Pharmacy Technician Salary in Rapid City, SD: $50,442 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time pharmacy technician in Rapid City, SD earns a median $50,442/year (≈ $24.25/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Once you factor in Rapid City's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 89.2), that paycheck buys what $56,575 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 12.7% above the South Dakota state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, pharmacy technicians in Rapid City, South Dakota, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $50,442, surpassing the national median of $48,239 by approximately 4.57%. The pay scale ranges from $39,013 at the 10th percentile to $62,558 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the varied environments where these professionals operate. This data, derived from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys, underscores a significant pay gradient between roles in hospital sterile compounding and retail pharmacy settings. As Rapid City hosts over 200 pharmacy technicians, those working in inpatient hospital pharmacies typically receive higher compensation than their retail counterparts, particularly due to the added complexities and regulatory compliance associated with sterile compounding.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $39,013 | $18.76 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $41,174 | $19.79 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $50,442 | $24.25 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $52,963 | $25.46 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $62,558 | $30.07 |
Median Salary Position
4.57% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Rapid City
In Rapid City, SD, the pharmacy technician salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $23,545 (2026 est.). At $50,442, the local median is 4.57% above the national median of $48,239.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Rapid City: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Rapid City Pharmacy Technician Pay Compares
Rapid City median: $50,442/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Rapid City Pays |
|---|---|---|
| South Dakota Average | $44,758 | +12.70% more |
| National Average | $48,239 | +4.57% more |
Pharmacy Technicians in Rapid City, SD earn a median of $50,442 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.57% higher than the national median of $48,239 and 12.70% above the South Dakota state average of $44,758.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Rapid City has a cost of living 10.84% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Rapid City, SD has a cost-of-living index of 89.16 (below the national average of 100). A pharmacy technician earning $50,442 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $56,575 in an average-cost city — an effective 12.16% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$35,970
2025 BLS Actual
$47,840
2026 Current Est.
$50,442
2019–2027 Growth
+47.9%
Salary Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Rapid City (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $35,970 | Actual |
| 2020 | $37,090 | Actual |
| 2021 | $36,690 | Actual |
| 2022 | $37,350 | Actual |
| 2023 | $40,410 | Actual |
| 2024 | $44,010 | Actual |
| 2025 | $47,840 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $50,442 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $53,187 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Rapid City metropolitan area, the median pharmacy technician salary grew 33.0% from $35,970 (2019) to $47,840 (2025). At a 5.44% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $53,187 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,217 (47.86%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Rapid City 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) | $39,013 – $41,174 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $41,174 – $50,442 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $50,442 – $52,963 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $52,963 – $62,558 |
CPhT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual pharmacy technician compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Pharmacy Technician Job Market in Rapid City
The local job market for pharmacy technicians in Rapid City is supported by a competitive landscape that can enhance overall earning potential. With a cost-of-living index of 89.16, the economic environment offers a lower threshold for basic expenses, allowing technicians to enjoy more of their earnings. Among local employers, hospital pharmacies, especially those focused on sterile compounding, tend to offer the most competitive salaries, reflecting a broader trend where institutional roles offer superior pay compared to retail chains like CVS and Walgreens. The disparity in salaries is often influenced by factors such as CSPT certification, shift differentials for nights and weekends, and specific role responsibilities. For those looking to maximize their pharmacy technician pay in Rapid City SD, seeking positions in inpatient settings, pursuing specialized certifications, and remaining flexible in job hours could prove beneficial.
More salary data for Rapid City, SD:
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 $47,840 for pharmacy techniciansin the Rapid City 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
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