Pharmacy Technician
Prepare and dispense medicines in community, hospital or production pharmacy settings.
This UK pharmacy technician career guide covers what the role involves day to day, typical salary at each stage, the usual entry route, the skills employers expect, and related careers worth comparing.
Quick facts
- Starting salary
- £24,000 - £30,000
- Mid-career salary
- £30,000 - £38,000
- Senior salary
- £40,000 - £55,000
- Work environment
- Hospital, clinic or community setting
- Time to entry
- 2 years (apprenticeship)
- Degree required
- Not required
- Category
- Healthcare and Care
What a Pharmacy Technician does
Prepare and dispense medicines in community, hospital or production pharmacy settings.
- Hospital Pharmacy - Dispensing, wards and aseptic services.
- Community Pharmacy - Dispensing and patient services in high-street pharmacy.
- Aseptic / Production - Compounding in aseptic units and chemo production.
- Medicines Management - Ward-based medicines optimisation.
How to become a Pharmacy Technician
- Look up Pharmacy Technician roles on LinkedIn or Indeed and read 5 real job ads
- Talk to someone already working as a Pharmacy Technician - even a 15-minute call helps
- Find one beginner course or qualification used by people in this role
- Build one small piece of evidence you've explored this (project, shadowing, short course)
- Apply to one entry-level role or related opportunity within the next month
Key skills
- Dispensing accuracy
- Patient comms
- Stock control
- Numeracy
- Calm pace