Pharmacy Technicians
Machines can already do 38% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 64%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Pharmacy Technicians in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 38% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 7% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2032, and 64% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 471,680 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $45,750 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 83% for contact with people.
- Also called: Accredited Pharmacy Technician, Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), Chemotherapy Pharmacy Technician (Chemo Pharmacy Technician), Compounding Technician.
- 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.
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.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepack bulk medicines, fill bottles with prescribed medications, and type and affix labels | 14% | 18% to 51% | |
| Enter prescription information into computer databases | 13% | 58% to 78% | |
| Answer telephones, responding to questions or requests | 10% | 76% to 82% | |
| Receive written prescription or refill requests and verify that information is complete and accurate | 7% | 61% to 79% | |
| Assist customers by answering simple questions, locating items, or referring them to the pharmacist for medication information | 7% | 32% to 50% | |
| Operate cash registers to accept payment from customers | 7% | 27% to 64% | |
| Prepare and process medical insurance claim forms and records | 6% | 58% to 78% | |
| Establish or maintain patient profiles, including lists of medications taken by individual patients | 4% | 63% to 81% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills pharmacy technicians use most, most used first.
Human value: what makes people in this job hard to replace
How much pharmacy technicians rely on each one, from 0 to 10. 311 estimates, medium confidence.
- Go-to problem solver5/10
- Trust and reliability9/10
- Know-how about the organisation6/10
- Network and relationships5/10
- Mentoring and developing others2/10
- Culture and morale4/10
- Initiative beyond the role2/10
- Calm in a crisis6/10
- Bridge between teams4/10
- Reputation and influence2/10
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians55% of tasks by 2035
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists55% of tasks by 2035 · US median $101,370
- Medical Assistants63% of tasks by 2035 · US median $45,690
- Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists55% of tasks by 2035 · US median $66,270
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Pharmacy Technicians?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2032. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of pharmacy technicians?
Machines can do 38% of the tasks of pharmacy technicians today and 64% 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 29-2052.00 (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, medium confidence); after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Pharmacy Technicians: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/pharmacy-technicians/