Pharmacy Technician Hourly Pay in Billings, MT: $24.75 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a pharmacy technician working in Billings, MT runs $24.75 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $51,476 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-2052). Weighted against Billings's regional price level (BEA RPP 93.5, 6% below national), each hour of work buys what $26.46 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $30,884 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
Pharmacy technicians in Billings, Montana, earn a median hourly rate of $24.75, which shows a competitive edge over the national median of $23.19. This favorable rate allows part-time workers, who often operate three days a week, to secure a more substantial earnings potential than might typically be expected in similar positions across the country. Whether working at a retail pharmacy counter, in hospital sterile compounding IV clean rooms, or in long-term care pharmacy settings, technicians in Billings can find themselves within an hourly pay range from $19.53 for entry-level roles to $29.83 for those at the higher end of the experience spectrum. These figures are sourced from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics data, projected to 2026, indicating that pharmacy technician hourly pay in Billings stands strong within its regional economic context.
Pharmacy Technician Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $19.53 | $156.22 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $23.02 | $184.14 |
| Median (P50) | $24.75 | $197.97 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $26.33 | $210.63 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $29.83 | $238.63 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Billings
Based on $24.75/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $24.75/hr, a pharmacy technician working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Billings, MT can expect to earn approximately $51,473 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $29,696. With a cost-of-living index of 93.53 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Billings.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Billings
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $989.87 | $4,289 | $51,473 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $593.92 | $2,574 | $30,884 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $395.95 | $1,716 | $20,589 |
Compare CPhT Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy Technician (Billings) | $24.75 |
| 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 Billings, MT earn a median of $51,476 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.71% higher than the national median of $48,239 and 0.60% below the Montana state average of $51,787.
Pharmacy Technician Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $24.75/hr = $30,884/year (purchasing power: $33,022).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $51,473/year (purchasing power: $55,036).
CoL index: 93.526 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$18.14/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$23.47/hr
2026 Current Est.
$24.75/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+43.8%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Pharmacy Technicians in Billings (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 5.44% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $18.14/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $18.52/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $18.08/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $20.05/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $21.10/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $22.58/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $23.47/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $24.75/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $26.09/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for pharmacy technicians in Billings grew 29.4% from $18.14/hr (2019) to $23.47/hr (2025). At a 5.44% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $26.09/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 Billings 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 Billings
Examining the earning potential for part-time technicians, a pharmacy technician working 24 hours per week could expect to take home about $30,660 annually, significantly less than their full-time counterparts. Meanwhile, per diem pharmacy technician pay in Billings typically ranges between $20 and $32 per hour, with specialized roles in hospital sterile compounding often rewarding up to $40 per hour due to demand in these highly regulated environments. It’s essential to note that pay can vary depending on the type of employer, with retail giants like CVS and Walgreens generally offering less than fax hospitals or specialty pharmacies. Some pharmacy technicians might opt for higher hourly rates without benefits, while others may accept lower rates in exchange for health insurance. When negotiating hourly pay, it’s advantageous to emphasize the certifications pertinent to each role, such as PTCB or CSPT credentials, to secure a favorable rate based on the diverse opportunities available in Billings and the evolving job market for pharmacy technicians.
More salary data for Billings, MT:
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 Billings. 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