Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£17,993
Typical Annual pay range
Understanding Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants pay in the UK
The typical pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants in the UK earns a median salary of £17,993 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The middle half of pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants earnings fall between £12,629 and £23,643 a year. That is a wide range, a sign that pay climbs steeply with experience, specialism and employer, so the median is a starting point rather than a ceiling.
Where you work changes the picture: pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants pay ranges from £14,841 in Yorkshire and the Humber up to £20,569 in South West, a difference of £5,728 (39%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants pay in South West or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
South West is the highest-paying region for pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants at £20,569 — 14% above the UK median. Yorkshire and the Humber is lowest at £14,841.
UK median £17,993
| Region | Median payUK median £17,993 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South West | £20,569 | £20,569 | £20,002 | +14% |
| South East | £20,207 | £20,207 | £19,225 | +12% |
| East Midlands | £20,077 | £20,077 | £18,769 | +12% |
| East of England | £18,278 | £18,278 | £18,363 | +2% |
| North East | £17,573 | £17,573 | £15,958 | -2% |
| Scotland | £17,558 | £17,558 | £17,093 | -2% |
| Wales | £16,425 | £16,425 | £15,891 | -9% |
| West Midlands | £16,341 | £16,341 | £16,929 | -9% |
| London | £16,022 | £16,022 | £15,139 | -11% |
| North West | £15,730 | £15,730 | £17,932 | -13% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £14,841 | £14,841 | £15,410 | -18% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| South West £20,569 | £20,569Mean £20,002 | +14% |
| South East £20,207 | £20,207Mean £19,225 | +12% |
| East Midlands £20,077 | £20,077Mean £18,769 | +12% |
| East of England £18,278 | £18,278Mean £18,363 | +2% |
| North East £17,573 | £17,573Mean £15,958 | -2% |
| Scotland £17,558 | £17,558Mean £17,093 | -2% |
| Wales £16,425 | £16,425Mean £15,891 | -9% |
| West Midlands £16,341 | £16,341Mean £16,929 | -9% |
| London £16,022 | £16,022Mean £15,139 | -11% |
| North West £15,730 | £15,730Mean £17,932 | -13% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £14,841 | £14,841Mean £15,410 | -18% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£17,993); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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