SOC 2252 Health professionals

Optometrists Salary

Median salary £38,743 per year (2025). Based on ONS ASHE data.

Gross pay, before deductions. See take-home pay on £39,000 after tax and National Insurance →

For optometrists, £51,030 is the typical (median) pay. That is well above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +31% versus the national average.

About this role

Optometrists examine eyes to detect vision defects, eye diseases and abnormal conditions, prescribing corrective lenses and referring for treatment where necessary. Under the 2020 SOC revision, this code covers optometrists providing primary eye care.

Key responsibilities

Performing comprehensive eye health and vision examinations
Detecting eye diseases including glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts
Prescribing and fitting spectacles and contact lenses
Managing chronic eye conditions and co-managing with ophthalmology
Providing emergency eye care and triage

Qualifications and entry routes

Requires a GOC-approved optometry degree (MOptom, 4 years) plus a pre-registration supervised practice period. General Optical Council (GOC) registration is mandatory. Therapeutic and independent prescribing qualifications expand scope.

Career outlook

Expanding clinical role with increasing hospital eye service pressures. Independent prescribing and enhanced community services are creating more clinical career pathways.

Key skills

Clinical examination Refraction Ocular disease detection Contact lens fitting Patient management

Common industries

Community optometry
Hospital eye departments
Corporate optical retailers
Domiciliary care
Locum services

Data coverage

SOC code 2252

Data source ONS ASHE

Years available 2021–2025

Estimated jobs 14,000

Median Salary

£38,743

Mean Salary

£44,097

Jobs (000s)

14k

Data Years

5 years

Salary Range (2025)

Median: £38,743

P10: --P25: --Median: £39kP75: --P90: --

Estimated Career Progression

Based on salary percentile distribution for this occupation

Mid Level

£38,743

3-7 years

Salary Trend (2021-2025)

Adjust for inflation

Nominal growth: +11.5%Real growth: -9.9%

Full-time vs All Employees (2025)

All Employees

£38,743

Full-time Only

£51,030

Full-time premium: +£12,287

Optometrists salary: common questions

How much do optometrists earn in the UK?

Optometrists earn a median of £51,030 a year (ONS ASHE 2025).

Is £51,030 a good salary in the UK?

For optometrists, £51,030 is the typical (median) pay. That is well above the UK full-time median of £39,039 — +31% versus the national average.

Have optometrists salaries kept up with inflation?

Since 2021, median optometrists pay has risen from £42,476 to £51,030 — +20% in cash terms, or -3.0% after CPIH inflation. That is behind inflation over the period.

Figures: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, gross annual pay. UK full-time median £39,039 (2025).