One of the primary things to consider when selecting the best state to work in must be the ability to be gainfully employed as a pharmacy technician. First, consider the median salary of a pharmacy technician in each state and the cost of living and jobs available for pharmacy technicians.
The chart below shows the top four contenders for Salary and dollar value.
Of course, there are a number of factors that will affect your salary other than the state in which you work, such as your level of education and experience. As you can see, New York offers the highest wages and has the lowest value of a dollar, which means the highest cost of living. In contrast, Montana offers lower wages than the other states but has the highest value of a dollar, which means the lowest cost of living. In addition, as of December 2021, the “Health Care Workforce Relocation Assistance Program” will allow employers to cover relocation costs for those who commit to permanently moving to Montana and remain employed for 12 consecutive months. Up to $12,500 will be available for moving expenses.
Next, let’s see where we could easily gain employment!
Out of 45,439 jobs currently posted on Indeed: 2,193 were in New York and had salaries ranging from $15-$30 per hour. New Hampshire had 330 job openings posted and salaries ranging from $15-$27.50 per hour. Vermont had 114 job openings ranging from $14.42-$16.45 per hour. Montana had 148 postings ranging from $15-$24.57. In addition, on Indeed, there were 224 remote jobs available starting at $15 up to $42.17 per hour.
The map to the below shows data from U.S News.
New Hampshire is voted #4 for quality of life. Montana comes in at #13, Vermont at #26, and New York at #37.
Once you have chosen the ideal State for you, it is vital to ensure you can easily meet all state licensure or registration requirements.
Some states, such as Hawaii and Pennsylvania, have no requirement for technicians to register with the State Board of Pharmacy. In contrast, other states, such as Louisiana and North Dakota, have rigorous formal education/training, practical experience, and national certification requirements. You can visit pharmacytechnician.org to learn more about the regulations of each state.
Ultimately, I have concluded that New Hampshire is the best state for pharmacy technicians. With the wages being very similar to that of such a huge metropolis like New York, I was swayed by the tranquil, easy-going vibe that New Hampshire offers and the fact that there is no sales tax. And although it may appear that New York has such a vast number of employment opportunities, when you consider that Over 20 million people populate New York, many people are competing for those jobs. Whereas New Hampshire has less than 2 million people. New Hampshire has one of the lowest unemployment rates out of 372 metropolitan areas in the U.S. and has been rated among the 50 Best Markets to Find a Job.
New Hampshire also has some of the most beautiful fall foliage, boasts 48 mountains with peaks higher than 4,000 feet, and access to the Appalachian Trail. In addition to the beautiful mountainous trails, the coastline has some of the most gorgeous beaches.
For many different reasons, many are pondering relocation to different states. As a pharmacy technician, there are employment options throughout the country, and our options seem almost limitless. The world is our oyster, time to go out there and find our pearl. Whether the reason is to be closer to family or a fresh start, New Hampshire seems like a great place and maybe even “the Best State for Pharmacy Technicians.”
