To produce the Rem Trends, the Guild conducts a yearly survey that utilises payroll data from a range of pharmacy banner groups and independent pharmacies. This data is deidentified and secured, it is then used to understand the market rate and average ordinary time earnings (OTE) and map these against the award rate specified in the Pharmacy Industry Award 2020 (PIA).
The Remuneration Report (also produced yearly by the Guild) serves to capture this remuneration data on a micro level.
Whilst the Rem Trends report provides a macro snapshot that is easily digestible and useful for pharmacy owners when planning their budgets and understanding their pharmacies standing in the field.
PIA pharmacist classification wage rate percentage comparison againts NMSW, CPI and WPI (2010 -2024)
PIA non-professional classification wage rate percentage comparison againts NMSW, CPI and WPI (2010 -2024)
National minimum wage increase
The recently published 4th edition of Rem Trends reflected the National Minimum Wage (NMW) increase of 3.6% in 2024, compared to the 5.6% increase in 2023. The market rate comparison to the award furthermore demonstrates that professional qualifications (Pharmacists, Experienced Pharmacists, Pharmacists in Charge, Pharmacist Managers and Pharmacy Interns) are consistently paid above award rates, whilst Pharmacy Students and Assistants are more likely to be paid at the award rate. It must be noted that the nature of the Pharmacy Assistant (PA) role is highly flexible and correspondingly a significant portion of the PA workforce are junior employees who remain enrolled in full time secondary or tertiary education therefore indicative of the lower percentage of above award rate pay, given the transient nature of this workforce.
Results from our remuneration survey see all professional pharmacist classifications paid between 23-40% above award rate. This is reflective of the highly valued nature of pharmacists by both owners and the community. Further, level 4 Pharmacy Assistants are paid, on average, 14% above award rate, reflective of the high regard to which trained Pharmacy Assistants are held in. The Rem Trends report assists in visualising how these above or at award rate percentages have changed over many years and assist in pharmacy owners planning for coming years.
The Guild’s Rem Trends report provides accurate and relevant Remuneration data that informs pharmacy owners, prospective owners and stakeholders of the current Community Pharmacy market. The yearly trends of the market may assist to inform wage decisions and/or job transiency if relevant. Please refer to the Guild’s website to access this member only resource to better inform yourself or your staff.
Expressions of interest for this year’s Remuneration Survey have just opened via the Guild’s website. Should you/your pharmacy be interested in participating in this year’s Remuneration Survey please complete this form and we will be in touch with more information. This is a great opportunity to assist in understanding the real Rem Trends of the pharmacy sector, all participants in the survey will gain access to an advanced copy of the Rem Trends report.
