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.

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

Complete guide to optometrist salaries in the UK for 2026. High street vs hospital, newly qualified to practice owner, locum rates, specialist roles, pension, and career progression.

By PocketWise · 26 March 2026 · 3 min read

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