Occupation 7114 · Sales and customer service occupations
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.
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.
Dispenser · Health care assistant (retail pharmacy) · Optical assistant · Pharmacy assistant
| Measure | Hours | Basis | Period | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7114 : Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants | None | None | 2026-03 | 70,200.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 7114 : Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants | None | None | 2026-03 | 74,100.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 7114 : Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants | None | None | 2026-03 | 80,700.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 7114 : Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants | None | None | 2026-03 | 3,800.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 7114 : Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants | None | None | 2026-03 | 6,600.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 7114 : Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants | None | None | 2026-03 | 84,500.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
| 7114 : Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants | None | None | 2026-03 | 3,900.00 | ONS, Annual Population Survey - employment by occupation (SOC 2020) |
ONS does not publish occupational pay below region. Cells the survey could not support are shown as withheld, with its reason — adding a region split to a specific occupation leaves roughly a tenth of cells publishable.
| Region | Measure | Hours | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | 7114 : Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants | None | 8,900.00 | 2026-03 |
| East Midlands | 7114 : Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants | None | 5,400.00 | 2026-03 |
| London | 7114 : Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants | None | 6,100.00 | 2026-03 |
| North East | 7114 : Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants | None | 2,000.00 | 2026-03 |
| North West | 7114 : Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants | None | 11,200.00 | 2026-03 |
| Northern Ireland | 7114 : Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants | None | 3,800.00 | 2026-03 |
| Scotland | 7114 : Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants | None | 6,600.00 | 2026-03 |
| South East | 7114 : Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants | None | 11,300.00 | 2026-03 |
| South West | 7114 : Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants | None | 6,800.00 | 2026-03 |
| Wales | 7114 : Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants | None | 3,900.00 | 2026-03 |
| West Midlands | 7114 : Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants | None | 10,300.00 | 2026-03 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 7114 : Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants | None | 8,300.00 | 2026-03 |
ONS publishes regional pay for this occupation where the survey sample supports it — 12 of 12 cells on this page. The rest are withheld by ONS, and are shown as withheld with the reason, rather than left out.
The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, published by the Office for National Statistics. Figures are shown exactly as ONS publishes them — we do not adjust, model or fill them in, and every number on this page carries the series and period it came from.
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