London pay continues to lag behind average

Optical salaries fell slightly last year according to the latest Optician salary survey with pay packets in the capital continuing to lag behind most regions.

Basic average salaries among optometrists, contact lens opticians and dispensing opticians fell by 2.7 per cent to £36,166 last year, according to the survey, but wide variations remain. Salary rates were studied as part of a workplace questionnaire completed by over 700 optical professionals drawn from around the UK. This showed that salaries continue to mark time with the headline 2012 figure on a par with earnings in 2006.

The results of the Optician survey into a range of workplace issues was sponsored by Specsavers and conducted in April. The findings of the survey showed that on average the South West of England offers the best salaries (£38,256) closely followed by Scotland (£37,366) and the North West (£37,160).

Salaries in Greater London are lower than the national average, at £34,634, as are those in the Midlands (£34,278), Yorkshire & Humberside (£35,204) and East Anglia (£33,255).

Optometrists continue to command the highest earnings (£42,500) followed by CLOs on £28,171 and DOs on £25,344. However, the difference in pay when calculated against the type of practice in which people work is less marked. The average salary for those working in independents is £36,577; this falls to £35,339 for franchises and £34,184 for multiples.

The most significant difference was seen between men and women working part time. The normalised figure was £42,558 for men and £34,004 for women. The difference between the sexes in full-time employment was less distinct.