Eligible pharmacists working at retailer Boots will receive a 4% pay rise from 1 November.
The Pharmacists’ Defence Association (PDA) and Boots agreed on the increase as part of their 2025 pay talks.
All qualified pharmacists who have worked at Boots for over 10 years will now be paid at least £55,650 per year on a full-time, 40 hours per week, equivalent (FTE) basis, while the minimum annual salary for pharmacist store managers will increase to £57,200 FTE for small stores, £60,000 for medium-sized stores and £65,000 for large stores. One-year qualified pharmacists will also receive a minimum salary of £43,520 FTE per annum.
Those below any new minimum pay thresholds following the 4% pay rise will see a further increase to their wages to reach the threshold.
Staff will be ineligible if they have joined or had a pay increase on or since 1 August, were rated as not performing, or are a trainee pharmacist. Pharmacists and pharmacist store managers are eligible for the pay awards if they are qualified members of the bargaining unit employed on 1 November and are not in their notice period.
Eligible designated prescribing practitioners (DPPs) supporting pharmacists to become independent prescribers (IPs) will receive an honorarium of £300 non-consolidated payment for each IP supervised, paid once sign-off is completed.
The pay deal additionally includes increasing the short notice payments provision and eligibility from £100 to £120, with an agreement to implement a six-month trial in region one to test and review an alternative set of principles following pharmacist feedback.
Gordon Finlayson, national representative on behalf of the negotiating team, said: “For 2025, a basic increase of 4% with additional increases to those who still have not reached the new agreed minimums, introduction of a new allowance for DPP supervision, 20% increase to the short notice allowance with a review of the eligibility criteria and establishment of reasonable travel principles for relief pharmacists adds up to another positive deal for Boots pharmacists.
“It compares well against the 3% increase given to other employees with November review and to the 3.6% increase given to most professional peers in the NHS this year.”
Boots was contacted for comment prior to publication.
