Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants salary in North West
Full-time average annual pay in North West
£15,730
Based on ~7,000 employees · 2025 · moderate suppression
Median
£15,730
Mean
£17,932
| Statistic | Annual pay (gross) |
|---|---|
| Median | £15,730 |
| Mean | £17,932 |
Region-level range withheld by ONS — UK-wide, the middle half of pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants earn £12,629–£23,643. See full methodology →
Understanding Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants pay in North West
The typical pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants in North West earns a median salary of £15,730 in 2025/26, based on around 7,000 employees — 12.6% (£2,263) below the UK-wide median of £17,993. 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.
Across the UK, North West ranks 10th of 11 regions for pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants pay. Regional medians run from £14,841 in Yorkshire and the Humber up to £20,569 in South West, a spread of £5,728 (39%).
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £17,932. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants in North West actually earns.
To see what £15,730 means after income tax and National Insurance, use the take-home pay calculator below — it also factors in student loan repayments.
Take-home pay estimate
Tax year 2025/26| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £1,311 | £15,730 |
| Income tax | £53 | £632 |
| National Insurance | £21 | £253 |
| Take-home pay | £1,237 | £14,845 |
Estimate only · 2025/26 HMRC rates · Standard tax code · No pension contribution · Not financial or tax advice
How Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants 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 (current region) | £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 (current region) £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.
How pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants pay in North West has changed over time
Median annual pay for pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants in North West by year, shown against the UK-wide median (Source: ONS ASHE). The shaded band is the UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range — ONS does not publish percentile ranges at region level.
North West median
UK median
▪ UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
How the figures are sourced
Data sources: Official UK earnings data (2025 provisional)(opens in new tab)
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