Pay stub Pharmacy Preparer

After exploring the academic path required to become a pharmacy technician, let's discover together the average salary levels of this professional, as well as the opportunities open to him or her.

Background and importance of the pharmacy technician profession

The pharmacy assistant is the pharmacist's relay. They are an essential link in the medication chain. They distribute prescription and over-the-counter products in pharmacies. In this role, they are in direct contact with the vast majority of the population.

In this context, the studies required to become a pharmacy assistant are rigorous and certifying. Since they handle sensitive and vital materials, they need to be trained in the best possible way.

Since 2022, students no longer take the Brevet Professionnel de Préparateur en Pharmacie (BP). This has been replaced by the Diplôme d'Études Universitaires Scientifiques et Techniques de Préparateur en Pharmacie (DEUST). This change has enabled pharmacy assistants to be better trained, and to obtain a Bac +2 level (compared with +1 previously).

This DEUST is accessible after a Baccalauréat, BEP, DAEU or CAP diploma, depending on the course chosen. In addition, some training organizations require apprentices to pass a preliminary test if they do not have a scientific baccalaureate. This test covers three subjects (chemistry, biology and mathematics) and verifies the candidate's level of basic knowledge, which is crucial to successful study.

If you'd like to find out more about this subject, take a look at our pharmacy technician study sheet!

Salary scale for pharmacy assistants in 2024

As in most professions, the salary of a pharmacy technician is set in accordance with the sector's Collective Bargaining Agreement. This is set out in the salary scale below. It enables us to legislate minimum and/or decent salaries, although some pharmacy assistants may earn more, depending on negotiations and the hazards inherent in long careers:

Factors influencing salary evolution

Pharmacy assistants are not condemned to follow the salary scale. To increase their income, they have other means of action at their disposal, which they can use to good effect:

• Experience: this is the most important criterion of influence, but also the most indirect. The accumulation of years of practical experience enables pharmacy assistants to move up the salary scale, as well as the internal hierarchy. Their know-how is built up over time, making them invaluable to organizations looking to recruit.
• Level of qualification: while all pharmacy assistants are required to obtain the DEUST, some can take additional training in new pharmaceutical technologies or patient management skills, which can prove invaluable when applying for a pharmacy assistant job and negotiating a more attractive salary.
• Location : when it's time to change jobs, pharmacy assistants can boost their remuneration by moving to an under-pressure area that is actively recruiting. This will enable them to negotiate a higher salary or other benefits.
• Type of establishment: while the nature of the tasks remains essentially the same, hospital pharmacies generally offer better salaries, due to the responsibilities and demands of the job.
• Negotiation : this is a rare but valuable skill. Pharmacy assistants who know the state of the market, as well as their value in it, will be able to secure substantial pay rises.

Projections for the years ahead

The healthcare sector conceals a paradox: it is both stable and volatile. Stable, because the French will always need healthcare, but volatile, because laws are changing rapidly and technological advances are advancing. Although we have been experiencing a crisis since Covid-19, job opportunities are plentiful and working conditions are improving for practitioners.

Employmentprospects for pharmacy assistants are good. With the aging of the population and the rise in chronic diseases, demand for pharmaceutical services is set to increase. Salaries should therefore follow a moderate upward trend, of the order of a few percent a year.

In conclusion, the profession of pharmacy assistant offers attractive remuneration with interesting career prospects. Salaries vary according to experience, qualifications and geographical location, while remaining competitive with other professions in the same sector. With the advent of new technologies, this is an exciting and attractive career for young students.

Find out more about the pharmaceutical professions on our pharmacist job sheet or our pharmacist salary sheet!