Pharmacy Industry Award 2025 Pay Rates (MA000012)
Plain-English Summary
Who does this award cover?
The Pharmacy Industry Award covers employees working in community pharmacies (chemist shops) across Australia. If you work as a pharmacy assistant, dispensary technician, retail sales assistant, or pharmacist in a community pharmacy, this award applies to you. It covers roughly 60,000 workers across independent pharmacies, pharmacy chains, and franchise pharmacies such as Priceline, Chemist Warehouse, and Terry White Chemmart.
This award does NOT cover employees in hospital pharmacies (Health Professionals Award, MA000027), employees in pharmaceutical manufacturing (Pharmaceutical Industry Award, MA000069), or employees in general retail stores that happen to sell some health products (General Retail Industry Award, MA000004). The key test is whether the business holds a pharmacy licence and its primary activity is dispensing medications and providing pharmacy services. See clause 4.1 for coverage terms.
How classification levels work
The award has five classification levels for pharmacy employees plus a separate pharmacist stream (clause 14 and Schedule A). Level 1 covers entry-level retail sales assistants with no pharmacy-specific qualifications. Level 2 covers experienced sales assistants who can operate the point-of-sale system and handle non-prescription inquiries. Level 3 covers qualified dispensary technicians (Certificate III in Community Pharmacy). Level 4 covers senior dispensary technicians and team leaders. Level 5 covers pharmacy managers (non-pharmacist) and senior coordinators. Pharmacists have their own classification and minimum rate.
Evening and weekend penalty structure
The Pharmacy Industry Award has a particularly detailed time-of-day penalty structure for weekday work. Monday to Friday penalties are broken into four time bands: 7am-8am (morning loading), 8am-7pm (ordinary hours), 7pm-9pm (evening loading), and 9pm-midnight (late evening loading). Saturday work has similar time-band splits. This granular structure means that even small shifts at different times of day can result in different penalty calculations.
Classification Levels and Base Rates
All rates effective 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission Annual Wage Review 2024-25.
Pharmacy Employees
| Level | Typical Duties (Schedule A) | Weekly Rate | Hourly Rate | Casual Rate (incl. 25% loading) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Retail sales assistant, basic customer service, stock replenishment | $939.50 | $24.73 | $30.91 |
| Level 2 | Experienced sales, POS operations, non-prescription advice | $968.60 | $25.49 | $31.86 |
| Level 3 | Dispensary technician (Cert III), prescription processing | $1,010.40 | $26.59 | $33.24 |
| Level 4 | Senior dispensary tech, team leader, stock management | $1,060.20 | $27.90 | $34.88 |
| Level 5 | Pharmacy manager (non-pharmacist), senior coordinator | $1,102.80 | $29.02 | $36.28 |
| Pharmacist | Registered pharmacist, dispensing, clinical advice | $1,186.80 | $31.23 | $39.04 |
Hourly rate = weekly rate / 38 (clause 13.1). Casual rate = hourly rate x 1.25 (clause 11.1).
Penalty Rates
All penalties are calculated on the base hourly rate (clause 26 and clause 27).
Full-Time and Part-Time Employees -- Monday to Friday
| When you work | Penalty | Level 1 example | Pharmacist example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8am to 7pm (ordinary hours) | 100% | $24.73/hr | $31.23/hr |
| 7am to 8am (morning loading) | 110% (clause 26.2) | $27.20/hr | $34.35/hr |
| 7pm to 9pm (evening loading) | 112.5% (clause 26.2) | $27.82/hr | $35.13/hr |
| 9pm to midnight (late evening) | 125% (clause 26.2) | $30.91/hr | $39.04/hr |
Full-Time and Part-Time Employees -- Weekends and Public Holidays
| When you work | Penalty | Level 1 example | Pharmacist example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 7am-8am | 125% (clause 26.3) | $30.91/hr | $39.04/hr |
| Saturday 8am-6pm | 125% (clause 26.3) | $30.91/hr | $39.04/hr |
| Saturday 6pm-9pm | 137.5% (clause 26.3) | $34.00/hr | $42.94/hr |
| Saturday 9pm-midnight | 150% (clause 26.3) | $37.10/hr | $46.85/hr |
| Sunday 7am-9pm | 150% (clause 26.4) | $37.10/hr | $46.85/hr |
| Sunday before 7am and after 9pm | 175% (clause 26.4) | $43.28/hr | $54.65/hr |
| Public holiday | 250% (clause 26.5) | $61.83/hr | $78.08/hr |
| Overtime -- Mon to Sat first 2 hours | 150% (clause 27.1) | $37.10/hr | $46.85/hr |
| Overtime -- Mon to Sat after 2 hours | 200% (clause 27.1) | $49.46/hr | $62.46/hr |
Casual Employees
| When you work | Penalty (on base rate) | Level 1 example | Pharmacist example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday to Friday 8am-7pm | 125% | $30.91/hr | $39.04/hr |
| Monday to Friday 7am-8am | 135% (clause 26.6) | $33.39/hr | $42.16/hr |
| Monday to Friday 7pm-9pm | 137.5% (clause 26.6) | $34.00/hr | $42.94/hr |
| Monday to Friday 9pm-midnight | 150% (clause 26.6) | $37.10/hr | $46.85/hr |
| Saturday 8am-6pm | 150% (clause 26.7) | $37.10/hr | $46.85/hr |
| Sunday 7am-9pm | 175% (clause 26.8) | $43.28/hr | $54.65/hr |
| Public holiday | 275% (clause 26.9) | $68.01/hr | $85.88/hr |
Casual penalty rates include the 25% casual loading. See clause 26.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Casual pharmacy assistant on a Saturday
Jade is a casual Level 1 pharmacy assistant who works a 5-hour Saturday shift (10am to 3pm).
