Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants Salary
Median salary £17,993 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.
About this role
Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants support pharmacists and opticians by serving customers, processing prescriptions, managing stock and providing advice on over-the-counter medicines and optical products under professional supervision.
Key responsibilities
- Assisting customers with over-the-counter medicine purchases
- Processing prescriptions and assembling dispensed items
- Managing pharmacy or optical retail stock
- Advising customers on product selection within scope of role
- Maintaining records and complying with regulatory requirements
Qualifications and entry routes
Pharmacy dispensing assistants need NVQ Level 2 in Pharmacy Service Skills. Optical assistants may train towards dispensing optician qualifications. On-the-job training under pharmacist or optician supervision.
Career outlook
Stable demand with opportunities to progress to pharmacy technician or dispensing optician qualifications.
Key skills
Common industries
- Community pharmacies
- Optical retailers
- Hospital pharmacies
- Supermarket pharmacies
- Online pharmacies
Data coverage
Median Salary
£17,993
Mean Salary
£17,724
Jobs (000s)
47k
Data Years
11 years
Salary Range (2025)
Estimated Career Progression
Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation
Entry Level
£7,852
0-2 years
Mid Level
£12,629
3-7 years
Senior
£23,643
8-15 years
Potential career growth: +201% from entry to leadership
Salary Trend (2015-2025)
Gender Pay Comparison (2025)
Gender pay gap: 26.9%
Full-time vs All Employees (2025)
All Employees
£17,993
Full-time Only
£23,783
Full-time premium: +£5,790
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Lifetime earnings
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