Do optometrists earn more than opticians UK?

Yes, optometrists earn significantly more. Optometrists (who conduct eye exams and can prescribe) earn £40,000-£70,000 while dispensing opticians (who fit glasses) earn £22,000-£35,000. Optometrists require a 4-year degree plus pre-registration year, while dispensing opticians complete a 2-3 year qualification.

Can optometrists earn more in hospital or retail UK?

Hospital optometrists (NHS) earn Band 7-8a (£46,000-£60,000) with excellent pension. High street optometrists typically earn £40,000-£60,000 but can earn more through locum work or practice ownership. Locums often earn most (£55,000-£85,000) but without benefits. Practice owners can earn £80,000-£150,000+.

Is optometry a good career UK?

Optometry offers good work-life balance, strong job security, flexible working patterns, and decent earnings (£40,000-£70,000). The 4-year degree + pre-registration year is a significant investment. Demand is steady due to ageing population. However, some find high street retail pressure challenging.

How Much Do Optometrists Earn in the UK? — 2026 Salary Guide | PocketWise

Q: How much do optometrists earn in the UK 2026?

UK optometrists earn £32,000-£40,000 as newly qualified, £40,000-£55,000 with experience, £50,000-£70,000 as senior/lead optometrists, and £60,000-£90,000+ as practice owners or hospital consultants. Locum optometrists earn £30-£45/hour (£55,000-£85,000 annualised). London pays 10-15% more than regional rates.

Optometry offers a professional healthcare career with good earnings and work-life balance. Here’s the complete breakdown of what optometrists earn across different settings.

Optometrist Salary Overview (2025/26)

By Experience Level

Level	Salary Range
Pre-registration optometrist	£22,000-£28,000
Newly qualified (0-2 years)	£32,000-£42,000
Experienced (3-5 years)	£40,000-£52,000
Senior optometrist (5-10 years)	£48,000-£62,000
Lead/clinical director	£55,000-£75,000
Practice owner	£60,000-£150,000+

High Street Optometry

Major Retail Chains

Employer	Newly Qualified	Experienced
Specsavers	£32,000-£40,000	£42,000-£58,000
Boots Opticians	£34,000-£42,000	£44,000-£60,000
Vision Express	£33,000-£40,000	£42,000-£56,000
Asda Opticians	£32,000-£38,000	£40,000-£52,000
Optical Express	£35,000-£45,000	£48,000-£65,000
Bayfields	£34,000-£42,000	£44,000-£60,000

Independent Practices

Level	Salary
Newly qualified	£30,000-£38,000
Experienced	£38,000-£50,000
Senior/partner	£50,000-£70,000
Practice owner	£60,000-£120,000+

Specsavers Joint Venture Partner (JVP)

Specsavers operates a joint venture model where optometrists can become partners:

Stage	Earnings Potential
Store Director (employed)	£50,000-£70,000
JVP (part owner)	£70,000-£150,000+
Multi-store JVP	£120,000-£250,000+

Being a JVP involves buying into the practice (£10,000-£100,000+ investment) and sharing profits.

NHS/Hospital Optometry

NHS Pay Bands

Band	Role	Salary
Band 6	Hospital optometrist (new)	£37,338-£44,962
Band 7	Senior hospital optometrist	£46,148-£52,809
Band 8a	Advanced clinical practitioner	£53,755-£60,504
Band 8b	Consultant optometrist	£62,215-£72,293
Band 8c	Head of optometry	£74,290-£86,601

NHS Roles

Setting	Typical Band
Primary care eye service (PCES)	Band 7
Glaucoma monitoring	Band 7-8a
Medical retina	Band 7-8a
Paediatric optometry	Band 7
Low vision	Band 6-7

Specialist Roles

By Specialism

Specialism	Salary Range
Contact lens specialist	£42,000-£58,000
Glaucoma shared care	£45,000-£65,000
Medical retina	£48,000-£68,000
Paediatric optometry	£42,000-£60,000
Low vision	£40,000-£55,000
Myopia management	£42,000-£58,000
Independent prescriber	£50,000-£70,000

Qualifications Premium

Qualification	Salary Premium
Professional Certificate (College of Optometrists)	+£2,000-£5,000
Higher Certificate	+£3,000-£7,000
Diploma	+£5,000-£10,000
Independent prescribing	+£3,000-£8,000
Glaucoma qualification	+£3,000-£8,000

Locum Optometry

Hourly and Daily Rates

Level	Hourly Rate	Daily Rate
Newly qualified	£25-£32	£200-£260
Experienced	£30-£40	£240-£320
Senior/specialist	£38-£50	£300-£400
London	+15-25%	+15-25%

Locum Annual Earnings

Commitment	Annualised Income
Part-time (2 days/week)	£24,000-£35,000
Full-time (regular)	£55,000-£80,000
Premium/specialist	£70,000-£100,000+

Locums earn more but without pension, paid leave, or benefits.

