Optometrists salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£38,743
Understanding Optometrists pay in the UK
The typical optometrists in the UK earns a median salary of £38,743 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 higher, at £44,097. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical optometrists actually takes home.
Where you work changes the picture: optometrists pay ranges from £22,447 in East of England up to £53,939 in South West, a difference of £31,492 (140%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see optometrists pay in South West or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
South West is the highest-paying region for optometrists at £53,939 — 39% above the UK median. East of England is lowest at £22,447.
UK median £38,743
| Region | Median payUK median £38,743 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South West | £53,939 | £53,939 | £54,960 | +39% |
| North West | £38,387 | £38,387 | £40,507 | -1% |
| Scotland | £38,305 | £38,305 | £41,160 | -1% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £36,081 | £36,081 | £39,296 | -7% |
| West Midlands | £35,015 | £35,015 | £35,667 | -10% |
| South East | £31,418 | £31,418 | £32,974 | -19% |
| Wales | £30,103 | £30,103 | £33,339 | -22% |
| East of England | £22,447 | £22,447 | £23,937 | -42% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| South West £53,939 | £53,939Mean £54,960 | +39% |
| North West £38,387 | £38,387Mean £40,507 | -1% |
| Scotland £38,305 | £38,305Mean £41,160 | -1% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber £36,081 | £36,081Mean £39,296 | -7% |
| West Midlands £35,015 | £35,015Mean £35,667 | -10% |
| South East £31,418 | £31,418Mean £32,974 | -19% |
| Wales £30,103 | £30,103Mean £33,339 | -22% |
| East of England £22,447 | £22,447Mean £23,937 | -42% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£38,743); ‘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 optometrists pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow optometrists pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for optometrists by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
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