"How long does it take to become a pharmacy technician in North Dakota?"

"Most paths into the pharmacy technician field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do pharmacy technicians need a license in North Dakota?"

"Yes. North Dakota requires state-level licensing or registration for pharmacy technicians, administered by the ND State Board of Pharmacy. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for pharmacy technicians in North Dakota?"

"In North Dakota, registered apprenticeships are administered through the North Dakota Workforce Development - Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Pharmacy Technician in North Dakota

Q: "How much do pharmacy technicians earn in North Dakota?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), pharmacy technicians in North Dakota earned a median annual wage of approximately $47,560. Employment concentration in North Dakota is roughly 0.68 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "What is the job outlook for pharmacy technicians in North Dakota?"

"North Dakota currently employs approximately 890 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6.4% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

North Dakota pharmacy technicians earn a median annual wage of $47,560 ($22.86/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 890 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 4.0% above the national median of $45,750 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $47,560 ($22.86/hr)
25th percentile: $41,380 per year
75th percentile: $54,250 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $63,850 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $38,370 per year
Workers employed in North Dakota: 890
Versus national median: 4.0% above the U.S. median of $45,750
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.68 - this occupation is less concentrated in North Dakota than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

North Dakota employs approximately 890 pharmacy technicians according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $47,560 ¹. Nationally, pharmacy technician employment is projected to grow 6.4% from 2024 to 2034, with about 49,000 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a pharmacy technician in North Dakota, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Pharmacy Technician in North Dakota

How do I become a pharmacy technician in North Dakota? North Dakota requires credentials such as Pharmacy Technicians, Pharmacists. The licensing authority is the ND State Board of Pharmacy ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in North Dakota? Yes. North Dakota has licensing or registration requirements for pharmacy technicians. The ND State Board of Pharmacy oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do pharmacy technicians earn in North Dakota? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in North Dakota is $47,560 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,370 and experienced professionals can earn $63,850 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: ND State Board of Pharmacy
Median wage (North Dakota): $47,560 per year ¹
Exam requirement: Third-party exam required

Pharmacy Technician License Requirements in North Dakota

The ND State Board of Pharmacy oversees pharmacy technician licensing in North Dakota ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Pharmacy Technicians	For more information about the licensing process, including application and renewal fees, please check with the licensing authority.
Pharmacists	For more information about the licensing process, including application and renewal fees, please check with the licensing authority.

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: Third-party exam required
Experience: No experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

Pharmacy Technician Wages by Metro Area in North Dakota

Pharmacy Technicians Wages by Metro Area in North Dakota

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), pharmacy technicians wages in North Dakota vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Fargo	430	$45,390	$47,320	$37,980	$60,080
Bismarck	160	$49,490	$50,500	$38,370	$62,330
Grand Forks	90	$47,110	$47,710	$37,830	$58,760
Minot	50	$45,260	$46,190	$37,850	$58,760

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Top Metros for Pharmacy technicians in North Dakota

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest pharmacy technician employment within North Dakota according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Fargo	430	$45,390
Bismarck	160	$49,490
Grand Forks	90	$47,110
Minot	50	$45,260

Explore More Trades in North Dakota

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for pharmacy technicians in North Dakota? North Dakota currently employs approximately 890 pharmacy technicians ¹. Nationally, pharmacy technician employment is projected to grow 6.4% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a pharmacy technician in North Dakota with an out-of-state license? Contact the ND State Board of Pharmacy for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in North Dakota? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in North Dakota.

How much do pharmacy technicians earn in North Dakota compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pharmacy technicians in North Dakota is $47,560, which is $4,100 above the national median of $43,460 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
ND State Board of Pharmacy - Licensing Information: http://www.nodakpharmacy.com/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)