Pharmacy Technician Hourly Pay in St. Cloud, MN: $23.46 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a pharmacy technician working in St. Cloud, MN runs $23.46 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $48,787 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Weighted against St. Cloud's regional price level (BEA RPP 87.6, 12% below national), each hour of work buys what $26.77 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $29,279 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In St. Cloud, Minnesota, pharmacy technicians earn a median hourly rate of $23.46, slightly above the national average of $23.19. This figure reflects the pay that both full-time and part-time technicians can expect in various settings, including retail pharmacies, hospital sterile compounding areas, and mail-order operations. For those working part-time, such as three days a week, this hourly rate translates well into decent earnings, especially when factoring in overtime availability in many pharmacy environments. The hourly pay scale ranges from $18.77 at the entry-level (P10) to $31.02 for the most experienced workers (P90), accommodating both newcomers and highly skilled technicians with specialized certifications like the CSPT.
Pharmacy Technician Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $18.77 | $150.15 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $20.26 | $162.04 |
| Median (P50) | $23.46 | $187.68 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $26.28 | $210.21 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $31.02 | $248.16 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in St. Cloud
Based on $23.46/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $23.46/hr, a pharmacy technician working full-time (40 hr/wk) in St. Cloud, MN can expect to earn approximately $48,798 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $28,152. With a cost-of-living index of 87.63 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in St. Cloud.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in St. Cloud
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $938.42 | $4,066 | $48,798 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $563.05 | $2,440 | $29,279 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $375.37 | $1,627 | $19,519 |
Compare CPhT Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician (St. Cloud) | $23.46 |
| 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. Cloud, MN earn a median of $48,787 per year (2026 est.), which is 1.14% higher than the national median of $48,239 and 4.40% below the Minnesota state average of $51,033.
Pharmacy Technician Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $23.46/hr = $29,279/year (purchasing power: $33,411).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $48,798/year (purchasing power: $55,685).
CoL index: 87.632 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$18.50/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$22.25/hr
2026 Current Est.
$23.46/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+33.7%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in St. Cloud (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $18.50/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $18.94/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $17.97/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $18.95/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $22.32/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $22.27/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $22.25/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $23.46/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $24.74/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for pharmacy technicians in St. Cloud grew 20.3% from $18.50/hr (2019) to $22.25/hr (2025). At a 5.44% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $24.74/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. Cloud 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. Cloud
Part-time pharmacy technicians in St. Cloud working 24 hours a week can take home an annual income that reflects their hourly earnings, but many may choose flexible per-diem roles instead. Per diem pharmacy technician pay in St. Cloud varies widely, with typical hourly rates ranging from $20 to $32, while specialized hospital sterile compounding positions can see rates leap to between $25 and $40. For those considering travel contracts, opportunities exist that can pay up to $1,800 per week in shortage markets. This pay disparity across different employer types—ranging from retail giants like CVS and Walgreens to specialty and long-term care pharmacies—impacts career choices significantly. While some technicians prioritize hourly rates offering benefits, others may opt for less stability at higher hourly wages. Understanding these dynamics and having effective negotiation techniques can be beneficial for hourly workers seeking to maximize their earnings in pharmacy technician roles throughout St. Cloud.
More salary data for St. Cloud, 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. Cloud. 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