Pharmacy Tech Pay

Duluth vs St. Paul: Pharmacy Technician Salary (2026)

Compare pharmacy technician salaries between Duluth, MN and St. Paul, MN. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Duluth, MN
$50,095
$24.08/hr
St. Paul, MN
$50,646
$24.35/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricDuluth, MNSt. Paul, MN
Median Salary$50,095$50,646
Hourly Rate$24.08$24.35
Entry Level (P10)$39,055$39,109
25th Percentile$43,874$41,543
75th Percentile$54,597$55,164
Top Earner (P90)$61,503$73,244
Total Employed40080
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Duluth ($50,095) and St. Paul ($50,646) pharmacy technician salaries.DuluthSt. PaulMedian Salary$50,095$50,646Entry Level (P10)$39,055$39,109Top Earner (P90)$61,503$73,244US Median $48,239

Verdict

St. Paul, MN offers better overall compensation for pharmacy technicians, winning 3 out of 4 metrics compared to Duluth.

The salary gap between Duluth and St. Paul is $551 (1.10%). St. Paul's median is +4.99% compared to the US national median of $48,239.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Duluth spans $22,448,St. Paul spans $34,135. St. Paul has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced pharmacy technicians.

Duluth
P10 (Entry)$39,055
P25$43,874
Median$50,095
P75$54,597
P90 (Top)$61,503
St. Paul
P10 (Entry)$39,109
P25$41,543
Median$50,646
P75$55,164
P90 (Top)$73,244

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Duluth ($56,434 effective) pays 9.76% more than St. Paul ($51,417 effective).

Duluth
Nominal: $50,095
CoL Index: 88.768
Adjusted: $56,434
St. Paul
Nominal: $50,646
CoL Index: 98.5
Adjusted: $51,417

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Duluth if…

  • Larger job market (400 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $56,434)
  • You prefer the Minnesota area and lifestyle

Choose St. Paul if…

  • Higher median salary ($50,646/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($73,244)
  • You prefer the Minnesota area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, pharmacy technician salaries in Duluth grew 32.9% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 2.0% growth in St. Paul over the same period.

Duluth, MN

+32.9%

$35,760 (2019) → $47,510 (2025)

St. Paul, MN

+2.0%

$47,098 (2024) → $48,033 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays pharmacy technicians more: Duluth or St. Paul?

St. Paul has a higher median pharmacy technician salary at $50,646/year, compared to Duluth at $50,095/year — a difference of $551 (1.10%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Duluth and St. Paul?

Duluth pharmacy technicians earn $24.08/hr while St. Paul hygienists earn $24.35/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Duluth to St. Paul as a pharmacy technician?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Duluth and St. Paul. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Duluth = $56,434, St. Paul = $51,417), job availability (400 vs 80 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level pharmacy technicians earn in Duluth vs St. Paul?

Entry-level (10th percentile) pharmacy technicians earn $39,055 in Duluth and $39,109 in St. Paul. The St. Paul area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

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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.

Clinically reviewed by David Kim, CPhTData verified by Fatima Hassan, CPhT

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 5.44% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Emily Tran, PharmD, a licensed pharmacy technician with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov