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2-step progression from Pharmacy Technician to Pharmacist. Potential salary increase of 216% from entry to advanced level.
Entry Salary
$43,460
Pharmacy Technician
Top Salary
$137,480
Pharmacist
Total Steps
2
licenses
Median Salary
$43,460
Training program + PTCB/ExCPT certification
Avg. Licensing Cost
$214 – $215
Avg. Timeline
7 months – 1.2 years
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Median Salary
$137,480
PharmD degree (4 years) + NAPLEX + MPJE
Avg. Licensing Cost
$1,065
Avg. Timeline
4.1 years – 4.4 years
The pharmacy career ladder is a professional progression from Pharmacy Technician to Pharmacist. It includes 2 licensing levels, each with increasing education, responsibility, and earning potential.
Advancing from Pharmacy Technician ($43,460 median) to Pharmacist ($137,480 median) represents a 216% salary increase based on BLS national median data.
Each step requires additional education and licensing. Pharmacy Technician: Training program + PTCB/ExCPT certification. Pharmacist: PharmD degree (4 years) + NAPLEX + MPJE. The total time depends on the pace of your education and state-specific processing times.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 national medians. Licensing costs and timelines are averages across all US states derived from verified state licensing board data. Individual state requirements vary — see state-specific pages for details.