Become a Pharm Tech in Delaware
Now is a good moment to commence a new career as a Pharmacy Technician in the state of Delaware. On this page, you can find information on colleges and other training options, state requirements, salary data and the job outlook.
Delaware Awaits Pharmacy Technicians with Good Prospects
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that half of all Americans take at least one medication a day, and one in five take 3 daily prescription drugs. These numbers are on the rise with the continued aging of America, and pharmacist technicians are at the forefront of assisting in the process of preparing and dispensing those medications. The outlook for the whole nation is thus most encouraging. [Leer en español]
With a population of 897,934 (2014 estimate), the First State is projected to have 1000 pharmacy technicians in 2022, up from 840 in 2012. This represents an estimate of 160 jobs to be added by 2022, or a 20% increase over the 10-year period.
Delaware’s Salary Outlook for Pharmacy Technicians
Entry level pharm techs (10 percentile of all tech earners) receive on average an hourly wage of $9.92. This pay rate goes up to $11.13 for the 25 percentile, and to a median level of $13.46. In terms of annual salaries, these wages correspond to an average of $20,620 for new entrants, and up to a median annual salary of $28,000.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, you can earn as much as $45,480 in average annual salary when you attain the 90 percentile of all tech earners in the State.
Salaries by Metropolitan Area
| Area | Total Employed | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | 200 | $12.39 | $ 25,780 |
| Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ Metropolitan Division | 680 | $16.11 | $ 33,500 |
Salary comparison with other Pharmacy related professions in Delaware
| Profession | Total Employed | Mean Hourly Wage | Mean Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacists | 790 | $54.77 | $ 113,920 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 1,020 | $14.60 | $ 30,370 |
| Pharmacy Aides | ** | $10.70 | $ 22,260 |
Delaware State Certification Requirements
There are no registration or renewal requirements in Delaware. Instead, emphasis is placed on the on-the-job supervision and training that pharmacy techs receive at the hands of the pharmacists that they assist. The pharmacists/managers are responsible for administering a training program, and they frequently resort to the National Pharmacy Technician Training Program that is approved by the Delaware Board of Pharmacy. Certification, as well as continued education (CE) are thus recognized but not necessarily required.
Vocational Schools and Programs in Delaware
In view of Delaware’s size and relatively small population, schools and programs for pharmacy tech students are not in great abundance. The Delaware Technical Community College has a Certified Pharmacy Technician program that teaches the pharmacy fundamentals and includes two 24-hour internship rotations, one in a hospital and one in a retail setting.
Out-of-State Options
See options in the neighboring states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and New York.