Pharmacy assistant job description
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed pharmacy assistants about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed pharmacy assistants about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Intellectual
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Physical
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Cooperative
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Tasks and responsibilities for a pharmacy assistant
Pharmacy assistant duties and responsibilities can include:
- Opening and close the pharmacy
- Setting up retail areas and stocking shelves in retail pharmacies
- Serving customers and handling sales transactions
- Providing basic health and beauty advice
- Demonstrating and selling products and over-the-counter medicines
- Referring to pharmacist for assistance with health advice out of your remit
- Assisting in the pharmacy dispensary and with prescription medication administration processes
Reasons to choose this job
Based on our career survey data, these are the factors that workers said were most important to them when choosing this job.
Respected
Roles in pharmacy are highly respected and trusted within society. Rightfully so — you’re working with the medications people rely on to improve their lives. You’re also a kind face and comforting person to talk to, which is so important when people come in feeling scared or frustrated by their conditions.
Makes a difference
Working as a pharmacy assistant allows you to help the general public every day. From giving allergy advice and handling prescription administration to recommending nail polish, you can answer most customer questions — and, hopefully, put a smile on their face.
Learning opportunities
A job in a pharmacy offers an abundance of valuable learning experiences. Working in a team with a pharmacist gives you insight into the healthcare system. It could even spark a desire to become a pharmacy technician or pharmacist.
Job satisfaction
Overall job satisfaction
This overall score combines the critical factors in job satisfaction. It includes fulfilment, stress levels, and opportunities for advancement, based on our career survey data.
Stress level
How stressful workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Fulfilment
How personally rewarding workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Skill level
The skill level required to do this job is based on both our career survey data and official data from the Labour Market Information Portal.
Job market trends for a pharmacy assistant
Pharmacist assistant jobs are plentiful and look to stay that way.
Economic, demographic and social trends support the pharmacy industry, which reports say is set to remain stable and reach approximately 40,000 workers by 2025. Other key factors include the ageing population and increasing health consciousness.
This role is mainly performed part-time and can easily accommodate other study or family responsibilities.
Median salary
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Projected job growth
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Pathway options
Job pathways are drawn from the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways site.
A role as a pharmacy assistant could be a great entry point and open you up to further career opportunities once you have some experience. There are excellent resources on career pathways and training programs on the Pharmacy Guild of Australia‘s website.
Future career options:
Junior
-
Pharmacy assistant
Most common qualification: Certificate II in Community Pharmacy (SIR20116)
-
Pharmacy sales assistant
Most common qualification: Certificate II in Community Pharmacy (SIR20116)
-
Pharmacy technician
Most common qualification: Certificate II in Community Pharmacy (SIR20116)
Mid
-
Dispensary technician
Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Community Pharmacy Dispensary (SIR40216)
-
Pharmaceutical production leading hand
Most common qualification: Certificate III in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (FBP30818)
Senior
-
Pharmacy manager
Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Community Pharmacy (SIR40116)
-
Pharmaceutical production supervisor
Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (FBP40518)
Skills you might already have
Based on our career survey data, the soft skills that workers said were most needed to do their job well.
Skills that make a pharmacy assistant good at their job can often come naturally or through prior employment or other life experiences.
These skills may include:
Empathy
To work with the public in an assisting and advice-giving role requires kindness and patience. Customers with medical issues may be anxious or embarrassed. Quite often, older people or people with disabilities need the most assistance. Customers need a pharmacy assistant to put them at ease and make them feel comfortable enough to communicate what they need.
Active listening
People go to the pharmacy for a vast range of reasons. Often a customer won’t know what they need — listen actively and think logically to establish their requirements. You may, on occasion, deal with people with mental health conditions who need a particular level of service in your workplace.
Teamwork
Working in a pharmacy means working in a team with other assistants, managers and pharmacists. It is crucial to use good communication skills, mutual respect, and knowledge that doing your job well impacts the others around you in any team environment.
Hard skills
The job-specific skills that workers said were most important, supplemented with data from JobOutlook and online job advertisements.
You need some background knowledge and specific skills in this area to provide excellent service in a pharmacy. Learn these skills by studying a training course through a TAFE or recognised training organisation (RTO).
Some of the skills required are:
Health knowledge
When giving basic health advice, it is crucial to have a broad knowledge of any conditions or treatments required.
Pharmacy infection control practices
Working in a pharmacy can mean being exposed to infectious illnesses. You must have a knowledge of health policies within the organisation to ensure infection control is effective.
Retail operations
A pharmacy is both a healthcare and a retail provider. Skills in retail operations are needed to provide good service to customers.
