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An analysis of over 200,000 locum shifts has revealed a 11.9 per cent drop in average hourly rates in England year-on-year and a 5.5 per cent reduction for the UK as a whole, with Inverness the best-paid city for locum pharmacists and London the least well-paid. 

Booking platform Locate a Locum published its findings on trends observed between June 2024 and July 2025 this morning as part of property broker Christie & Co’s annual market review, revealing that average rates have plummeted in almost every part of the UK. 

In July this year English locums were paid £30.55 an hour on average, with London-based pharmacists achieving the lowest average rate of £25.38 – a 6.6 per cent drop compared to last year and the worst rate anywhere in the UK. 

Major urban centres like Manchester (four per cent drop to £27.71), Sheffield (10.4 per cent drop to £29.08), Birmingham (3.7 per cent drop to £27.22) and Newcastle (14.4 per cent drop to £29.17) all saw reductions in the hourly average rate achieved by locum pharmacists. 

In some coastal or rural areas like Plymouth (average hourly rate of £37.51), Gloucester (£36.53) and Truro (£35.53), locums were able to command significantly higher rates.  

Looking to Scotland where the average rate fell by 9.1 per cent to £35.80, Inverness-based locums earned the highest average rate for the second year running at £44.29 an hour due to the city’s remote location, although this too represented a 6.7 per cent drop compared to last year.  

Wales had the highest average rate of the four home nations at £36.29 an hour, a 2.2 per cent fall on last year’s figure. Shifts in Swansea commanded the highest average rate of £36.51 – 10.2 per cent less than in 2024 – and shifts in Wrexham the least at £33.07, which was a drop of 11.6 per cent year-on-year. 

Northern Ireland was the only home nation to see hourly rates rise, with a 5.5 per cent increase observed there. However, the data indicates it is still the worst-paid region for locums with an average rate of £28.05 per hour.

A survey carried out by Christie & Co in July found that 35 per cent of pharmacies were relying on locum workers less than last year, while 26 per cent reported higher usage of locums and 39 per cent no change. 

Commenting on the findings, Christie & Co said: “With a combined UK average of £32.67 (a 5.5 per cent reduction) it is hoped that this will provide some respite to the employment challenges the sector has seen.” 

Locate a Locum CEO Jonathon Clarke said: “Our recent market rate analysis for 2025 indicates that the expanding need for service provision continues to influence locum rates.

“Locum rates are always a reflection of a pharmacist’s expertise and accreditations, alongside the principals of supply and demand.”

Mr Clarke added that locums play a “critical role… in providing flexibility and addressing staffing needs within the evolving pharmacy workforce”.  

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