- Base rate: $24.73/hr
- Saturday 8am-6pm casual rate: 150% = $24.73 x 1.50 = $37.10/hr
- Total for 5 hours: $185.50 gross
- Clause reference: clause 26.7
Example 2: Part-time dispensary tech working an evening shift
Amir is a part-time Level 3 dispensary technician who works 4pm to 9pm on a Thursday.
- Base rate: $26.59/hr
- 4pm to 7pm (ordinary hours): 100% = $26.59/hr x 3 = $79.77
- 7pm to 9pm (evening loading): 112.5% = $26.59 x 1.125 = $29.91/hr x 2 = $59.82
- Total for 5 hours: $139.59 gross
- Clause reference: clause 26.2
Example 3: Full-time pharmacist on a public holiday
Dr Patel is a permanent pharmacist who works a 7-hour public holiday shift.
- Base rate: $31.23/hr
- Public holiday rate: 250% = $31.23 x 2.50 = $78.08/hr
- Total for 7 hours: $546.56 gross
- Clause reference: clause 26.5
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the minimum shift length for pharmacy workers?
Casual and part-time employees must be engaged for a minimum of 2 hours per shift (clause 11.2). This is shorter than many other awards and reflects the retail nature of pharmacy operations. At the Level 1 casual rate ($30.91/hr), the minimum payment for any casual shift is $61.82 gross.
2. Why does the Pharmacy Award have so many time-band penalty rates?
Community pharmacies often trade extended hours, including early mornings, evenings, and weekends. The award uses granular time bands (7am-8am, 8am-7pm, 7pm-9pm, 9pm-midnight) to provide targeted penalty loadings for each period. This structure means employees are compensated more precisely for unsociable hours, and employers can calculate exact costs for different opening hour scenarios. See clause 26.
3. I am a qualified pharmacist. Does this award set my minimum pay?
Yes. The Pharmacy Industry Award sets the minimum pay rate for pharmacists employed in community pharmacies. Many pharmacists are paid above the award rate, but the award rate is the legal minimum. If you are paid a flat salary, it must equal or exceed the total of what you would earn under the award including all penalty rates and overtime for the hours you actually work (the Better Off Overall Test). See clause 14.
4. Can my employer roster me to work alone in the pharmacy?
Pharmacy regulations require a registered pharmacist to be present during all hours of dispensing. Non-pharmacist employees cannot be left alone to dispense medications. However, a pharmacy assistant may be rostered alone during non-dispensing hours (if permitted by state pharmacy legislation). This is a state regulatory matter, not an award condition.
5. Do I get paid more for handling Schedule 8 medications?
The award does not include a specific allowance for handling Schedule 8 (controlled) medications. However, the responsibilities associated with handling controlled substances should be reflected in your classification level. If you regularly handle S8 medications as part of your dispensary duties, you should be classified at Level 3 or above, which carries a higher base rate.
Check Your Rate
Working in a community pharmacy? Use our free calculator to check your exact pay rate.
Enter your classification level (sales assistant through pharmacist), employment type, and the specific day and time you work. The calculator handles the detailed time-band penalties, weekend rates, and evening loadings -- all with clause references so you can verify every number.
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- name: "Pharmacy Industry Award MA000012 Pay Rates July 2025"
- description: "Classification levels and hourly pay rates for community pharmacy employees including pharmacists and time-band penalty rates"
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- creator: Fair Work Commission
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Home > Awards > Pharmacy Industry Award (MA000012)
Rates current as of 1 July 2025. Source: Fair Work Commission, CC BY 4.0. This information is general in nature and is not legal advice. Always verify rates against the Fair Work Ombudsman's Pay and Conditions Tool (PACT) at calculate.fairwork.gov.au.