Pharmacy Technician Jobs in Minneapolis, MN
Pharmacy technicians in Minneapolis fill prescriptions at neighborhood drugstores, hospital pharmacies and the VA by Fort Snelling, and every one must register with the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy. Posted pay runs about $19 to $26 an hour at retail and higher in hospitals. Here are the current openings, then who is hiring and how to register.
Current pharmacy technician Openings in Minneapolis, MN
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Pharmacy Technician Work in Minneapolis
Pharmacy tech jobs in Minneapolis split between retail counters and health-system pharmacies. Retail work clusters along the commercial strips, such as the Walgreens at 1221 West Lake Street near Uptown. Hospital techs prepare and deliver medications around the clock at HCMC downtown, Children's Minnesota on Chicago Avenue and the Minneapolis VA Medical Center on the Blue Line, where the work includes IV and sterile compounding, automated dispensing cabinets and specialty pharmacy. UnitedHealth Group's Optum adds pharmacy roles based in Eden Prairie and float positions across the Twin Cities.
The Minneapolis-St. Paul metro employs about 4,670 pharmacy technicians, with a median wage of $23.98 an hour, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).
Top Minneapolis Employers Hiring Pharmacy Technicians
These employers have posted or recruited for pharmacy technician roles in Minneapolis on their own career sites:
- Walgreens - the drugstore chain posts certified pharmacy technician roles in Minneapolis, including its West Lake Street store, at $19.25 to $26 an hour.
- Minneapolis VA Health Care System - the medical center hires outpatient pharmacy technicians at GS-7, $61,271 to $79,654 a year, with national certification for upper grades.
- Children's Minnesota - the pediatric hospital recruits full-time and part-time pharmacy technicians, including roles at its Minneapolis location.
- Optum - UnitedHealth Group's health services arm posts Minnesota-registered float technicians for Minneapolis and St. Paul sites and pharmacy support roles based in Eden Prairie.
Pharmacy Technician Salaries in Minneapolis
- Entry level: about $19 to $22 an hour for newly registered techs and trainees.
- Experienced: roughly $23 to $27 an hour for certified techs in retail and hospital roles.
- Senior / specialty: $28 to $32 an hour or more for sterile compounding, specialty, automation and federal roles.
These are estimates built from employer-posted ranges and DEED wage data. PTCB certification, hospital or IV experience, evening and weekend shifts, and lead or senior titles raise pay. Hospital and VA jobs generally pay more than retail and include fuller benefits, while Walgreens runs its own technician training program toward PTCB certification.
How to Become a Pharmacy Technician in Minneapolis
Minnesota requires every pharmacy technician to register with the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy. You must be at least 18, show proof of high school graduation or a GED, and complete a Board-approved training program within 12 months of receiving your registration number. Since August 1, 2023, holding PTCB or NHA ExCPT certification counts as approved training. Registration renews every year by December 1, with 20 hours of continuing education every two years. Locally, Minneapolis College at 1501 Hennepin Avenue offers a 16-credit, PTCB-recognized certificate with an 80-hour internship that can be finished in one semester, and Saint Paul College offers an ASHP and ACPE accredited diploma and AAS. Many retail employers also train new hires on the job.
What the Job Involves
Pharmacy technicians take prescriptions, enter orders, count and package medications, process insurance claims and help customers at pickup, all under a pharmacist's supervision. In hospitals they fill automated dispensing cabinets, prepare IV and sterile products, deliver medications to units, and track inventory and controlled substances. Accuracy matters on every order.
Skills Employers Look For
- Minnesota Board of Pharmacy registration in good standing
- PTCB (CPhT) or NHA ExCPT certification
- Accurate order entry and math
- Insurance billing and customer service skills
- Sterile compounding experience for hospital roles
- Flexibility for evenings, weekends and holidays
Career Path and Advancement
Many Minneapolis techs start behind a retail counter, earn PTCB certification, and move into hospital pharmacy, where IV compounding, specialty and automation roles pay more. From there the ladder runs to senior or lead technician, inventory and controlled-substance specialist, and pharmacy buyer. Some techs go on to pharmacy school at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy.
Related Careers in Minneapolis
If pharmacy work interests you, these related Minneapolis roles are close matches:
- Medical Assistant Jobs
- Medical Receptionist Jobs
- Phlebotomist Jobs
- Medical Laboratory Technician Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions
Do pharmacy technicians need a license in Minnesota?
Yes. Minnesota requires registration with the Minnesota Board of Pharmacy before you start work, and you must complete Board-approved training within 12 months of receiving your registration number. PTCB or NHA ExCPT certification satisfies the training requirement.
How much do pharmacy technicians make in Minneapolis?
New techs generally start around $19 to $22 an hour, and experienced certified techs earn about $23 to $27. Walgreens has posted $19.25 to $26 in Minneapolis, the VA pays $61,271 to $79,654 a year at GS-7, and DEED puts the metro median at $23.98.
How long does it take to become a pharmacy technician?
A few months. Minneapolis College's certificate can be finished in one semester including an 80-hour internship, and many retail employers train new hires on the job while they prepare for the PTCB exam.
Do you need PTCB certification to work in Minneapolis?
Not by state law, but it counts as Board-approved training and many employers prefer or require it. Walgreens ties promotion to senior technician to PTCB certification, and the VA requires national certification for upper-grade roles.
How often do Minnesota pharmacy technicians renew registration?
Every year. Registrations expire December 31 and should be renewed by December 1, and technicians need at least 20 hours of approved continuing education every two years.
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