How much does a locum pharmacist get paid?
The most recent large figure puts the average booked rate at £32.67 an hour across the UK, for June 2024 to July 2025. Locums report that pay has fallen since 2021, and rates vary widely by nation, region and urgency.
Check what each figure measures before using it to negotiate. Booked rates come from shifts filled on a booking platform; survey figures are what locums report. A national average may not describe the shift in front of you.
We found no reliable published average for locum pharmacists in GP practices or hospitals, so agree those rates for each booking. We do not publish our own average because we do not yet have enough bookings to support one.
| What was measured | Figure | Period and sample | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average booked hourly rate, UK | £32.67 an hour, down 5.5% on the year before. England fell most (11.9%); Northern Ireland rose 5%. | June 2024 to July 2025; over 200,000 shifts on a booking platform | Christie & Co, Pharmacy Market Review 2025 |
| Pay trend reported by locums | Average pay down 10% since 2021; 69% saw fewer or far fewer shifts than in 2024 | April 2025; survey of more than 1,300 UK locums | Pharmacists’ Defence Association, reported by The Pharmaceutical Journal |
| Lowest rates locums reported | £17 an hour in Northern Ireland, £18 in the Midlands, £19 in London | The same April 2025 survey | Pharmacists’ Defence Association, reported by Chemist+Druggist |
| Salaried NHS Band 7 pharmacist, for comparison | £49,387 to £56,515 a year (about £25 to £29 an hour) | 2026/27, from 1 April 2026 | NHS Employers pay scales |
Calculate the paid hours first
Check whether the offer is hourly, daily or on another agreed basis. For an hourly rate, confirm which hours are paid. For a day rate, agree what the day includes and how an extension will be paid.
For example, £30 an hour for eight paid hours is £240. If the eight-hour attendance period includes a 30-minute unpaid break, pay would be £225 for seven and a half hours. Both calculations are before relevant deductions or expenses. We picked £30 to keep the sums simple; it is not an advertised rate or a UK average.
Compare the work and travel as well as the rate
Check the services, staffing, workload, local systems and opening responsibilities behind each offer. Two shifts at the same rate can involve very different days. Check you have the experience and support needed before deciding whether the rate suits you.
Add travel time and predictable costs to your own comparison. A longer journey may make a higher-paying shift less attractive. Keep these personal costs separate from expenses the pharmacy has agreed to reimburse.
Agree breaks, expenses and extra hours
Ask whether breaks are paid, when they can be taken and what cover is available. Agree mileage, parking and other expenses before working, including any limit or receipt requirement.
A later finish, extra service or move to another branch can change the offer. Confirm the revised duties and payment with the authorised contact. For a block booking, list the hours for each date so a change to one day can be calculated without ambiguity.
Check who pays and when
Identify the legal organisation paying you and whether the arrangement uses payroll or invoices. Get the submission process, cut-off date, expected payment date and accounts contact before starting.
Tax status and employment-law status can differ. A role described as “locum” does not settle either one. Check the arrangement before assuming how deductions, paid leave or invoicing should work. Keep the final confirmation showing your rate, hours, dates and expenses.
Separate pharmacist pay from the booking fee
FindALocum charges the pharmacy a booking fee of £19.99 + VAT per pharmacist per day worked. Prices exclude VAT. The pharmacy contracts with and pays the pharmacist directly; registration is free for pharmacists.
For a pharmacy’s budget, add the booking fee to the pharmacist pay and expenses you agree to pay directly. Each pharmacist counts separately for each calendar day worked; a part-day attracts the same daily booking fee. Confirm the dates and full fee breakdown in the booking terms.
Common questions
What is a normal locum pharmacist hourly rate?
The most recent large figure puts the UK average booked rate at £32.67 an hour, for June 2024 to July 2025. Individual offers vary widely, so compare the paid hours, workload and expenses behind each one before deciding.
Which locum agency pays the most?
There is no reliable published comparison of what each agency or booking platform pays. The rate depends on the employer and the shift, so compare offers by hourly rate, paid hours, expenses and payment date. With FindALocum, locums pay nothing: the hirer pays you directly at the agreed rate and pays our booking fee separately.
Can a locum pharmacist earn £100,000 a year?
Some do, but it takes long hours. At £32 an hour, £100,000 before tax and expenses needs about 3,125 paid hours: around 60 hours a week for 52 weeks.
Is the FindALocum fee included in my hourly rate?
No. The pharmacy pays our £19.99 + VAT booking fee per pharmacist per day worked. It contracts with and pays you directly at the agreed rate. Registration is free.
Are breaks always paid?
Agree the arrangement for each booking. The attendance period and payable hours should be stated clearly, including any unpaid break, before you agree to the work.
Sources and further reading
Check the current official documents for the country and service where you will work.
- GOV.UK: self-employed and contractor status
- GOV.UK: employment agencies and businesses
- GOV.UK: what an invoice must include
- Christie & Co: Pharmacy Market Review 2025, locum rate data
- The Pharmaceutical Journal: PDA locum survey, May 2025
- Chemist+Druggist: lowest rates in the PDA locum survey, May 2025
- NHS Employers: Agenda for Change pay scales 2026/27
These guides cover general booking and preparation questions. Read our editorial policy. If a detail needs updating, send us a correction.