Most pharmacists end up doing both at some point — a few years permanent, then locum, then back. The choice depends on what is most valuable to you right now.
Pay
Locums earn more per hour. A locum pharmacist in 2026 typically clears £30–£42 per hour in community pharmacy, with bank holiday and short-notice premiums on top. Permanent pharmacists usually earn between £45,000 and £60,000 a year as employed managers, which works out lower per hour but includes paid annual leave, sick pay and pension contributions.
The right comparison is total annual income, not the headline rate. A locum at £36/hr working 200 days at 9 hours earns £64,800 gross — competitive, but with no paid holiday, no employer pension, and self-assessment overhead.
Flexibility
Locum work is the clear winner here. You set your availability, choose your branches, and decline anything that does not work. Permanent roles trade flexibility for stability — fixed days, fixed rota, but a known income and team.
Variety
Locuming exposes you to many ways of running a pharmacy. You see different SOPs, different team cultures, different patient populations. Some pharmacists thrive on that; others find the constant context-switching tiring.
Progression
Permanent roles offer clearer ladders: pharmacist → manager → area manager → superintendent. As a locum, progression is sideways: more advanced clinical services, prescriber qualifications, becoming the trusted locum a small chain calls first. Both work — they just look different.
Indemnity and admin
Locums need their own professional indemnity (typically £100–£300 a year), self-employed registration, and a sensible record of every shift for tax. Permanent staff get indemnity through the employer.
How to decide
If you value certainty and team belonging, take a permanent role. If you value control over your time and want to see what good pharmacy practice looks like in many places, locum for a year or two. Most people benefit from doing both at some point in their career.
