Pharmacy Technician Hourly Pay in St. Paul, MN: $24.35 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a pharmacy technician working in St. Paul, MN runs $24.35 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $50,646 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Weighted against St. Paul's regional price level (BEA RPP 98.5, 1% below national), each hour of work buys what $24.72 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $30,384 per year.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Pharmacy technicians in St. Paul, Minnesota, can expect to earn a median hourly rate of $24.35, which surpasses the national median of $23.19. This rate is reflective of the various settings in which pharmacy technicians work, including retail pharmacy counters, hospital pharmacy clean rooms, and long-term care facilities. Part-time workers, often employed three days a week, benefit significantly from this hourly pay, providing a reliable income stream despite limited hours. The hourly earnings for pharmacy technicians range from $18.80 at the entry-level (10th percentile) to approximately $35.22 for top earners (90th percentile), indicating that even entry-level positions in St. Paul can deliver a respectable wage in comparison to national averages.
About the St. Paul Market
Salary estimated from Minnesota average ($46,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Pharmacy Technician Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $18.80 | $150.40 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $19.97 | $159.76 |
| Median (P50) | $24.35 | $194.77 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $26.52 | $212.15 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $35.22 | $281.74 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in St. Paul
Based on $24.35/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $24.35/hr, a pharmacy technician working full-time (40 hr/wk) in St. Paul, MN can expect to earn approximately $50,640 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $29,215. With a cost-of-living index of 98.50 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in St. Paul.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in St. Paul
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $973.84 | $4,220 | $50,640 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $584.31 | $2,532 | $30,384 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $389.54 | $1,688 | $20,256 |
Compare CPhT Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician (St. Paul) | $24.35 |
| Medical Assistant (National Avg) | $20.14 |
| Dental Assistant (National Avg) | $21.29 |
| Phlebotomist (National Avg) | $20.36 |
| Registered Nurse (National Avg) | $42.80 |
Pharmacy Technicians in St. Paul, MN earn a median of $50,646 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.99% higher than the national median of $48,239 and 0.80% below the Minnesota state average of $51,054.
Pharmacy Technician Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $24.35/hr = $30,384/year (purchasing power: $30,847).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $50,640/year (purchasing power: $51,411).
CoL index: 98.5 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$17.13/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$23.09/hr
2026 Current Est.
$24.35/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+49.8%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in St. Paul (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $17.13/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $17.71/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $18.54/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $19.07/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $20.34/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $22.64/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $23.09/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $24.35/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $25.67/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for pharmacy technicians in St. Paul grew 34.8% from $17.13/hr (2019) to $23.09/hr (2025). At a 5.44% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $25.67/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem pharmacy technicians can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the St. Paul metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 5.44% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Pharmacy Technician in St. Paul
Exploring the earning potential for part-time pharmacy technicians in St. Paul reveals an interesting financial dynamic. For someone working three days a week, totaling about 24 hours, the annual take-home can be around $30,451, significantly less than someone working full-time. Per-diem pharmacy technicians, on the other hand, have the flexibility to earn between $20 and $32 an hour, with specialized roles in sterile compounding reaching rates of $25 to $40 per hour. That said, many technicians navigate their pay rates based on employer types. Retail chains such as CVS or Walgreens may offer lower hourly wages due to their competitive landscape, while hospital pharmacies and specialty pharmacies often provide higher rates to attract talent. Some technicians opt for positions with lower pay but greater benefits, like health insurance, while others prefer the increased pay without those extras. Negotiation tactics specific to St. Paul’s market may include emphasizing certification like the CSPT or USP <797> compliance, as the demand for skilled technicians remains high in light of recent industry shifts.
More salary data for St. Paul, MN:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Emily Tran, PharmD
Career Analyst
Emily Tran has over 8 years of experience as a pharmacy technician. She specializes in medication therapy management. Her experience includes working in community pharmacies.
Methodology & Data Source
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 5.44% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for pharmacy technicians in St. Paul. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for St. Paul is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.44%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for pharmacy technicians (SOC 29-2052).
Compiled and verified by Emily Tran, PharmD, a licensed pharmacy technician with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov