Pharmacy Technician Jobs in Denver, CO
Pharmacy technicians in Denver need a Colorado certification from the State Board of Pharmacy, and the credential pays: Kaiser Permanente has posted up to $35.89 an hour for PTCB-certified techs. Here are the current openings, then who is hiring and how to get certified in Colorado.
Current pharmacy technician Openings in Denver, CO
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Pharmacy Technician Work in Denver
Denver pharmacy techs work in two settings: hospital pharmacies that prepare and deliver medications to inpatient units, and outpatient pharmacies inside clinics. Children's Hospital Colorado runs inpatient pharmacy shifts on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora and staffs a pharmacy at its Highlands Ranch site, AdventHealth Porter hires certified outpatient techs on South Downing Street, and Kaiser Permanente Colorado fills its clinic pharmacies at Franklin Medical Offices and East Denver, with float techs covering Lone Tree.
What sets Colorado apart is the state certification. Since August 29, 2020, no one may practice as a pharmacy technician here without a certification or provisional certification from the Colorado State Board of Pharmacy, and Denver employers check for it on day one. Denver Health even pays trainees to earn it, so you can enter the field here without paying for schooling.
Top Denver Employers Hiring Pharmacy Technicians
These Denver-area health systems have posted pharmacy technician roles or programs on their own careers sites:
- Kaiser Permanente - hires PTCB pharmacy techs for the outpatient pharmacy at Franklin Medical Offices and float techs for East Denver, Lone Tree and Franklin under an SEIU Local 105 contract.
- Children's Hospital Colorado - posts inpatient, medication access and senior pharmacy technician roles on the Anschutz campus, plus a tech role at Highlands Ranch.
- AdventHealth Porter - the south Denver hospital hires certified outpatient pharmacy techs on day shift.
- Denver Health - the city's safety-net system hires pharmacy technician trainees into a paid, benefitted six-month training program.
Pharmacy Technician Salaries in Denver
- Entry level: about $20 to $23 an hour for newly certified or provisional techs.
- Experienced: roughly $24 to $29 an hour with PTCB certification and a few years in a hospital or clinic pharmacy.
- Senior: $30 to $36 an hour for senior, lead and specialty techs.
These are estimates built from BLS May 2025 figures for the Denver-Aurora-Centennial metro, where the median pharmacy technician earned about $24.50 an hour, and ranges Denver employers have posted: $20.14 to $30.21 at Children's Colorado, $20.13 to $32.08 at AdventHealth Porter and $26.35 to $35.89 for PTCB techs at Kaiser. Hospital work, evening and weekend differentials, and national certification move pay the most.
How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Denver
You need a high school diploma or GED and a pharmacy technician certification from the Colorado State Board of Pharmacy, part of the Division of Professions and Occupations at the Department of Regulatory Agencies. To get it, you must hold certification from a board-approved certifying organization such as PTCB or NHA, attest to a criminal background check and read and write English. If you have not yet passed a national exam, the Board can issue a provisional certification valid for up to 18 months. Denver Health's Pharmacy Technician Training and Education Program covers 600 hours over six months, including online coursework and rotations at two or more Denver Health pharmacies, at no cost and with full-time pay, in exchange for a 12-month work commitment after you pass the PTCB exam.
What the Job Involves
Pharmacy technicians fill and label prescriptions, count and measure medications, prepare unit doses and IV admixtures in hospital pharmacies, and restock automated dispensing cabinets on nursing units. They also enter orders, handle insurance claims and prior authorizations in outpatient pharmacies, manage inventory and help patients at the counter, all under a pharmacist's supervision.
Skills Employers Look For
- Colorado pharmacy technician certification or provisional certification
- PTCB or NHA national certification
- Accurate dosage math and attention to detail
- Pharmacy software and insurance billing experience
- Sterile compounding or IV room experience for hospital roles
- Clear, patient-friendly communication
Career Path and Advancement
Many Denver techs start in a clinic or retail pharmacy, then move to hospital pharmacies for higher pay and sterile compounding work. From there the ladder runs to senior or lead technician, specialty roles such as medication access and research pharmacy, and pharmacy buyer or supervisor positions. Inpatient experience on the Anschutz campus, especially in sterile compounding, carries weight with pharmacy employers across the metro.
Related Careers in Denver
If pharmacy work interests you, these related Denver healthcare roles are worth a look:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a pharmacy technician in Denver?
Yes. Colorado requires a pharmacy technician certification or provisional certification from the Colorado State Board of Pharmacy. Practicing without one is a misdemeanor for a first offense, so Denver employers verify it before your first shift.
Do you need PTCB certification in Colorado?
To earn full Colorado certification you must hold certification from a board-approved organization such as PTCB or NHA. If you have not passed yet, the Board can grant a provisional certification for up to 18 months while you prepare.
How much do pharmacy technicians make in Denver?
New techs generally start around $20 to $23 an hour, experienced certified techs earn about $24 to $29, and senior techs can reach $30 to $36. Kaiser Permanente has posted $26.35 to $35.89 an hour for PTCB techs at Franklin Medical Offices.
Can I get paid pharmacy technician training in Denver?
Yes. Denver Health's Pharmacy Technician Training and Education Program is free and pays trainees as full-time, benefitted employees for six months. Graduates are expected to pass the PTCB exam and work at Denver Health for at least 12 months.
What shifts do pharmacy technicians work in Denver?
Schedules vary by setting. Kaiser's outpatient pharmacy at Franklin Medical Offices has posted a Tuesday through Saturday schedule, while Children's Colorado inpatient techs rotate between day and evening shifts and work one weekend a month, with differentials for evenings and weekends.
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