Pharmacy and other dispensing assistants

£21,379

Average salary

Average annual salary UK 2020 | Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

33 hours

Average weekly hours

Average weekly hours UK 2019 | Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

1.7%

Pay growth from 2017 to 2018

Average change in weekly pay rate | Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings

6.33%

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate UK 2020 | Labour Force Survey

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.