Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants in the UK earned a median £23,783 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 39% less than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
It is in the lowest-paid third of the 382 occupations (12th from the bottom).
Median full-time pay: women £23,627 a year, men £24,602 a year.
Most jobs here are part-time: 23,000 of about 53,000 are full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 29.6% (from £18,353), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 84,500 people in this line of work, 13% of them in South East.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | £19,274 | £409.60 | £12.21 | £7,852* | £113.80* | £12.18 |
| 20th percentile | £20,631 | £443.30 | £12.27 | £11,680 | £209.10 | £12.21 |
| 25th percentile | £21,536 | £456.10 | £12.36 | £12,629 | £238.40 | £12.21 |
| 30th percentile | £22,363 | £465.00 | £12.40 | £13,816 | £265.90 | £12.27 |
| 40th percentile | – | £472.20 | £12.59 | £15,752 | £308.40 | £12.41 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £23,783 | £486.50 | £12.73 | £17,993 | £359.70 | £12.59 |
| 60th percentile | £24,283 | £494.20 | £12.90 | £20,428 | £415.10 | £12.75 |
| 70th percentile | £24,874 | £511.50 | £13.31 | £22,929 | £465.00 | £13.13 |
| 75th percentile | – | £518.50 | £13.44 | £23,643 | £474.80 | £13.37 |
| 80th percentile | – | £535.10 | £13.89 | £24,170 | £488.30 | £13.72 |
| 90th percentile | – | – | – | – | £529.80 | £14.78* |
| Mean | £23,588 | £493.00 | £13.13 | £17,724 | £351.10 | £13.07 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £18,353 | £361.70 | £9.53 | £15,082 | £287.90 | 62 |
| 2022 revised | £19,070 | £381.70 | £10.00 | £14,842* | £307.50 | 63 |
| 2023 revised | £20,909 | £436.20 | £11.08 | £15,767 | £324.90 | 50 |
| 2024 revised | £22,411 | £459.00 | £12.04 | £17,286 | £369.10 | 56 |
| 2025 provisional | £23,783 | £486.50 | £12.73 | £17,993 | £359.70 | 53 |
Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants by region
UK: 84,500 (± 11,300), April 2025 to March 2026. 10 of the 12 regions and nations have samples too small to publish.
| Region or nation | People in employment | 95% confidence interval |
|---|---|---|
| South East | 11,300* | ± 4,200 |
| North West | 11,200* | ± 4,000 |
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants do
Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants work under the supervision of pharmacists and opticians or optometrists to dispense drugs and medicines, issue pre-packaged prescriptions, sell over-the-counter medication, dispense spectacles and contact lenses and other related products. (ONS SOC 2020, 7114)
Also covers: dispenser, health care assistant (retail pharmacy), optical assistant, pharmacy assistant, chemist dispenser, chemist's assistant, counter assistant, customer assistant, dispensary assistant, dispenser's assistant, dispensing assistant, healthcare adviser, healthcare assistant, healthcare partner, ocular hygienist, ophthalmic assistant, optical adviser and optical consultant (42 titles in the ONS coding index).
- 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 and opticians or optometrists
- Carries out sales transaction, wraps and packages goods
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.
Related
Sales assistants and retail cashiers (median £25,055) · Telephone salespersons · Vehicle and parts salespersons and advisers · salary percentile · UK average weekly earnings growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026