Pharmacy and other dispensing assistants
£21,379
Average salary
33 hours
Average weekly hours
6.33%
Unemployment rate
Definition: Pharmacy and other dispensing assistants
*SOC Code (Standard Occupational Classification): 7114
Pharmacy and other dispensing assistants work under the supervision of pharmacists or other relevant health professionals to dispense drugs and medicines, issue pre-packaged prescriptions, sell over-the-counter medication, dispense spectacles and contact lenses and other related products.
Common tasks include:
- checks received prescriptions for legality and accuracy and confirms patients’ or customers’ details;
- maintains records of prescriptions received and drugs issued;
- checks stock levels, rotates stock, orders new stock from supplying companies and ensures that products are stored appropriately;
- arranges displays of merchandise;
- relays information to customers under the direction of pharmacist or other health professional;
- carries out sales transaction, wraps and packages goods.
Qualifications
Entrants usually possess GCSEs/S grades. Training is typically received on-the-job, supplemented by study towards vocational qualifications. NVQs/ SVQs are available in relevant areas and at various levels, and apprenticeships may be available.
*Introduced in 1990, SOC is a multi-purpose common classification of occupations in UK. Jobs are defined in terms of skill level and skill content, including qualifications, training and work experience.
Employment status: Pharmacy and other dispensing assistants
Regional employment: Pharmacy and other dispensing assistants
Future employment: Pharmacy and other dispensing assistants
Top 12 industries: Pharmacy and other dispensing assistants
Alternative & related job titles: Pharmacy and other dispensing assistants
Assistant, dispensing, pharmacy Assistant, dispenser's Assistant, optometrist’s Assistant, pharmaceutical (retail chemists) Assistant, care, health (retail chemist) Assistant, dispensing (opticians) Adviser, healthcare (retail chemist) Assistant, dispensary Assistant, dispensing Adviser, optical Assistant, pharmacy Assistant, shop, chemist’s Assistant, sales (retail pharmacy) Assistant, optical Assistant, counter (chemist) Adviser, sales, optical Assistant, pharmacist's Assistant, counter (pharmacy) Officer, technical, assistant (pharmacy) Assistant, optician's Dispenser Dispenser, chemist Assistant, counter, pharmacy Assistant, counter, medicines Assistant, dispensing, optical Assistant, chemist's Assistant, lens, contact Assistant, chemist's (retail trade) Assistant, healthcare (retail chemist)
Equality focus: Pharmacy and other dispensing assistants
Breaking down the official government big data sources by gender, age and region. Hours and pay data based on full time equlivalent roles.
Breakdown by gender
£21,379
Female average annual salary
£21,379
Male average annual salary
33
Female average weekly hours
33
Male average weekly hours
Average pay per hour: Pharmacy and other dispensing assistants
Workforce gender: Pharmacy and other dispensing assistants
Breakdown by region
£24,507
North West (England) - highest annual average salary
£18,771
West Midlands (England) - lowest annual average salary
40
North East (England) - Highest average weekly hours
30
Northern Ireland - Lowest average weekly hours
Average pay per week (£): Pharmacy and other dispensing assistants
Average weekly hours by UK region/nation: Pharmacy and other dispensing assistants
Breakdown by age
20 years
Lowest annual salary (£13,557)
years
Highest annual salary (£0) at this age