How much does a Pharmacy assistant make

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  2. Pharmacy assistant
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Pharmacy assistant

32 400 kr

Pharmacy technicians

28 700 - 33 800 kr / month

Women earn 106% of what men do.

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Salary progression Pharmacy assistant

Average salary 32 400 kr
Males 30 900 kr
Females 32 700 kr
1 Likes 0 Comments 10 Vacant jobs ->

What does a pharmacy assistant do? – Tasks and work environment

A pharmacy assistant primarily assists pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in the daily operations of the pharmacy. Tasks include customer service, receiving and handling prescriptions, restocking products, cash register work, and advising on self-care products. The environment at a pharmacy is often fast-paced and requires accuracy, service-mindedness, and good communication. Pharmacy assistants are also expected to help maintain order and cleanliness in the premises and assist customers in finding the right products and information.

Salary development over time

The salary for pharmacy assistants has shown steady growth over the past three years. In 2022, the average salary was 30,400 SEK per month, which increased to 31 500 SEK in 2023. During 2024, the average salary has risen further to 32,400 SEK per month. This increase corresponds to a total rise of approximately 6.6% over the period. The positive salary trend can partly be explained by increased demand for service staff in pharmacies and a broader job market for pharmacy assistants. There are also indications that female pharmacy assistants more frequently reach the highest salary levels than men, which positively influences the average salary.

Pharmacy assistant salary – comprehensive overview

  • Average salary: 32,400 SEK/month
  • Lowest salary: 28,700 SEK/month (man, high school education, 3 years)
  • Highest salary: 33,800 SEK/month (woman, high school education, up to 2 years)
  • Hourly wage: 195 SEK/hour
  • Women earn: 106% of what men do (32 700 SEK/month vs. 30 900 SEK/month)
  • Regional differences: No specific data available

Education and qualifications

To work as a pharmacy assistant, a high school diploma is generally required, often with a focus on commerce, service, or healthcare. Employers commonly offer internal training or onboarding at the workplace. Experience from service professions is advantageous, but formal certification or specific training certificates are rarely mandatory. Success in the role requires being service-oriented, meticulous, and having good communication skills.

  • High school diploma: Commerce, service, or healthcare (2–3 years)
  • Internal training: Common upon employment
  • Experience: Beneficial with a background in service
  • Prerequisites: Proficiency in Swedish and basic mathematics
  • Internship: May be part of certain training programs

Many pharmacy assistants have opportunities to work with both advising customers and sales, providing broad experience in retail and customer service. The role can thus be a good stepping stone for further careers within the pharmacy industry or other service professions.

– statsskuld.se

Common benefits and compensations

Pharmacy assistants are often covered by collective agreements that entitle them to extra pay for unsocial hours, holiday pay, and occupational pension. It is common to receive wellness contributions, staff discounts on pharmacy products, and sometimes opportunities for further education or internal skills development. Some employers also offer bonus programs linked to sales targets.

Competition and challenges

The competition for positions as a pharmacy assistant varies depending on geographic location and demand for labor in the pharmacy sector. In metropolitan areas, there are often more applicants per position, while in smaller towns, it may be easier to get employed. One of the main challenges is that the role requires high service levels, stress resilience, and the ability to handle many different tasks simultaneously. Additionally, the pharmacy sector is changing rapidly, demanding adaptability and willingness to learn new routines and products continuously. Digitalization and increased self-service options may also impact the work content for pharmacy assistants.

Tips for aspiring pharmacy assistants

To succeed as a pharmacy assistant, it is beneficial to have a genuine service mindset and be attentive to customer needs. Developing good communication skills is wise, as much of the work involves giving advice and building trust. Flexibility and stress tolerance are important since the pace is often high and tasks vary throughout the day. Showing initiative and quickly learning new products and routines are appreciated by employers. Good organizational skills help maintain order and efficiency, while meticulousness is crucial to avoid mistakes. Finally, curiosity and willingness to develop are advantageous, as the industry undergoes rapid changes and new knowledge is always in demand.

Key facts about pharmacy assistants

  • Education level: High school diploma, often in commerce, service, or healthcare
  • Work environment: Customer-focused, fast-paced, and service-oriented
  • Work forms: Full-time, part-time, and hourly employment
  • Demand: Approximately 550 job openings in 2024
  • Gender distribution: Predominantly women, with higher average salaries

Career paths and future prospects

After three to five years as a pharmacy assistant, opportunities exist to advance to roles such as pharmacy technician, team leader, or store manager within the pharmacy sector. Some choose to further their education to become a pharmacist or pharmacy doctor to take on greater responsibilities and broader tasks. The employment agency's forecasts indicate a certain recruitment need for pharmacy technicians, but due to limited statistical data, no specific assessment is made for pharmacy assistants. However, the number of job openings suggests steady demand, especially for those with customer service and sales experience. Digitalization and expanded self-care advisory services may create new tasks and development opportunities in the profession.

Frequently asked questions about pharmacy assistants

  • What is the average salary of a pharmacy assistant?
    - A pharmacy assistant has an average monthly salary of 32,400 SEK in 2024.
  • What education is required to become a pharmacy assistant?
    - High school education in commerce, service, or healthcare is most common, and employers often offer internal training.
  • Are there salary differences between men and women?
    - Yes, women earn on average 32 700 SEK per month, which is 106% of men's salary at 30 900 SEK.
  • What are the job responsibilities of a pharmacy assistant?
    - Customer service, cash handling, prescription processing, restocking, and advising on self-care products.
  • What are the future prospects for pharmacy assistants?
    - Projections are uncertain, but there are about 550 job openings in 2024.
  • What is the highest and lowest salary for a pharmacy assistant?
    - The highest salary is 33,800 SEK and the lowest 28,700 SEK per month, depending on gender and educational background.
  • Do pharmacy assistants mostly work full-time or part-time?
    - Both full-time and part-time work are common, along with hourly employment.

Richard Andersson

Richard Andersson - 2025-07-10 19:54:18

Occupation
Who has the highest salary?
The highest salary for a Pharmacy assistant is 33800 kr. This salary belongs to a woman working in the Multiple sectors with a upper secondary education, maximum 2 years. The highest salary for a man in this profession is 31200 kr.
Who has the lowest salary?
The lowest salary for a Pharmacy assistant is 28700 kr. This salary belongs to a man working in the Multiple sectors. The lowest salary for a woman in this profession is 32400 kr.
Salary distributed by age and sector
Age Women's salary as a percentage of men's Base salary Monthly salary
18-24 106% 24100 kr 28100 kr
25-34 101% 27600 kr 32100 kr
35-44 29000 kr 32600 kr
45-54 30800 kr 34400 kr
55-64 31500 kr 35300 kr
Snitt 106% 28500 kr 32400 kr
* Empty columns indicate that the statistical data was insufficient to allow for a statistically significant conclusion.
Salary per sector
Salary based on education
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About the data

All information displayed on this page is based on data from the Swedish Central Bureau of Statistics (SCB), the Swedish Tax Agency and the Swedish employment agency. Learn more about our data and data sources here.

All figures are gross salaries, meaning salaries before tax. The average salary, or mean salary, is calculated by adding up the total salary for all individuals within the profession and dividing it by the number of individuals. For specific job categories, we have also considered various criteria such as experience and education.

Profession Pharmacy assistant has the SSYK code 5227, which we use to match against the SCB database to obtain the latest salary statistics.

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