Chemical and related process operatives vs Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants Salary (2025)

How do Chemical and related process operatives and Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants salaries compare in the UK? Here is a detailed side-by-side breakdown.

Chemical and related process operatives earns £15,346 more per year (82% higher)

Chemical and related process operatives

£34,115

per year

Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants

£18,769

per year

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Chemical and related process operatives	Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants	Difference
Median Annual	£34,115	£18,769	+£15,346
Mean Annual	£36,531	£18,320	+£18,211
Monthly	£2,843	£1,564	+£1,279
Weekly	£656	£361	+£295
Hourly	£16.40	£9.02	+£7.38

Salary Range Comparison

Percentile	Chemical and related process operatives	Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants
10th (Entry)	£24,979	£5,938
25th	£28,318	£12,440
50th (Median)	£34,115	£18,769
75th	£41,389	£24,775
90th (Senior)	£0	£27,645

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more, a Chemical and related process operatives or a Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants?

A Chemical and related process operatives earns more. The median salary for a Chemical and related process operatives is £34,115, whilst a Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants earns £18,769 — a difference of £15,346 per year.

What is the salary difference between a Chemical and related process operatives and a Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants?

The difference is £15,346 per year. Chemical and related process operatives is the higher-paid role.

Should I become a Chemical and related process operatives or a Pharmacy and optical dispensing assistants?

From a salary perspective, Chemical and related process operatives offers higher median pay. However, career choice depends on many factors including interests, qualifications, work-life balance and long-term prospects.