Pharmacy Technician Salary: Where It Sits on the Australian Salary Index
Pharmacy technician salary in Australia: award rates, employment data, and how it compares to the national salary index. Learn about pay scales and career outlook.
The median pharmacy technician salary is not published by the ABS, but award rates for pharmacy assistants suggest an index around 50–55, well below the national line of 100.
Pharmacy Technician Salary: Where It Sits on the Australian Salary Index
If you're looking up a pharmacy technician salary in Australia, you might expect a clear figure from official sources. The reality is more complicated. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) does not publish median weekly earnings for pharmacy technicians as a separate occupation. That means we have to rely on award rates and employment data to estimate where this role sits on the national salary index.
What the data tells us
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, there were about 6,900 pharmacy technicians employed at the 2021 Census. The workforce is overwhelmingly female (88%), with a median age of 37. Only 52% work full-time, and those who do average 40 hours per week – four hours less than the all-occupations average. The industries employing most pharmacy technicians are Retail Trade and Health Care and Social Assistance.
Crucially, the ABS does not provide median weekly earnings for this 6-digit ANZSCO occupation. So we cannot give a precise pharmacy technician salary figure. Instead, we look to the Pharmacy Industry Award 2020 (MA000012) from the Fair Work Ombudsman for minimum rates.
Award rates as a guide
The award covers pharmacy assistants and pharmacists, but not a separate 'pharmacy technician' classification. In practice, many pharmacy technicians are classified as pharmacy assistants. As of July 2026, the minimum hourly rates are:
- Pharmacy assistant Level 1: $27.81 per hour ($1,056.80 per week)
- Pharmacy assistant Level 2: $28.45 per hour ($1,081.00 per week)
- Pharmacy assistant Level 3: $29.45 per hour ($1,119.10 per week)
- Pharmacy assistant Level 4: $30.66 per hour ($1,165.10 per week)
A full-time pharmacy assistant at Level 1 earns about $54,954 per year. On the Salary Index, where 100 equals the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352, that gives an index of about 51. That's well below the national line. Even at Level 4, the annualised salary is around $60,585, an index of 56.
Compare that to a pharmacist under the same award: a Pharmacist (non-experienced) earns $41.74 per hour, or $82,488 per year (index 76). An Experienced Pharmacist earns $45.72 per hour, annualised $90,374 (index 83).
Where the salary index helps
The salary index is a simple way to see how a pay rate compares to the Australian average. For a pharmacy technician salary, if you are paid as a pharmacy assistant Level 1, your index is around 51. That means your earnings are about half the national full-time ordinary-time benchmark. If you are classified higher or work in a different industry, your index may differ.
For example, the Health Care and Social Assistance industry index is 97.8, while Retail Trade is 75.9. Pharmacy technicians in hospitals or private health care may earn more than those in retail pharmacies, but without published median earnings we cannot confirm.
Superannuation and tax considerations
Employers must pay superannuation guarantee of 12% on top of your ordinary-time earnings (from 1 July 2026). For a pharmacy assistant earning $55,000, that adds $6,600 to your super account each year. Your take-home pay after tax (2026–27 rates, including 2% Medicare levy) on $55,000 would be roughly $44,200, assuming no other deductions. A pharmacist on $82,500 would take home about $63,700.
State differences
Your pharmacy technician salary can also vary by state. The states page shows that Western Australia has an index of 106.9 (above national average), while Tasmania is 88.6. Award rates are national, but enterprise agreements or market pressures may lift pay in higher-cost states.
Career progression
If you're starting as a pharmacy technician, moving up the award levels or becoming a pharmacist can significantly boost your index. A pharmacist manager under the award earns $52.15 per hour, annualised $103,248 – an index of 95, close to the national line. Further study or specialisation (e.g., in hospital pharmacy) can push earnings even higher.
The bottom line
A precise pharmacy technician salary is not available from official sources, but award rates for pharmacy assistants give a reasonable estimate of $55,000 to $61,000 per year for full-time work. That places the role at an index of 51–56, well below the national average. For a more accurate picture, check your specific award classification and consider industry and location. Use the pay guides from Fair Work Ombudsman to confirm your minimum entitlements.
Questions people ask
What is the salary index and how is it calculated?
The Salary Index compares a worker's annual gross earnings to the national benchmark of full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, which is $108,352 per year (index 100). Your index is your annual salary divided by $108,352, multiplied by 100. For example, a salary of $55,000 gives an index of about 51. The index helps you see where your pay sits relative to the Australian average.
Does the Pharmacy Industry Award cover pharmacy technicians?
The Pharmacy Industry Award 2020 (MA000012) does not have a specific classification for 'pharmacy technician'. However, many pharmacy technicians are employed under the 'pharmacy assistant' levels (1–4) or, if they hold a pharmacy degree, as a pharmacist. The award sets minimum rates, but actual classification depends on duties and qualifications. Check with your employer or the Fair Work Ombudsman for your correct classification.
How can pharmacy technicians increase their earnings?
Pharmacy technicians can move up the award classification by gaining experience or completing further training. For example, a pharmacy assistant Level 4 earns about $30.66 per hour, compared to $27.81 at Level 1. Alternatively, becoming a pharmacist (requiring a university degree) leads to much higher award rates, starting at $41.74 per hour. Working in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry may also offer higher pay than retail.