Regional Pay Differences

Region	Newly Qualified	Experienced
Central London	£38,000-£48,000	£50,000-£68,000
Greater London	£35,000-£44,000	£46,000-£62,000
South East	£33,000-£42,000	£44,000-£58,000
South West	£32,000-£40,000	£42,000-£55,000
Midlands	£32,000-£40,000	£42,000-£54,000
North West	£31,000-£39,000	£40,000-£52,000
Yorkshire	£31,000-£38,000	£40,000-£52,000
North East	£30,000-£37,000	£38,000-£50,000
Scotland	£32,000-£40,000	£42,000-£55,000
Wales	£30,000-£38,000	£40,000-£52,000
Northern Ireland	£30,000-£36,000	£38,000-£50,000

Practice Ownership

Independent Practice Owner Earnings

Practice Size	Owner Income
Single practitioner	£60,000-£90,000
Small practice (2-3 optoms)	£80,000-£130,000
Medium practice (4-6 optoms)	£100,000-£180,000
Large/multi-site	£150,000-£300,000+

Practice Value and Investment

Factor	Typical Range
Practice purchase price	0.8-1.5x annual revenue
Average practice value	£200,000-£800,000
Ongoing investment	Equipment, staff, premises

How to Become an Optometrist

Qualification Route

Stage	Duration	Cost
MOptom degree	4 years	£9,250/year (£37,000 total)
Pre-registration year	1 year	Paid (£22,000-£28,000 salary)
GOC registration	Ongoing	~£400/year
Total training time	5 years

Entry Requirements

Requirement	Details
A-levels	AAB-ABB typically (Biology useful)
GCSE	Maths and English B/6+
Work experience	Highly recommended
DBS check	Required

Post-Qualification Development

Qualification	Duration	Cost
Professional certificates	6-12 months	£2,000-£4,000
Higher certificates	1-2 years	£3,000-£6,000
Diplomas (glaucoma, contact lens)	2-3 years	£5,000-£10,000
Independent prescribing	6-12 months	£3,000-£5,000

Pension Arrangements

NHS Optometrists

Feature	Details
Scheme	NHS Pension Scheme
Accrual	1/54 per year
Employer contribution	~20.6%
Pension age	State Pension Age

High Street/Private

Employer Type	Pension
Large chains	3-6% employer contribution
Independents	Variable (often 3% statutory)
Self-employed/locum	Personal pension (self-funded)

Pension Comparison (30-year career at £50,000 average)

Sector	Approximate Annual Pension
NHS (Band 7 average)	~£27,800
Private (5% DC)	~£15,000-£20,000 (depends on growth)

Career Progression

Stage	Years	Role	Salary
Pre-registration	Year 1	Pre-reg optom	£22,000-£28,000
Newly qualified	Years 2-4	Optometrist	£32,000-£42,000
Experienced	Years 5-8	Senior optom	£42,000-£55,000
Specialist	Years 8-12	Clinical specialist	£50,000-£65,000
Leadership	Years 10-15	Clinical director	£55,000-£75,000
Ownership	Years 10+	Practice owner	£70,000-£150,000+

Dispensing Opticians (Comparison)

Level	Salary
Trainee	£18,000-£22,000
Newly qualified DO	£22,000-£28,000
Experienced DO	£26,000-£34,000
Store manager (DO)	£32,000-£42,000
Contact lens optician	£28,000-£38,000

Summary

Role	Salary Range
Pre-registration optometrist	£22,000-£28,000
Newly qualified	£32,000-£42,000
Experienced (5+ years)	£45,000-£58,000
Senior/specialist	£52,000-£68,000
Practice owner	£70,000-£150,000+
Locum (hourly)	£30-£50/hour
NHS Band 7	£46,148-£52,809
NHS Band 8a	£53,755-£60,504