Experienced optometrists in East Anglia earned up to £8,300 more than practitioners in other parts of the UK last year, according to a salary survey of the optical sector.
The region boasted an average salary of £53,3000 for optometrists with more than 10 years’ experience, reported headhunting firm Hunter Human Capital. The lowest average salary for experienced optometrists was £45,000 in the Central Belt of Scotland.
Jason Dunn, Client Services Manager, Hunter Human Capital said that supply and demand plays a huge part in average salary figures. ‘Experienced optometrists (10+ years PQE) and dispensing opticians (5+ years PQE) in areas of the country with low supply and huge demand have larger salaries, so these areas include the South West, South East and East Anglia.’
Salaries among the highest earners in the profession grew by 1.3 per cent compared to the prior year, but declined by the same percentage in central Scotland. Starting salaries for newly qualified also fell in Scotland and some northern regions of England. As for newly-qualified optometrists, the South West was found to have the highest average salary at £34,800, followed by East Anglia and the South East. Average optometrist starting salaries started at £28,400 in Scotland and £30,100 in Wales and the North East of England.
Meanwhile, average salaries among dispensing opticians with more than five years’ experience were highest in the South West and South East, including Greater London, rising to as much as £32,300. This compared to an average salary of £30,000 in the Midlands and around £29,000 for other parts of the UK.
This comes at a time when the number of jobs on the Optician website has been hovering around the 2,000 mark. This has also been accompanied by a surge in the search by employers for other practice staff on www.opticianjobs.net.
He said: ‘Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians should keep themselves active in the job market to drive salaries and competition in the sector. By being open minded to new opportunities throughout their career, they are open to receiving increases in earnings as well as developing new skill sets and experiences which in turn will provide them with a well-rounded CV.’ Starting salaries for dispensing opticians were lowest in the Midlands at £19,900 but rose to £22,300 in the best paid regions.
Hunter Human Capital, recommended provider of recruitment services to Sight Care members, said personal service was key to independents looking to compete against the multiples. It also warned against taking on less-than-ideal candidates. ‘Another trend we have seen in the last 12 months is the increase in the number of independent practices looking to recruit high calibre, quality focused dispensing opticians. They are looking to really grow their businesses following the recession by differentiating themselves even more from the multiples with real quality high calibre DO’s.’ said Dunn.
‘A practice team is only as strong as its weakest member,’ the salary survey said. ‘Having a single weak link inevitably impacts on customer service and conversion rates and puts pressure on other team members.’ Hunter Human Capital estimated that at any one time just 5 per cent of optometry staff were looking for new roles. In addition, jobseekers were more likely to be poorly performing employees, making the recruitment of high calibre optometry staff a hard task.
All figures in the salary survey were based on working a 37.5 hour week and included basic salary, location allowance, mobile allowance and any bonuses. The data did not include locums, directors of partners of any optical firms. Optometrists and dispensing opticians were also asked about the benefits they received as part of their role and potential reasons for looking to change their job.
Eighty two per cent of optometrists had their professional fees paid, compared to 74 per cent of dispensing opticians. Optometrists also had training courses paid for in 41 per cent of cases – compared to 35 per cent of dispensing opticians. In each profession remuneration packages were the main reason to change job, followed by location. Job security was a more important factor for optometrists than dispensing opticians, Hunter Human Capital found.
For the full survey go to the Hunter website www.hhcuk.com.