Beauty and health product knowledge
Basic but broad knowledge of healthcare and beauty products is essential to ensure you provide the correct advice to any customers you serve.
Workplace health and safety
It is important to know health and safety requirements and procedures to ensure a safe work environment.
First aid
First aid skills are crucial to working in a pharmacy. The customers who come in may have more health care needs than most, so you must be prepared to provide first aid care on the spot.
Assisting with prescriptions
While working with a pharmacist, you may be required to handle the initial administration side of the service and deal with the customers. This support can also involve asking health questions and checking that customers know how and when to take medications.
How to become a pharmacy assistant
-
Study
Studying an accredited certificate qualification in community pharmacy services through a TAFE or registered training organisation gives you the skills you need to work in a pharmacy setting, provide basic medical advice and could open you up to more job opportunities.
-
Get some work experience
Once you have some training under your belt, applying for and working in an entry-level pharmacy assistant position gives you valuable on-the-job training and experience. Work experience could also lead to senior positions in the pharmacy.
Explore related qualifications
Certificate II in Community Pharmacy
This qualification provides learners with skills to work as pharmacy assistants and use a limited range of customer services skills in the organisation. This course focuses more on the retail side of the business. Other team members tackle any more complex or health-related inquiries.
You can take this course on-campus, online or as a traineeship in the workplace. Study usually takes one year, can be part-time or full-time. Eligible students may receive a government-funded subsidy.
1 providers offer this course
Certificate III in Community Pharmacy
This qualification provides the skills and knowledge to work as a pharmacy assistant who uses a well-developed range of services to meet customer needs. They have a broader understanding of all areas in the pharmacy, including products and health care support services. These pharmacy assistants work with more independence but ultimately are under the supervision of a pharmacist and may be involved in a limited range of dispensary assistant activities.
The delivery of this course can be on campus, online or completed as a traineeship in the workplace. The average duration of this course is nine months, can be part-time or full-time, and eligible students may receive a government-funded subsidy.
*All Pharmacy assistants must comply with federal, state or territory law and Pharmacy Board of Australia Guidelines for supplying scheduled medicines.
1 providers offer this course
Related subjects
A role in assisting people in finding what they need, or caring for their health, is not limited to the pharmacy. Plenty of other industries that help people are singing out for more enthusiastic workers and team players.
Some other subjects to explore:
Reviews
How we collect reviews
Reviews are from Australian workers with this job title or a very closely related one.
Is this your job title?
Share your thoughts and help people decide if this job is right for them.
How we collect reviews
Reviews are from Australian workers with this job title or a very closely related one.
Is this your job title?
Share your thoughts and help people decide if this job is right for them.
- All
- Positive
- Negative
Jenny
Sep 05 2021Get to talk to people.
What are the best parts of the job?
Communicating actively with people and forming new bonds and friendship with both colleagues and customers.
What's the most challenging part?
The job consists of long hours where I am always standing, which can be physically tolling.
Anika
Sep 05 2021Flexible but also long hours.
What are the best parts of the job?
Being a pharmacy assistant is a great role that offers a lot of flexibility such as the days you work.
What's the most challenging part?
There isn't enough staff to cover the amount of hours at my pharmacy. All of my shifts consist of long hours and I do overtime almost every week.
Kelly
Sep 05 2021I like helping customers who appreciate me doing so.
What are the best parts of the job?
Customers that are appreciative of my help is the best part of my job.
What's the most challenging part?
Being in a tight situation and not knowing what to do. You need to be able to problem solve and think quickly.
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Job cluster: The Carer
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
Roles that involve active listening and assisting people in a pharmacy assistant role is best suited to the career personality of The Carer.
The Carer loves to help others, works well as part of a team and employs a human-centric approach to any work they do.
Take the Career Quiz to discover what jobs are a great fit for you.
Frequently asked questions
Is pharmacy assistant a good job?
If you like being around people, have an interest in health and beauty products and want to work in an active environment, a job as a pharmacy assistant is the perfect role.
Are pharmacy assistants in demand
The pharmacy industry has a prediction of stable job growth for the next five years.
What skills do you need to be a pharmacy assistant?
To be a pharmacy assistant, you need excellent customer service skills, good attention to detail and broad knowledge of basic healthcare and beauty.
How much does a pharmacy assistant earn?
The average salary for a pharmacy assistant in Australia is $45,500 per year.
What makes a good pharmacy assistant?
A good pharmacy assistant has skills in customer service and adequate product and basic healthcare knowledge. They are patient, empathetic and have a desire to help others.