Salary by Profession in the UK: Compare Jobs, Regions and Pay LevelsHow Much Do Pharmacists Earn in the UK? — 2026 Salary Guide
Complete guide to pharmacist salaries in the UK for 2026. Community vs hospital pharmacy pay, locum rates, pharmacy owner income, specialist roles, and career progression from pre-registration to consultant pharmacist.
Pharmacy offers a stable, well-paid healthcare career with multiple career paths. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of what pharmacists earn across different settings.
For a broader comparison across occupations and pay bands, see our Salary by Profession hub.
Pre-Registration / Foundation Pharmacist
| Stage | Salary |
|---|
| Foundation year (year 5 of MPharm) | £33,000-£37,000 |
| Hospital foundation (NHS Band 5) | £28,407-£34,581 |
By Role
| Role | Salary Range |
|---|
| Newly qualified pharmacist | £35,000-£42,000 |
| Pharmacist (2-5 years) | £38,000-£48,000 |
| Pharmacy Manager | £42,000-£55,000 |
| Area/Regional Manager | £55,000-£75,000 |
| Superintendent Pharmacist | £60,000-£90,000 |
By Employer
| Employer | Pharmacist Salary | Manager Salary |
|---|
| Boots | £35,000-£48,000 | £45,000-£55,000 |
| Lloyds Pharmacy | £35,000-£46,000 | £42,000-£52,000 |
| Well Pharmacy | £34,000-£45,000 | £42,000-£52,000 |
| Superdrug | £34,000-£45,000 | £42,000-£50,000 |
| Independent pharmacy | £36,000-£50,000 | £40,000-£55,000 |
| Supermarket (Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s) | £38,000-£50,000 | £45,000-£55,000 |
Hospital Pharmacist Salaries (NHS)
| Band | Role | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|
| Band 5 | Foundation Pharmacist | £28,407 | £34,581 |
| Band 6 | Clinical Pharmacist | £35,392 | £42,618 |
| Band 7 | Senior/Specialist Pharmacist | £43,742 | £50,056 |
| Band 8a | Principal/Lead Pharmacist | £50,952 | £54,619 |
| Band 8b | Chief Pharmacist (small trust) | £58,972 | £68,525 |
| Band 8c | Chief Pharmacist (large trust) | £70,417 | £81,138 |
| Band 8d | Regional Lead | £83,571 | £96,376 |
Hospital Specialism Pay
| Specialism | Typical Band |
|---|
| Antimicrobial pharmacist | Band 7-8a |
| Oncology pharmacist | Band 7-8a |
| Paediatric pharmacist | Band 7-8a |
| Clinical trials pharmacist | Band 6-7 |
| Medicines information | Band 6-7 |
| Aseptic services lead | Band 7-8a |
Locum Pharmacist Pay
| Setting | Hourly Rate | Daily Rate |
|---|
| Community (weekday) | £22-£28 | £180-£225 |
| Community (weekend) | £25-£35 | £200-£280 |
| Community (London) | £26-£35 | £210-£280 |
| Hospital | £25-£35 | £200-£280 |
Annual Locum Earnings
| Working Pattern | Approximate Annual |
|---|
| 3 days/week | £28,000-£44,000 |
| 4 days/week | £37,000-£58,000 |
| 5 days/week | £47,000-£72,000 |
Pharmacy Owner Earnings
| Practice Size | Typical Owner Income |
|---|
| Single small pharmacy | £50,000-£90,000 |
| Single busy pharmacy | £70,000-£120,000 |
| Multiple pharmacies (2-3) | £100,000-£200,000 |
| Large chain owner | £200,000+ |
Revenue Breakdown
| Income Source | Proportion |
|---|
| NHS dispensing fees | 60-70% |
| NHS services (flu jabs, NMS, etc.) | 10-15% |
| Private services | 5-10% |
| OTC sales | 10-20% |
GP Practice Pharmacist
A growing role with pharmacists working directly in GP surgeries.
| Level | Band | Salary |
|---|
| PCN pharmacist (new) | Band 7 equivalent | £40,000-£48,000 |
| PCN pharmacist (experienced) | Band 7-8a equivalent | £45,000-£55,000 |
| Senior clinical pharmacist | Band 8a equivalent | £50,000-£58,000 |
Industry and Other Roles
| Role | Salary Range |
|---|
| Pharmaceutical industry (entry) | £35,000-£45,000 |
| Medical affairs / MSL | £50,000-£80,000 |
| Regulatory affairs | £40,000-£70,000 |
| Pharmaceutical sales | £35,000-£55,000 + bonus |
| Academic / university lecturer | £42,000-£65,000 |
| Prison pharmacist | £40,000-£55,000 |
Regional Differences
| Region | Community | Hospital (Band 6 total) |
|---|
| London | £40,000-£55,000 | £42,000-£50,000 |
| South East | £38,000-£50,000 | £38,000-£46,000 |
| South West | £35,000-£46,000 | £36,000-£44,000 |
| Midlands | £35,000-£46,000 | £36,000-£44,000 |
| North West | £35,000-£46,000 | £36,000-£44,000 |
| North East | £34,000-£44,000 | £36,000-£43,000 |
| Scotland | £36,000-£48,000 | £37,000-£45,000 |
| Wales | £34,000-£44,000 | £36,000-£43,000 |
How to Become a Pharmacist
| Stage | Duration | Details |
|---|
| MPharm degree | 4 years | Accredited university programme |
| Foundation training year | 1 year | Paid supervised practice |
| GPhC registration | After foundation | Required to practise |
| Total | 5 years | |
Independent Prescriber
| Factor | Details |
|---|
| Additional course | 6-12 months |
| Salary premium | +£2,000-£5,000 in many roles |
| Requirement | Increasingly expected for clinical roles |
Career Progression Timeline
| Stage | Years | Role | Typical Earnings |
|---|
| Foundation | Year 1 | Pre-reg/foundation | £33,000-£37,000 |
| Early career | Years 2-4 | Pharmacist | £35,000-£45,000 |
| Experienced | Years 4-8 | Manager / Band 7 | £42,000-£55,000 |
| Senior | Years 8-15 | Specialist / Band 8a | £50,000-£65,000 |
| Leadership | Years 12+ | Chief / Owner | £60,000-£150,000+ |
Summary
| Level | Typical Earnings |
|---|
| Foundation year | £33,000-£37,000 |
| Community pharmacist | £35,000-£48,000 |
| Pharmacy manager | £42,000-£55,000 |
| Hospital (Band 6-7) | £35,000-£50,000 |
| Senior/specialist (Band 8a) | £50,000-£55,000 |
| Locum (full-time) | £47,000-£72,000 |
| Pharmacy owner | £50,000-£150,000+ |