Dispensing opticians salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£27,645
Employment patterns
- 64% of Dispensing opticians work full-time
- 100.0% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Dispensing opticians pay in the UK
The typical dispensing opticians in the UK earns a median salary of £27,645 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The mean (average) salary is lower, at £26,069, which is unusual: it points to a cluster of lower-paid roles dragging the average down, so the median better reflects typical pay.
Employment patterns shape these numbers too: Only 64% work full-time, so part-time and flexible roles are common in this field.
Where you work changes the picture: dispensing opticians pay ranges from £13,203 in North East up to £29,850 in London, a difference of £16,647 (126%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see dispensing opticians pay in London or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for dispensing opticians at £29,850 — 8% above the UK median. North East is lowest at £13,203.
UK median £27,645
| Region | Median payUK median £27,645 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £29,850 | £29,850 | £28,103 | +8% |
| West Midlands | £29,638 | £29,638 | £31,930 | +7% |
| South West | £27,265 | £27,265 | £25,110 | -1% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £25,402 | £25,402 | £27,139 | -8% |
| North West | £24,799 | £24,799 | £23,183 | -10% |
| South East | £23,296 | £23,296 | £26,718 | -16% |
| Scotland | £16,227 | £16,227 | £15,543 | -41% |
| Wales | £15,722 | £15,722 | £14,537 | -43% |
| East of England | £15,644 | £15,644 | £14,840 | -43% |
| East Midlands | £14,221 | £14,221 | £13,903 | -49% |
| North East | £13,203 | £13,203 | £13,927 | -52% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £29,850 | £29,850Mean £28,103 | +8% |
| West Midlands £29,638 | £29,638Mean £31,930 | +7% |
| South West £27,265 | £27,265Mean £25,110 | -1% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £25,402 | £25,402Mean £27,139 | -8% |
| North West £24,799 | £24,799Mean £23,183 | -10% |
| South East £23,296 | £23,296Mean £26,718 | -16% |
| Scotland £16,227 | £16,227Mean £15,543 | -41% |
| Wales £15,722 | £15,722Mean £14,537 | -43% |
| East of England £15,644 | £15,644Mean £14,840 | -43% |
| East Midlands £14,221 | £14,221Mean £13,903 | -49% |
| North East £13,203 | £13,203Mean £13,927 | -52% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£27,645); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local dispensing opticians pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow dispensing opticians pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for dispensing opticians by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
▪ 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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