Dispensing opticians: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time dispensing opticians in the UK earned a median £28,543 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 27% less than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
It is in the lowest-paid third of the 382 occupations (74th from the bottom).
Median full-time pay: women £27,778 a year, men £28,910 a year.
Since 2021 it has risen 11.2%, from £25,667, slower than the 25.0% for all jobs.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30th percentile | – | – | – | – | – | £15.00 |
| 40th percentile | £27,614 | £568.50 | £15.11 | £27,163* | £524.60* | £15.24 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £28,543 | £573.00 | £15.21 | £27,645 | £542.30* | £16.01 |
| 60th percentile | £29,393 | – | – | £28,555* | £569.30 | £16.37* |
| 70th percentile | – | – | – | – | £575.30* | – |
| Mean | £29,623 | £601.00 | £15.83 | £26,069 | £502.90 | £16.54 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £25,667 | £521.70 | £13.74 | £24,736* | £482.50 | 8* |
| 2022 revised | – | £501.00* | £13.36* | £23,620* | £468.30* | – |
| 2023 revised | £26,984 | £538.60 | £14.29 | £25,619* | £517.40 | – |
| 2024 revised | £27,541 | £543.70 | £14.62 | £26,444* | £514.70 | 8* |
| 2025 provisional | £28,543 | £573.00 | £15.21 | £27,645 | £542.30* | – |
What dispensing opticians do
Dispensing opticians supply, fit and service spectacles, contact lenses and other optical aids in accordance with a prescription from an optician or optometrist. (ONS SOC 2020, 3211)
Also covers: dispensing optician, optical dispenser, ophthalmic technician, contact lens fitter and contact lens optician.
- Interprets prescription and measures patient’s face to determine distance between pupil centres, height of bridge of nose, etc.
- Advises patient on lens type and choice of spectacle frames
- Prepares detailed instructions for workshop
- Ensures that completed spectacles conform to specification and fit the patient correctly and comfortably
- Fits spectacles and advises patient on lens care and any other difficulties likely to be experienced
Entry is most common with GCSEs/S grades or equivalent qualifications or experience, followed by up to three years training approved by the General Optical Council (GOC). To practice entrants must pass professional exams and register with the GOC. Full-time, day-release or distance-learning options are available.
Related
Health associate professionals (median £30,052) · Pharmaceutical technicians · Medical and dental technicians · salary percentile · UK real pay growth · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026