Pharmacy Technician Hourly Pay in St. Joseph, MO: $18.73 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a pharmacy technician working in St. Joseph, MO runs $18.73 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $38,939 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Weighted against St. Joseph's regional price level (BEA RPP 86.4, 14% below national), each hour of work buys what $21.68 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $23,370 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In St. Joseph, Missouri, the pharmacy technician hourly pay stands at $18.73, which is notably lower than the national median of $23.19. This figure reflects the earnings for various roles including those in retail pharmacies, hospital settings, and durable medical equipment locations. For pharmacy technicians working part-time, such as three days a week, this translates to a consistent yet modest income that may appeal to those seeking flexibility in their careers. Entry-level technicians may expect an hourly rate closer to $16.97, while top earners can earn up to $27.99 per hour. These rates, sourced from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics data, provide insight into employment expectations in pharmacy roles across St. Joseph.
Pharmacy Technician Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $16.97 | $135.72 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $18.18 | $145.42 |
| Median (P50) | $18.73 | $149.81 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $23.19 | $185.49 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $27.99 | $223.95 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in St. Joseph
Based on $18.73/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $18.73/hr, a pharmacy technician working full-time (40 hr/wk) in St. Joseph, MO can expect to earn approximately $38,950 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $22,471. With a cost-of-living index of 86.38 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in St. Joseph.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in St. Joseph
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $749.05 | $3,246 | $38,950 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $449.43 | $1,948 | $23,370 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $299.62 | $1,298 | $15,580 |
Compare CPhT Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician (St. Joseph) | $18.73 |
| 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. Joseph, MO earn a median of $38,939 per year (2026 est.), which is 19.28% lower than the national median of $48,239 and 2.30% below the Missouri state average of $39,856.
Pharmacy Technician Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $18.73/hr = $23,370/year (purchasing power: $27,055).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $38,950/year (purchasing power: $45,091).
CoL index: 86.382 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$15.08/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$17.76/hr
2026 Current Est.
$18.73/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+30.9%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in St. Joseph (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $15.08/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $15.27/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $14.49/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $17.58/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $18.58/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $19.19/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $17.76/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $18.73/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $19.74/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for pharmacy technicians in St. Joseph grew 17.8% from $15.08/hr (2019) to $17.76/hr (2025). At a 5.44% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $19.74/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. Joseph 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. Joseph
Work as a per-diem pharmacy technician in St. Joseph can yield different financial results, with rates typically ranging from $20 to $32 per hour, depending on the setting. For hospital sterile compounding positions, it’s not uncommon to see per-diem pay between $25 and $40, reflecting the high demand for USP <797> and <800> compliance expertise. A full-time pharmacy technician working an average of 24 hours per week would take home significantly less annually compared to their full-time counterparts, prompting some to pursue agency work or locum tenens roles. Various employers, including retail pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens as well as specialized compounding pharmacies, tend to offer differing pay scales, which may affect overall job satisfaction. Some technicians choose lower hourly pay for the added security of benefits, while others prefer hourly positions with higher pay devoid of health insurance. Those working in St. Joseph should be prepared to negotiate pay based on their certifications, like the PTCB and CSPT, as trends continue to evolve in this profession.
More salary data for St. Joseph, MO:
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. Joseph. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
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