Dispensing opticians salary in South East
Full-time average annual pay in South East
£23,296
2025 · moderate suppression
Median
£23,296
Mean
£26,718
| Statistic | Annual pay (gross) |
|---|---|
| Median | £23,296 |
| Mean | £26,718 |
The pay range is withheld at region level for this role. See full methodology →
Skilled Worker visa minimum
£33,400
Employment patterns
- 64% of Dispensing opticians work full-time
- 100.0% of employees have permanent contracts
Understanding Dispensing opticians pay in South East
The typical dispensing opticians in South East earns a median salary of £23,296 in 2025/26 — 15.7% (£4,349) below the UK-wide median of £27,645. 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.
Across the UK, South East ranks 6th of 11 regions for dispensing opticians pay. Regional medians run from £13,203 in North East up to £29,850 in London, a spread of £16,647 (126%).
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £26,718. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical dispensing opticians in South East actually earns.
To see what £23,296 means after income tax and National Insurance, use the take-home pay calculator below — it also factors in student loan repayments.
Take-home pay estimate
Tax year 2025/26| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £1,941 | £23,296 |
| Income tax | £179 | £2,145 |
| National Insurance | £72 | £858 |
| Take-home pay | £1,691 | £20,293 |
Estimate only · 2025/26 HMRC rates · Standard tax code · No pension contribution · Not financial or tax advice
How Dispensing opticians 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 (current region) | £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 (current region) £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.
How dispensing opticians pay in South East has changed over time
Median annual pay for dispensing opticians in South East by year, shown against the UK-wide median (Source: ONS ASHE). The shaded band is the UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range — ONS does not publish percentile ranges at region level.
South East median
UK median
▪ UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
How the figures are sourced
Data sources: Official UK earnings data (2025 provisional)(opens in new tab)
Related roles in Health Associate Professionals
Other published roles in this occupation group. View category overview →