and Brightview Senior Living. | |||||||||||
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Maine – $27,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 38th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Maine are 12% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like MaineGeneral Health, MAS Community Health, RPh on the Go, and The Opportunity Alliance. | |||||||||||
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Michigan – $31,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 15th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Michigan are 1% higher than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CSL Behring, Rite Aid, Hope Network Behavioral Health, and CSL Plasma. | |||||||||||
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Minnesota – $27,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 39th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Minnesota are 13% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Fraser, HealthEast, CSL Plasma, and Banfield Pet Hospital. | |||||||||||
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Missouri – $30,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 21st | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Missouri are 2% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like BJC HealthCare, Truman Medical Centers, Omnicare, Inc, and John Knox Village. | |||||||||||
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Mississippi – $32,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 11th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Mississippi are 5% higher than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Rite Aid, CVS Health, Fred's Pharmacy, and CSL Plasma. | |||||||||||
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Montana – $25,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 44th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Montana are 17% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 44th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like MedPro Healthcare Staffing, Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, Billings Health & Rehabilitation Community, and Fresenius Medical Care. | |||||||||||
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North Carolina – $29,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 26th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in North Carolina are 5% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Rite Aid, Banfield Pet Hospital, Fresenius Medical Care, and Lindley Habilitation Services. | |||||||||||
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North Dakota – $27,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 40th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in North Dakota are 11% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 40th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CVS Health, Catholic Health Initiatives, Sanford Health, and Meridian Senior Living. | |||||||||||
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Nebraska – $22,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 49th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Nebraska are 27% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 49th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like The Maschhoffs, The Nebraska Medical Center, Bickford Senior Living, and Fresenius Medical Care. | |||||||||||
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New Hampshire – $30,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 22nd | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in New Hampshire are 1% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Fresenius Medical Care, Elliot Hospital, Hannaford, and PillPack Pharmacy. | |||||||||||
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New Jersey – $33,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 8th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in New Jersey are 8% higher than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Rite Aid, Express Scripts, Pharmscript, LLC, and Maxim Healthcare Services. | |||||||||||
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New Mexico – $27,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 32nd | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in New Mexico are 13% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like UNM Hospitals, CSL Plasma, Atria Senior Living, and MedPro Healthcare Staffing. | |||||||||||
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Nevada – $23,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 46th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Nevada are 24% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 46th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Banfield Pet Hospital, CSL Plasma, Atria Senior Living, and Henderson Hospital. | |||||||||||
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New York – $37,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 2nd | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in New York State are 21% higher than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Sightrite Eye Care Services, Northwell Health, CVS Health, and Atria Senior Living. | |||||||||||
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Ohio – $29,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 23rd | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Ohio are 4% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Rite Aid, Fresenius Medical Care, Giant Eagle, Inc., and CVS Health. | |||||||||||
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Oklahoma – $28,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 27th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Oklahoma are 8% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CVS Health, Maxim Healthcare Services, St. John Medical Center, and CSL Plasma. | |||||||||||
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Oregon – $30,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 16th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Oregon are 3% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like RPh on the Go, CSL Plasma, Providence Health & Services, and Bay Area Hospital. | |||||||||||
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Pennsylvania – $30,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 17th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Pennsylvania are 4% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Maxim Healthcare Services, Giant Eagle, Inc., UPMC, and CVS Health. | |||||||||||
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Rhode Island – $28,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 28th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Rhode Island are 9% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Bella Villa Assisted Living, Magellan Health, CVS Health, and Benchmark Senior Living. | |||||||||||
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South Carolina – $30,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 18th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in South Carolina are 1% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Palmetto Richland, Columbia, SC, Omnicare, Inc, Enlivant, and CSL Plasma. | |||||||||||
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South Dakota – $23,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 47th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in South Dakota are 25% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 47th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like SpartanNash, Regional Health, Hy-Vee, Inc., and CVS Health. | |||||||||||
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Tennessee – $28,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 29th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Tennessee are 7% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of Tennessee Medical Center, PharMerica, Pharmacy Healthcare Solutions, and CSL Behring. | |||||||||||
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Texas – $30,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 19th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Texas are 3% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CSL Behring, Fresenius Medical Care, CVS Health, and Banfield Pet Hospital. | |||||||||||
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Utah – $24,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 45th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Utah are 22% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 45th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Apria Healthcare, University of Utah Health Care, CSL Behring, and Fresenius Medical Care. | |||||||||||
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Virginia – $31,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 12th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Virginia are 1% higher than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Sentara Healthcare, Octapharma Plasma, Inc., Chippenham Hospital, and Rite Aid. | |||||||||||
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Vermont – $27,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 33rd | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Vermont are 12% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Hannaford, The University of Vermont Medical Center, Price Chopper, and Copley Health Systems, Inc.. | |||||||||||
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Washington – $32,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 9th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Washington State are 3% higher than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Rite Aid, Safeway, CVS Health, and CHI Franciscan Health. | |||||||||||
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Wisconsin – $27,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 34th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Wisconsin are 11% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CVS Health, Milwaukee Center For Independence, Grifols: US, and Ministry Health Care. | |||||||||||
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West Virginia – $29,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 24th | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in West Virginia are 6% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like 029 – Mid-Atlantic Division, CVS Health, Omnicare, Inc, and CAMC Health System. | |||||||||||
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Wyoming – $25,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 42nd | ||||||||||
Average Medication Technician salaries for job postings in Wyoming are 17% lower than average Medication Technician salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 42nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Wyoming Medical Center, Banner Health, MedPro Healthcare Staffing, and Cheyenne Regional Medical Center. | |||||||||||
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