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US job code 31-9095People-facingHigh change by 2035

Pharmacy Aides

Machines can already do 39% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 72%. The job changes before it disappears.

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Share of the work machines can do

Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050

100%75%50%25%20262035205039%Half: 2030

Pharmacy Aides in 2026: the short answer

  • Today: machines can do 39% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 2% of them.
  • Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2030, and 72% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
  • Size: 39,530 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $37,680 a year.
  • Contact with people: it scores 87% for contact with people.
  • Also called: Certified Pharmacist Assistant, Front Counter Clerk, Pharmacist Assistant, Pharmacy Ancillary.
  • Competency here means how well the best AI model, tool or robot available can do a task, scored out of 100: today using the best available now, and for later years the 311 prediction of what AI and robots will be able to do.

Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.

Machines can do today
39%of the tasks, 2026
By 2035
72%half the tasks by 2030
US median pay
$37,680a year, May 2025
US jobs
40k39,530 people
Contact with people
87%how people-facing
Step 1AnticipateWhat is changing? Free to everyone

How the work changes, task by task

The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.

TaskShare of the dayMachines can do2026 to 2035
Operate cash register to process cash or credit sales13%
30% to 75%
Accept prescriptions for filling, gathering and processing necessary information9%
50% to 85%
Greet customers and help them locate merchandise9%
22% to 45%
Answer telephone inquiries, referring callers to pharmacist when necessary8%
28% to 50%
Receive, store, and inventory pharmaceutical supplies or medications, check for out-of-date medications, and notify pharmacist when inventory levels are low8%
20% to 60%
Restock storage areas, replenishing items on shelves7%
20% to 60%
Unpack, sort, count, and label incoming merchandise, including items requiring special handling or refrigeration7%
20% to 60%
Provide customers with information about the uses, effects, or interactions of drugs6%
77% to 87%
Step 2AssessWhy should I care? Free to everyone

The skills this job runs on

The skills pharmacy aides use most, most used first.

Moral intelligence and integrityProfessionalism and work ethicPhysical and manualCollaborationInterpersonal skillsCommunicationEmotional intelligence

Human value: what makes people in this job hard to replace

How much pharmacy aides rely on each one, from 0 to 10. 311 estimates, low confidence.

  • Go-to problem solver2/10
  • Trust and reliability8/10
  • Know-how about the organisation3/10
  • Network and relationships3/10
  • Mentoring and developing others1/10
  • Culture and morale4/10
  • Initiative beyond the role1/10
  • Calm in a crisis5/10
  • Bridge between teams2/10
  • Reputation and influence1/10

Safer jobs nearby

Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.

Step 3ActWhat do I do about it? Free plan and up
What do I do about it

What should you do about it?

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Questions

When will machines do half of the tasks of Pharmacy Aides?

Machines can do half of its tasks by 2030. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.

Will AI take the job of pharmacy aides?

Machines can do 39% of the tasks of pharmacy aides today and 72% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.

Sources and citing

Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 31-9095.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring, forecast and human value: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit (human value scores are 311 estimates, low confidence); after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.

Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Pharmacy Aides: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/pharmacy-aides/