Cleveland is the largest city in Ohio with 372,624 citizens in the 2020 census count. Located along the shore of Lake Erie, close to the border with Canada, the city shrank by 6% in population between 2010 and 2020. The Cleveland area, along with the rest of the Rust Belt, has seen a decrease of available jobs over the past couple of decades as the United States has moved industrial blue collar jobs overseas. The Greater Cleveland area, also encompassing Akron and Canton, has a population of over 3.6 million people.
Largely known for its industrial roots, Cleveland has more recently managed to develop a more diversified economy and gained a reputation as a center of both the arts and world-class healthcare. The hospitals and healthcare industries in the metro area has created a surge of demand for all types of professionals, including in the pharmacy industry.
Pharmacy technician schools in Cleveland
If you want to become a pharmacy technician in Cleveland, Ohio, your first step should be to locate relevant training. There are several schools in the greater Cleveland area specializing in teaching the skills needed to get your pharmacy technician license, and we’re going to list only those who have an actual physical campus in Cleveland.
1. Cuyahoga Community College
Address: 2900 Community College Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-3196
Cuyahoga Community College, or Tri-C, offers training that leads to a Pharmacy Technology Certificate of Proficiency, which prepares students for a career as a pharmacy technician in a variety of hospital or retail locations – in Ohio or elsewhere.
The course offered at Tri-C helps you qualify for a Pharmacy Technology Certificate of Proficiency, which prepares you for a career as a pharmacy technician in any type of retail location or hospital position.
- Takes two semesters to complete (after completion of prerequisites required for program entry)
- Credits apply toward Associate of Applied Science degree in Pharmacy Technology
- Includes hands-on practicum experience at one of 40 Northeast Ohio pharmacy locations
- Day and evening courses available
- Qualify for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam
2. Cleveland Job Corps
Address: 13421 Coit Rd Cleveland, OH 44110-22695
Website: https://cleveland.jobcorps.gov/careers/181
Taking part of the Cleveland Job Corps pharm tech program will train you in the following subject areas:
- Measuring, couting, mixing and recording dosages and amounts of medications according to prescription orders.
- Under the direction of a pharmacist, preparing medications.
- Maintaining, establishing and updating patient profiles, with lists of all medications taken by individual patients.
- Veryfying that information in written prescriptions or refill requests received is complete and accurate.
- Ensuring and maintaining proper storage and security conditions for drugs.
Prerequisites for the pharmacy technician training program are:
- A clean criminal record and background check, meaning you can’t have been convicted of a drug or pharmacy-related felony within the last 5 years.
- Complete all required activity in the Career Preparation Period, including Career Exploration and Career Success/Workplace Skills.
- Strong math and reading skills.
Pharmacy technician jobs in Cleveland
The largest employers of pharmacy technicians in Cleveland are hospitals and pharmacies, and we’ve listed the top ones below. National pharmacy chains, like Walgreens and CVS are the most likely to offer structured and relevant on the job training. This holds true throughout Ohio.
Cleveland pharmacies employing pharmacy technicians
Below are a number of pharmacies that you can expect to work at in your first job, as a cashier or other entry-level position. Make sure you take this opportunity to learn all that you can from your colleagues, and don’t be afraid to ask questions if there’s something you don’t know.
Pay special attention to employers who offer an apprenticeship or on the job training as this will help you get ahead moreso than any other job or training program.
MetroHealth Medical Center Inpatient Pharmacy
2500 Metrohealth Dr
Cleveland, OH 44109
University Hospitals Inpatient Pharmacy
11100 Euclid Ave
Cleveland, OH 44106
CVS Pharmacy #3322
2007 Brookpark Rd
Cleveland, OH 44109
CVS Pharmacy #3634
2160 Lee Rd
Cleveland, OH 44118
CVS Pharmacy #4347
11223 Granger Rd
Cleveland, OH 44125
Marymount Hospital Inpatient Pharmacy
12300 McCracken Rd
Garfield Heights, OH 44125
Walgreens Pharmacy #5206
11701 Detroit Ave
Lakewood, OH 44107
CVS Pharmacy #3329
11706 Clifton Blvd
Lakewood, OH 44107
Walgreens Pharmacy #3314
5400 Pearl Rd
Cleveland, OH 44129
Hospitals hiring New Orleans pharmacy technicians
Kindred Hospital Cleveland
2351 E 22nd St Fl 7
Cleveland, OH 44115
St Vincent Medical Center
2351 E 22nd St
Cleveland, OH 44115
Lutheran Hospital
1730 W 25th St
Cleveland, OH 44113
Metrohealth Medical Center
2500 Metrohealth Dr
Cleveland, OH 44109
Cleveland Clinic
9500 Euclid Ave
Cleveland, OH 44195
Louis Stokes VA Medical Center
10701 East Blvd
Cleveland, OH 44106
VA Medical Center Wade Park
10701 East Blvd
Cleveland, OH 44106
Case Medical Center
11100 Euclid Ave
Cleveland, OH 44106
Rainbow Babies & Children Hospital
11100 Euclid Ave
Cleveland, OH 44106
Children’s Hospital Cleveland Clinic
2801 Martin Luther King Jr Dr
Cleveland, OH 44104
Cleveland pharmacy technician salary
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates Cleveland as part of the Cleveland-Elyria, OH regional area. For the latest period, there are 3,320 pharmacy technicians employed in the area with a mean annual wage of $35,880. That’s a bit above the average wage in the entire state of Ohio, which is $34,390.
The mean hourly wage for pharmacy technicians in Cleveland, Ohio is $17.25.
So what can you expect to earn starting out as a pharmacy technician in Cleveland?
Starting salaries are around $15 per hour for entry-level positions. Typical positions would look like this:
PRN Pharmacy Technician
Cerner Corporation
Harahan, LA
You will oversee the acquisition of medications and pharmacy supplies and perform administrative duties such as answering phones.
Pharmacy Technician / Pharm Tech Apprenticeship
WALGREENS
New Orleans, LA 70130
If PTCB certified, assists with and coaches pharmacy technicians in the operation of pharmacy systems and cashiers in the operation of the pharmacy cash
Pharmacy Technician – Metairie, LA
Optum
Metairie, LA 70002
Full-time
No nights
Receive and process wholesaler medication orders.
Under direct supervision of the registered pharmacist, fills prescription orders and makes them available.
Pharmacy Technician
Touro Infirmary
New Orleans, LA 70115
Full-time Tubes or delivers all first doses of ordered medication and stat medication orders in a timely manner. Inspects expiration dates of medication in pharmacy and in store.
If you are more experienced, there are openings for jobs that start between $30,000 to $35,000 per year.
If you have completed a pharmacy technician program or have a nationally recognized certification you will earn more than if you do not – it’s worth it to get certified! You’ll also find it easier to advance your career, or get a new job much quicker if you move out of state.
Photo by Brother Swagler on Unsplash.
Data sources: