SOC 2020 · 3212
Pharmaceutical technicians
Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations from
Skilled Worker
Shortage list only
Below the usual skill level, but listed.
Salary floor
£41,700
The general threshold, £41,700, is the higher of the two.
Shortage lists
Immigration Salary List
Listed roles carry their own restrictions — check GOV.UK.
Shortage list conditions
Immigration Salary List: all jobs. Listed until 31 Dec 2026.
Shortage-list jobs are below the usual skill level, so employers face restrictions such as no dependants and no salary discount. Check GOV.UK for the current conditions.
Salary the job must pay
A Skilled Worker job must pay at least the higher of the general threshold and the going rate for its occupation code.
Going rate (standard)
£33,400
General threshold
£41,700
Visa thresholds from
Minimum for this role
£41,700
Home Office going rates from
New entrants and some other cases can use 70% of the going rate, £33,400, subject to the lower general threshold of £33,400.
What this occupation actually pays
ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, full-time gross annual pay.
- UK pay for this occupation
- Going rate£33,400
- General threshold£41,700
View these figures as a table
| Percentile | Pay |
|---|---|
| 10th | £23,050 |
| 25th | £26,656 |
| 50th | £31,044 |
| 75th | £36,760 |
| Going rate | £33,400 |
| General threshold | £41,700 |
| Region | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK 2025 | £23,050 | £26,656 | £31,044 | £36,760 | — |
| East 2025 | — | — | £26,840 | — | — |
| East Midlands 2025 | — | — | £27,350 | — | — |
| London 2025 | — | — | £32,459 | — | — |
| North East 2025 | — | — | £27,702 | — | — |
Job titles in this code
What the work involves
Pharmaceutical technicians work in hospitals or in the community and assist pharmacists in the preparation and dispensing of drugs and medicines.
Typical tasks
checks received prescriptions for legality and accuracy
prepares drugs and medicines under the supervision of pharmacist
prepares specialised, tailor-made drugs for intravenous administration by hospital medical staff
labels and checks items prior to dispensing
maintains records of prescriptions received and drugs issued
advises patients or customers on the use of drugs prescribed or medication purchased over the counter
checks stock levels, orders new stock from pharmaceutical companies and ensures that drugs are stored appropriately
Entry routes and qualifications
Entrants to training usually possess GCSEs/S grades or the equivalent. Training is typically a combination of practical experience and study at a college or by open learning towards vocational qualifications. An approved competency and an approved knowledge based qualification and two years’ experience is required to register as a pharmacy technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).