Jobs Similar to Pharmacy Technicians
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to pharmacy technicians, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Pharmacy Aides, Medical Records Specialists and File Clerks.
Pharmacy Technicians: $45,750 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Pharmacy Technicians) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pharmacy Aides | 81% | $37,680−18% | High school |
| 2 | Medical Records SpecialistsSame group | 78% | $51,140+12% | Training or associate |
| 3 | File Clerks | 78% | $43,600−5% | High school |
| 4 | Postal Service Clerks | 77% | $62,130+36% | High school |
| 5 | Medical Assistants | 77% | $45,6900% | Training or associate |
| 6 | Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 77% | $45,9300% | High school |
| 7 | Billing and Posting Clerks | 77% | $48,500+6% | High school |
| 8 | Compliance Officers | 76% | $80,730+76% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Tellers | 76% | $43,030−6% | High school |
| 10 | Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks | 76% | $49,230+8% | High school |
| 11 | Office Clerks, General | 76% | $45,010−2% | High school |
| 12 | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 75% | $47,540+4% | High school |
| 13 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesSame group | 75% | $64,400+41% | Training or associate |
| 14 | Word Processors and Typists | 75% | $49,280+8% | High school |
| 15 | Dental Assistants | 75% | $48,070+5% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Police Identification and Records Officers | 75% | $93,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 17 | Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service | 75% | $38,630−16% | High school |
| 18 | Receptionists and Information Clerks | 75% | $38,010−17% | High school |
| 19 | Opticians, DispensingSame group | 75% | $47,260+3% | Training or associate |
| 20 | Retail Loss Prevention Specialists | 75% | $42,540Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
- 1Pharmacy Aides
81% similar · $37,680 (−18%) · High school
- 2Medical Records Specialists
78% similar · $51,140 (+12%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 3File Clerks
78% similar · $43,600 (−5%) · High school
- 4Postal Service Clerks
77% similar · $62,130 (+36%) · High school
- 5Medical Assistants
77% similar · $45,690 (0%) · Training or associate
- 6Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
77% similar · $45,930 (0%) · High school
- 7Billing and Posting Clerks
77% similar · $48,500 (+6%) · High school
- 8Compliance Officers
76% similar · $80,730 (+76%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Tellers
76% similar · $43,030 (−6%) · High school
- 10Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks
76% similar · $49,230 (+8%) · High school
- 11Office Clerks, General
76% similar · $45,010 (−2%) · High school
- 12Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive
75% similar · $47,540 (+4%) · High school
- 13Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
75% similar · $64,400 (+41%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 14Word Processors and Typists
75% similar · $49,280 (+8%) · High school
- 15Dental Assistants
75% similar · $48,070 (+5%) · Training or associate
- 16Police Identification and Records Officers
75% similar · $93,790 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 17Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service
75% similar · $38,630 (−16%) · High school
- 18Receptionists and Information Clerks
75% similar · $38,010 (−17%) · High school
- 19Opticians, Dispensing
75% similar · $47,260 (+3%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 20Retail Loss Prevention Specialists
75% similar · $42,540 (broader group) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than pharmacy technicians.
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses75% similar · $64,400 (+41%)
- Postal Service Clerks77% similar · $62,130 (+36%)
- Medical Records Specialists78% similar · $51,140 (+12%)
- Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerks76% similar · $49,230 (+8%)
- Word Processors and Typists75% similar · $49,280 (+8%)
- Billing and Posting Clerks77% similar · $48,500 (+6%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for pharmacy technicians also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where pharmacy technicians is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like pharmacy technicians
What jobs are most similar to pharmacy technicians?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Pharmacy Aides (81% similar), Medical Records Specialists (78% similar), File Clerks (78% similar), Postal Service Clerks (77% similar) and Medical Assistants (77% similar).
Which jobs like pharmacy technicians pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Compliance Officers ($80,730, +76%; usually a bachelor's degree), Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses ($64,400, +41%; usually training or an associate degree) and Postal Service Clerks ($62,130, +36%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with pharmacy technicians ($45,750). Without more preparation than pharmacy technicians usually need: Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses, Postal Service Clerks and Medical Records Specialists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.