SOC 3212 Health and social care associate professionals

Pharmaceutical technicians Salary

Median salary £28,381 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £28,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For pharmaceutical technicians, £31,044 is the typical (median) pay. That is below the UK full-time median of £39,039 — -20% versus the national average. Experienced pharmaceutical technicians (top 25%) earn over £34,199.

About this role

Pharmaceutical technicians support pharmacists in dispensing medicines, managing stock, preparing pharmaceutical products and providing medicines information. They work in community pharmacies, hospital dispensaries and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Key responsibilities

Dispensing and checking prescriptions under pharmacist supervision
Managing pharmaceutical stock and supply chain
Preparing extemporaneous medicines and clinical trial supplies
Providing medicines information to patients and staff
Maintaining dispensary systems and records

Qualifications and entry routes

Requires a Level 3 Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science (or equivalent), registered with the GPhC as a pharmacy technician. Accredited Checking Technician (ACT) qualification expands role. Pre-registration training period required.

Career outlook

Growing demand as pharmacists take on more clinical roles. Accuracy checking and medicines optimisation responsibilities are expanding the pharmacy technician scope.

Key skills

Dispensing accuracy Medicines management Stock control Patient communication GPhC compliance

Common industries

Community pharmacies
Hospital pharmacies
Pharmaceutical manufacturing
Primary care
Prisons

Data coverage

SOC code 3212

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2015–2025

Estimated jobs 27,000

Median Salary

£28,381

Mean Salary

£28,653

Jobs (000s)

27k

Data Years

11 years

Salary Range (2025)

P25: £22,910Median: £28,381P75: £34,199

P10: £18kP25: £23kMedian: £28kP75: £34kP90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Entry Level

£18,474

0-2 years

Mid Level

£22,910

3-7 years

Senior

£34,199

8-15 years

Potential career growth: +85% from entry to leadership

Salary Trend (2015-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +46.6%Real growth: +6.2%

Gender Pay Comparison (2025)

Gender pay gap: 12.2%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£28,381

Full-time Only

£31,044

Full-time premium: +£2,663

Pharmaceutical technicians salary: common questions

How much do pharmaceutical technicians earn in the UK?

Pharmaceutical technicians earn a median of £31,044 a year (ONS ASHE 2025). The middle half earn between £22,910 and £34,199.

Is £31,044 a good salary in the UK?

What is the starting salary for pharmaceutical technicians?

Entry-level pharmaceutical technicians typically start near the lower end of the range. The bottom 25% earn up to £22,910, and the lowest-paid 10% earn under £18,474.

Have pharmaceutical technicians salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2015, median pharmaceutical technicians pay has risen from £20,844 to £31,044 — +49% in cash terms, or +8.0% after CPIH inflation. That is ahead of inflation over the period.

Is there a gender pay gap for pharmaceutical technicians?

Male pharmaceutical technicians earn a median £30,788 and female pharmaceutical technicians £27,039 — a gap of +12% in 2025.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).