A Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Laboratory Technician is responsible for carrying out various tasks related to the production and testing of pharmaceutical drugs in a manufacturing site.
Their main duties include:
Overall, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Laboratory Technicians play a critical role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of pharmaceutical drugs by conducting various tests and analyses to ensure that they meet quality standards.
A Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Laboratory Technician is involved in analysing pharmaceutical drugs, ensuring all regulations and standards are complied with. The focus of the role is on meeting all protocols to allow the drug to be distributed to the public.
Different pharmaceutical manufacturing sites may vary, however, the main responsibilities are:
As a Pharmaceutical Laboratory Technician you will need to:
The typical starting salary for a Pharmaceutical Laboratory Technician can vary depending on the drug being tested or the industry location.
The salary can range from £17500 to £19000 depending on qualifications.
As a Pharmaceutical Laboratory Technician becomes more experienced they can earn £22000 to £28000.
As a Pharmaceutical Laboratory Technician develops into more supervisory or management roles the salaries can increase to £30000 to £40000.
A Pharmaceutical Laboratory Technician normally works 9.00am – 5.00pm Monday to Friday, and usually 37 hours per week.
Some pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities however may work 24/7 and therefore may require more flexible working to ensure compliance with production regulations.
An example of when extra hours may have needed to be worked is during COVID when vaccinations were being produced in great quantities in short time periods.
Experience is always valued when applying for any job, as it gives the employer an indication that you are familiar with laboratory procedures. It also shows that you already have an interest in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.
Work experience can be difficult to gain, however many of the larger pharmaceutical manufacturers provide summer schools or work experience. Work experience can also be gained through placement years through your degree, this can be an ideal opportunity to gain an understanding of working life in a laboratory.
You can also work shadow to gain an insight into the production process, you should contact organisations directly to arrange this.
Pharmaceutical Laboratory Technicians will be working in a laboratory in a sterile environment and will have to wear protective clothing in line with the requirements needed for the safe production of different types of pharmaceutical drug.
Strict quality procedures must be followed and all safety standards relevant to the to the workplace must be met. You may be working with hazardous chemicals, fumes and toxic waste, therefore it is important that health and safety procedures are followed at all times.
You will use technical equipment to follow specific scientific methodologies to complete tasks.
Much training can be done with supervision from Senior members of staff.
This will include training on specific tasks and technical equipment.
There are awards that can be achieved and worked towards, such as the Registered Science Technician Award through IST, which recognises a Laboratory Technician’s knowledge, experience and professionalism.
A Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Laboratory Technician’s career progression could progress as follows:
As a Laboratory Technician progresses and assumes more responsibility and begins to supervise a team, more time is likely to be spent in an office environment and less in a laboratory.
There are many different routes an individual can take to become a Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Laboratory Technician in the UK.
