Optometrists roles in the UK earn a median of £51,500 per year, equivalent to £25.88 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 13.2% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £48,000 in Yorkshire and The Humber to £60,000 in London. Pay has risen over the past 5 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £51,030/yr (1% above our computed national average).
Median Annual Pay
£51,500
as of 2025
High confidenceMedian Hourly Pay
£25.88
per hour
Year-on-Year Change
+13.2%
vs 2024
Annual Pay Range
£42,500 – £62,000
25th – 75th percentile
There is currently not sufficient data available for this occupation to say anything about the labour market.
Median annual pay for Optometrists across UK regions.
Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).
| Region | Median Pay |
|---|---|
| London | £60,000 |
| South West | £55,000 |
| South East | £53,500 |
| East | £52,000 |
| Scotland | £51,500 |
| North West | £49,000 |
| East Midlands | £48,500 |
| West Midlands | £48,500 |
| Wales | £48,500 |
| North East | £48,000 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £48,000 |
| UK | £51,500 |
Annual pay grew by +13.2% from 2024 to 2025.
National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot.
Annual percentage change in median pay for Optometrists.
Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.
The median salary for a Optometrists in the UK is £51,500 per year (about £25.88 per hour), based on official ONS data for 2025.
Most Optometrists earn between £42,500 and £62,000 a year (the 25th to 75th percentile of UK pay).
Optometrists pay rose by 13.2% from 2024 to 2025.
The highest median pay for Optometrists is in London, at £60,000 per year.
For job seekers
Check your salary against official UK data for Optometrists roles — broken down by region and seniority level. Free, instant, no sign-up required.
For employers & recruiters
Ophthalmic opticians test patients’ vision, diagnose defects and disorders and prescribe glasses or contact lenses as required.
Entrants require a degree in Optometry, must have passed the Professional Qualifying Examination of the General Optical Council, and have completed a pre-registration year. Advanced training in specialised areas is available.
Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.