Potential earnings
£60,278.15
Pharmacists dispense drugs and medicaments in hospitals and pharmacies and advise on and participate in the development and testing of new drugs, compounds and therapies. They counsel on the proper use and adverse effects of drugs and medicines.
Main tasks
- Ensures that drugs and medicaments are in good supply and are stored properly.
- Tests and analyses drugs to determine their identity, purity and strength.
- Liaises with other professionals regarding the development, manufacturing and testing of drugs.
- Maintains prescription files and records issue of narcotics, poisons and other habit-forming drugs.
- Checks that recommended doses are not being exceeded and that instructions are understood by patients.
- Highlights a drug’s potential side effects, identifies harmful interactions with other drugs and assesses the suitability of treatments for patients with particular health conditions.
- Advises health professionals on the selection and appropriate use of medicines.
- Prepares or directs the preparation of prescribed medicaments in liquid, powder, tablet, ointment or other form following prescriptions issued by medical doctors and other health professionals.
Source: Office for National Statistics.
Salary and earnings
Average earnings
£41,022.00
Source: Office for National Statistics' Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE).
Skills & knowledge
The top 5 most important skills and knowledge requirements relevant to this career.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Chemistry
Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
What course level do I need to study?
The level of study required will vary with each job, sector and company. The table below shows the level of study achieved by those currently working in this career choice.
Educational requirements: Honours, Bachelor's degree
Source: Office for National Statistics.
| Level of study | Percentage achieved |
|---|---|
| Level 0 | 1% |
| Level 1 | 0% |
| Level 2 | 1% |
| Level 3 | 2% |
| Level 4-5 (Higher Education) | 0% |
| Level 6 (Bachelors) | 46% |
| Level 7 (Masters or equivalent) | 47% |
| Level 8 (Doctorate) | 2% |
Source: Labour Force Survey (LFS) data.
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Economic data for careers is provided by Lightcast and also available through our Career Coach app. Job postings, employment and earnings information is represented at the regional level for the East Midlands.