Gender pay gap for full-time pharmacists hits 9%, government data shows
The median gender pay gap for full-time pharmacists across the UK hit 9% as of April this year, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data.
This represents a 3.8 percentage point increase on the previous year’s gender pay gap – which the ONS calculates “as the difference between average hourly earnings (excluding overtime) of men and women as a proportion of average hourly earnings (excluding overtime) of men” – for all full-time pharmacists.
According to the latest Annual Survey for Hours and Earnings (ASHE) findings, published last week (October 26), the median annual gross pay for male full-time pharmacists was £49,305 as of April, compared with £42,567 for their female colleagues.
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When broken down to the median hourly pay, male pharmacists working full time earned £23.77, compared with the £21.73 earned by their female colleagues.
However, the median gender pay gap trended in the opposite direction for part-time pharmacists. Female pharmacists working part-time earned 14.9% more than their male colleagues.
Female pharmacists represented the majority of pharmacists both in the full-time and part-time cohorts. In terms of the part-time cohort, they made up 84% of the total of part-timers or 16,000.
Information about ONS data and calculations
The ONS specified it prefers to use the median to measure average earnings, as it shows a result that is less influenced by a small number of very high earners, providing a more precise indication of typical pay.
The data – which the ONS compiled based on employer responses for a 1% sample of job, using HM Revenue and Customs Pay As You Earn (PAYE) records – does not specify the sectors in which pharmacists work.
Average pharmacist pay
The average gross median annual pay for all pharmacists – including both full and part-time employees – was £38,555, a 1.3% increase on the previous year, the data showed.
Meanwhile, the typical annual pay for those working full time stood at £44,583. This showed no variation compared to the previous year.
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Broken down to hourly pay for full-time and part-time pharmacists, the ONS data showed they were taking home £23.56, an 8.1% increase on the previous year hourly pay.
