Pharmacist
Is pharmacy the right career for me?
Pharmacists play a vital role in helping people live longer, healthier lives.
They make a real difference to people’s lives through their expert knowledge by ensuring safe medicine use and providing trusted healthcare advice.
If you’re passionate about science and want to improve patient care, a career in pharmacy offers a rewarding and varied path.
Pharmacists are essential across many industries, combining scientific expertise with a commitment to better health.
What is a pharmacist?
As a pharmacist, you’ll provide care across a range of settings, often at the heart of local communities, to help people stay well, manage their medicines, and live healthier lives.
What do pharmacists do?
Collaboration is a key part of the role.
You’ll work alongside doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, using scientific evidence to deliver safe, effective care and ensure patients get the best outcomes from their treatment.
All pharmacists will also be qualified to prescribe once they complete their training.
Where do pharmacists work?
Pharmacists work in a variety of environments, offering a diverse and rewarding career. Employers include:
- NHS and private hospitals
- Community pharmacies, including retail chains and supermarkets
- Pharmaceutical companies, researching and developing new medicines
- Primary care organisations, supporting patient care in local communities
- Agricultural and veterinary product manufacturers
Pharmacists also work in fields like education, journalism, prisons, and the Civil Service, applying their expertise in innovative and unexpected ways.
What hours do pharmacists work?
Pharmacists typically work a standard week of 37.5 hours in the NHS.
They usually have to work some early mornings, evenings, weekends and bank holidays on a rota basis.
Some pharmacists provide on-call services to their hospital overnight.
In other organisations, hours may vary.
Many pharmacists choose to work part-time.
How much do pharmacists earn?
If you work in the NHS, for example in a hospital or a GP practice, you’ll usually start on band 6 of the Agenda for Change pay scale. As your NHS career progresses, you could reach band 9 as a chief pharmacist.
You’ll also get at least 27 days of annual leave plus bank holidays which increases after five years of service, as well as the generous NHS pension scheme.
If you’re working in a sector such as a community pharmacy, pay and benefits may differ but are typically in line with the NHS Agenda for Change pay rates. You may even choose to own and run your own community pharmacy.
What career progression opportunities are available for pharmacists?
Pharmacy offers many different and flexible employment options. Once you’ve qualified and gained the appropriate clinical and financial experience you could become a:
- Prescribing advisor in primary care
- Prescriber in a GP practice
- An independent pharmacy contractor with your own pharmacy
- Service Manager in a hospital
- A regional manager for a community pharmacy chain
- Lecturer in a university
- Consultant pharmacist in a clinical speciality