Pharmaceutical technicians SOC 3212
Pharmaceutical technicians (SOC 3212) qualifies for UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Your employer must pay at least the going rate of £33,400 per year. It is also on the Immigration Salary List, which can reduce the salary threshold. Scroll down for salary benchmarks, the visa rules, and live jobs from licensed sponsors.
What does a pharmaceutical technician do?
Pharmaceutical technicians work in hospitals or in the community and assist pharmacists in the preparation and dispensing of drugs and medicines.
Typical tasks
- checks received prescriptions for legality and accuracy
- prepares drugs and medicines under the supervision of pharmacist
- prepares specialised, tailor-made drugs for intravenous administration by hospital medical staff
- labels and checks items prior to dispensing
- maintains records of prescriptions received and drugs issued
- advises patients or customers on the use of drugs prescribed or medication purchased over the counter
- checks stock levels, orders new stock from pharmaceutical companies and ensures that drugs are stored appropriately
Typical entry routes and qualifications
Entrants to training usually possess GCSEs/S grades or the equivalent. Training is typically a combination of practical experience and study at a college or by open learning towards vocational qualifications. An approved competency and an approved knowledge based qualification and two years’ experience is required to register as a pharmacy technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
Visa sponsorship requirements
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
What pharmaceutical technicians earn in the UK
UK market basic pay at a glance
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most pharmaceutical technicians in the UK earn between £26,572 and £36,348 in basic pay. For Skilled Worker visa holders, the minimum salary (going rate) for this role is £33,400 (SOC 3212), sitting at the 61st percentile of what UK employers pay and £2,304 above the median. Since this falls below the general salary threshold, sponsors must pay at least £41,700.
All figures are before tax. Calculate your take-home pay.
How to get sponsored as a pharmaceutical technician
- 1
Find a licensed sponsor on Hunt UK Visa Sponsors
Browse our register of UK companies with an active sponsor licence. Filter by industry, size, sponsor rating, and whether they're currently hiring pharmaceutical technicians, so you only apply where a visa is actually on the table.
Browse licensed sponsors - 2
Confirm the salary meets the £33,400 going rate
Your employer must pay whichever is higher: the going rate for SOC 3212 (£33,400) or the general Skilled Worker threshold of £41,700 per year.
New entrants and ISL roles may qualify for a lower rate. See the New entrant & discount rates section below.
- 3
Receive a Certificate of Sponsorship
Your sponsor issues a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), a reference number the Home Office uses to check the job offer, salary, and duties line up with an eligible SOC code.
- 4
Apply for a Skilled Worker visa at gov.uk
Submit the Skilled Worker visa application online within 3 months of your CoS assignment date. You'll also book a biometric appointment and pay the immigration health surcharge.
Apply on gov.uk - 5
Move to the UK and start work
Travel to the UK before your CoS start date and begin working for the sponsor named on the certificate.
New entrant & discount rates
If you're under 26, switching from a Student visa, or a recent UK graduate, your employer can pay the new entrant rate of £25,000 (70% of the going rate) for up to four years.
Because Pharmaceutical technicians (SOC 3212) is on the Immigration Salary List, employers may apply a 20% discount to the standard going rate.
Roles under SOC 3212
Recent jobs under SOC 3212
A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic Medicines Optimisation Pharmacy Technician to join our pharmacy team at Central & North West London NHS Foundation Trust based in Inner London Services. We are looking for somebody with a friendly demeanour and excellent interpersonal skills. We provide high quality support to our patients and are looking for a motivated, flexible and forward-thinking Pharmacy technician. This post offers you the opportunity to progress your car
Are you a motivated Pharmacy Technician looking to develop your career in medicines optimisation and patient safety? Join our friendly and supportive Medicines Management team, where you will play an important role in helping ensure medicines are used safely and effectively across our community services. Were looking for someone who is organised, proactive, and enjoys working collaboratively, with the confidence to manage their workload and contribute to a positive team environment. In return, y
Are you ready to develop your career in a fast-paced and rewarding clinical environment? We are expanding our team and are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Pharmacy Technician to join our dedicated Emergency Department (ED) team at Frimley Park Hospital. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering high-quality medicines management within a dynamic acute setting. Our Pharmacy Department is forward-thinking and progressive, committed to providing a modern, patient-focu
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the West Neighbourhood at Northumbria Primary Care for a Band 4 Annex 20 Pharmacy Technician position, offering an excellent development opportunity for candidates who have not yet completed the CPPE training to build their skills and progress within the role. The successful candidate will contribute to the delivery of a comprehensive primary care medicines management system acting on current best practice. The Pharmacy Technician will be required to und
Job Overview This post is a fixed term contract/secondment starting 14/09/2026 and ending 13/09/2028 due to funding . If you are a Hywel Dda University Health Board employee and are applying for this post as a secondment, agreement for the secondment is needed from your current manager prior to application. The training post provides the opportunity to gain the required experience and qualification(s) needed to register as a pharmacy technician with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Dur
Frequently asked questions
Can pharmaceutical technicians get a UK Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. Pharmaceutical technicians roles fall under SOC 3212 (Medium Skilled), so they qualify for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Your employer will need a sponsor licence and must pay at least the going rate for this occupation. It's on the Immigration Salary List too, so a reduced salary threshold may apply.
What salary do pharmaceutical technicians need for visa sponsorship?
The going rate for Pharmaceutical technicians (SOC 3212) is £33,400 (£17.13 per hour). Immigration salary list rate applies. Your employer must pay whichever is higher: this going rate or the general Skilled Worker threshold of £41,700 per year.
What job titles are covered by SOC 3212?
SOC 3212 covers a range of pharmaceutical technicians roles, including: Pharmaceutical technicians. Keep in mind that the Home Office matches jobs by duties rather than title alone. Two roles with the same title can fall under different SOC codes depending on the actual work involved.
How does the Immigration Salary List discount work for pharmaceutical technicians?
Because Pharmaceutical technicians (SOC 3212) is on the Immigration Salary List, employers can sponsor workers at a salary 20% below the standard going rate. This discount replaced the old Shortage Occupation List concession in April 2024.
Is there a lower salary for new graduates entering pharmaceutical technicians roles?
Yes. If you're under 26, a recent graduate, or switching from a Student visa, you count as a "new entrant" and your employer only needs to pay 70% of the going rate (with an absolute floor of £33,400/year — the new-entrant minimum cannot go below that). For Pharmaceutical technicians, that works out to £25,000. The discount lasts up to four years.
Where can I find pharmaceutical technicians jobs with UK visa sponsorship?
We list Pharmaceutical technicians roles from companies with a Home Office sponsor licence. Scroll down to see what's currently open, or search our full jobs database for more visa-sponsored positions across the UK.
This information is provided as guidance only and should not be treated as legal advice. Eligibility criteria and salary thresholds are based on the latest published government data. Always verify with the official UK government guidance or seek professional immigration advice.