Pharmacy aides
Record drugs delivered to the pharmacy, store incoming merchandise, and inform the supervisor of stock needs. May operate cash register and accept prescriptions for filling.
BLS SOC 31-9095 · O*NET-SOC 31-9095.00 · BLS 2025–2035 · O*NET 31.0
Median annual wage, 2025
$37,680
Projected change, 2025–2035
-0.7%
2025–2035 annual average openings
5,100
AI exposure
Moderate
Editorial analysis
The most routine parts of pharmacy support are becoming increasingly automatic
Pharmacy aides often perform clerical, stocking, cashiering, delivery, and general support duties. Many of those tasks sit close to technologies already transforming retail and pharmacy operations, including automated inventory, self-service transactions, robotic dispensing, and AI-driven customer communication.
The occupation may feel pressure from several directions
A pharmacy can automate refill notifications, inventory counts, routine customer questions, ordering, and portions of checkout without relying on a single dramatic breakthrough. The cumulative reduction in small tasks can reduce the need for purely clerical support.
- Inventory and stocking decisions can become more automated.
- Routine customer communications may move to digital assistants.
- Self-service systems can reduce transaction work.
- Workers who gain technician credentials or additional pharmacy knowledge may have stronger advancement options.
For pharmacy aides, AI is a reason to consider skill progression. Moving toward regulated pharmacy-technician responsibilities, healthcare administration, or other specialized support work can provide a more durable path than remaining focused only on routine clerical tasks.
Labor-market picture
Two measures, different questions
These measures offer two different ways to understand the occupation: BLS projections show how national employment may change over time, while relative AI exposure highlights where tasks may intersect with AI-related capabilities. Read them with the work profile and your local context to decide what deserves closer investigation.
Employment
- Employment, 2025
- 39,200 jobs
- Projected employment, 2035
- 39,000 jobs
- Projected change, 2025–2035
- -300 jobs (-0.7%)
Relative AI exposure
BLS category: Moderate. This is a relative task-exposure classification, not a forecast of employment change, automation, wages, or worker replacement.
Relative AI exposure · Moderate
Work profile
Representative tasks
These task statements come from O*NET 31.0. They are source facts, not labels assigned by the AI exposure measure.
- Process medical insurance claims, posting bill amounts and calculating copayments.
- Answer telephone inquiries, referring callers to pharmacist when necessary.
- Prepare prescription labels by typing or operating a computer and printer.
- Operate cash register to process cash or credit sales.
- Prepare, maintain, and record records of inventories, receipts, purchases, or deliveries, using a variety of computer screen formats.
- Receive, store, and inventory pharmaceutical supplies or medications, check for out-of-date medications, and notify pharmacist when inventory levels are low.
Skills that matter
Skills in the source profile
Importance uses O*NET's 1–5 scale. Level uses its 0–7 scale. Select a skill to see its source definition and reported values.
Technology and tools
These technology records come from O*NET and show software or tools reported in the occupation profile. They describe work context, not a required checklist for every employer.
- Data base user interface and query software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Operating system software
- Word processing software
Preparation
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Related experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
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Source provenance
Labor-market and exposure facts: bls-ep-2025-35. Work profile: onet-31.0. Verify release details on the Sources page.