How Much Does a Pharmacy Tech Make in South Dakota in 2026?

A typical Pharmacy Tech in South Dakota earns about $22.20 per hour ($46,170 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $3,848 a month and $888 a week, calculated from the annual figure. Pay varies by city, setting, and experience, but this figure represents the typical wage across the state. It offers a useful baseline for comparing pay across South Dakota and neighboring states.

South Dakota's typical Pharmacy Tech pay sits about 1% above the national figure of $45,750 a year, ranking the state 24th out of 51 states and the District of Columbia. Around 1,230 Pharmacy Techs work across the state, a modest workforce that still supports meaningful local pay comparisons. That places South Dakota pay close to the middle of the national range, neither among the highest-paying nor the lowest-paying states.

Entry-level Pharmacy Tech positions in South Dakota typically offer around $17.89 an hour, or about $37,220 a year, based on the latest wage data. Some starting roles reach closer to $18.77 an hour, or $39,050 a year, depending on the employer. Pay tends to rise toward the state's typical rate of $22.20 an hour within the first few years on the job.

Experienced Pharmacy Techs in South Dakota often earn upwards of $23.49 an hour, or about $48,870 a year. The top 10% of earners make over $56,800 a year, a difference of $19,580 from the entry-level figure. That spread usually comes down to setting, experience, and city, with hospital and specialty roles often paying more than retail. Techs who move into certified or supervisory roles tend to reach the higher end of the range.

South Dakota Pharmacy Tech pay has climbed steadily over the past decade, from $29,810 in 2015 to $46,170 in 2025. That's a gain of $16,360, a rise of 55% over ten years. The increase has been fairly consistent year over year, with the largest jumps coming since 2023. Pay in 2025 reflects the highest point in this ten-year record.

Nationally, Pharmacy Tech pay rose 50% over the same ten years, meaning South Dakota's climb slightly outpaced the national rate. Pay for the profession has moved up steadily in both the state and the country as a whole. For someone starting as a Pharmacy Tech in South Dakota today, this record shows pay has trended upward over time. It offers no guarantee about future pay, only a record of what has already happened.

Pay runs highest in Rapid City, where Pharmacy Techs earn about $47,840 a year, or $23.00 an hour, roughly 4% above the state figure. Sioux Falls follows closely, with Pharmacy Techs there earning $45,610 a year, or $21.93 an hour. These figures cover each city's full metro area, not just the city center. Both cities offer pay close to the statewide figure of $46,170 a year.

Sioux Falls is technically the lowest-paying of the two cities on record, though the $2,230 spread between Rapid City and Sioux Falls is fairly small. Sioux Falls also has the largest Pharmacy Tech workforce in the state, with about 600 employed there compared to 200 in Rapid City. Overall, pay for Pharmacy Techs stays fairly uniform across South Dakota's tracked cities. Differences that do exist likely reflect local living costs as much as anything else.

South Dakota's Pharmacy Tech pay trails most of its neighbors. Montana pays the most nearby, at $49,400 a year (7% higher), followed by Minnesota at $48,300 and Wyoming at $48,260 (each about 5% higher), then North Dakota at $47,560 (3% higher) and Nebraska at $46,610 (1% higher). Iowa is the exception, paying less at $44,860 a year (3% below). Licensure earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a nearby one.

Pharmacy Techs in South Dakota typically earn $46,170 a year, close to the national figure and up 55% over the past decade. Pay tends to be highest in Rapid City and fairly consistent across the state's tracked cities. Readers weighing a move into the field can check South Dakota's pharmacy technician registration requirements through the state Board of Pharmacy, and compare local figures on the city-specific pages for Rapid City and Sioux Falls.