Pharmacy Technician Salary in Prior Lake, MN: $49,948 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacy technician in Prior Lake, MN earns a median $49,948/year (≈ $24.01/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Once you factor in Prior Lake's price level (1% below national, BEA RPP 98.5), that paycheck buys what $50,709 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.1% below the Minnesota state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
With a median annual salary projected at $49,948 in 2026, pharmacy technicians in Prior Lake, MN, benefit from a competitive pay structure that exceeds the national average of $48,239 by 3.54%. The salary range for these professionals spans from $39,359 at the 10th percentile to $66,684 at the 90th percentile, reflecting a diverse job market that rewards experience and certifications. Estimates sourced from 2025 BLS data, adjusted for regional cost considerations, suggest that earning potential could be boosted significantly by obtaining the CSPT (Certified Sterile Pharmacy Technician) credential, which may lead to opportunities in high-paying settings like hospital pharmacies specializing in sterile compounding. This emphasis on specialized training and certification adds value to the pharmacy technician salary in Prior Lake, offering a pathway to higher wages in a growing sector.
About the Prior Lake Market
Salary estimated from Minnesota average ($46,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $39,359 | $18.93 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $40,742 | $19.59 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $49,948 | $24.01 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $52,375 | $25.18 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $66,684 | $32.06 |
Median Salary Position
3.54% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Prior Lake
In Prior Lake, MN, the pharmacy technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $27,325 (2026 est.). At $49,948, the local median is 3.54% above the national median of $48,239.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Prior Lake: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Prior Lake Pharmacy Technician Pay Compares
Prior Lake median: $49,948/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Prior Lake Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Average | $51,019 | -2.10% less |
| National Average | $48,239 | +3.54% more |
Pharmacy Technicians in Prior Lake, MN earn a median of $49,948 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.54% higher than the national median of $48,239 and 2.10% below the Minnesota state average of $51,019.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Prior Lake has a cost of living 1.50% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Prior Lake, MN has a cost-of-living index of 98.5 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacy technician earning $49,948 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $50,709 in an average-cost city — an effective 1.52% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$35,153
2025 BLS Actual
$47,371
2026 Current Est.
$49,948
2019–2027 Growth
+49.8%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Prior Lake (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $35,153 | Actual |
| 2020 | $36,344 | Actual |
| 2021 | $38,042 | Actual |
| 2022 | $39,129 | Actual |
| 2023 | $41,728 | Actual |
| 2024 | $44,346 | Actual |
| 2025 | $47,371 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $49,948 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $52,665 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Prior Lake metropolitan area, the median pharmacy technician salary grew 34.8% from $35,153 (2019) to $47,371 (2025). At a 5.44% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $52,665 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,512 (49.82%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Prior Lake 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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $39,359 – $40,742 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $40,742 – $49,948 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $49,948 – $52,375 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $52,375 – $66,684 |
CPhT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacy technician compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacy Technician Job Market in Prior Lake
The local employment landscape in Prior Lake sees a modest total of seven pharmacy technicians currently working, which indicates stability in demand within the area. With a cost-of-living index of 98.5, the purchasing power of these salaries may stretch further here than in many other regions, enhancing overall quality of life. Among the major employers, retail pharmacy chains like CVS and Walgreens typically offer competitive wages, but higher compensation often comes from hospital settings that utilize sterile compounding techniques. Factors such as shift differentials for nights and weekends, as well as CSPT certification stipends, contribute to the variance in pharmacy technician pay in Prior Lake MN. For aspiring pharmacy technicians, aiming for certification and seeking positions in hospitals or specialized pharmacies can be advantageous strategies to maximize earnings in this particular market.
More salary data for Prior Lake, 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
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $47,371 for pharmacy techniciansin the Prior Lake metropolitan area. A 5.44% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Prior Lake 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