New statistics released by Optician today reveal the polarisation of pay between multiples and independents - with some dispensing opticians in bigger companies found to be earning half as much as their independent counterparts.
This is one of the findings of the 2005 Optician salary survey published in a supplement inside this week's issue, which shows salary levels for optical staff have fallen across the board since 2002.
The average optical salary across all job titles, practice types and working patterns is now £34,300, nearly £2,000 lower than three years ago.
Today optometrists take home an average pay packet of £41,520, which is 3.8 per cent lower than the 2002 figure. Dispensing opticians have seen an 8.5 per cent fall in their annual salary to £26,080 over the same period.
The differences by practice type are even more marked, with the average employee salary at a multiple practice falling 14.1 per cent to £28,350 over the last three years. However, the survey indicates that this can be accounted for by the larger number of young people and women working in that sector. Both these groups, the survey shows, earn less than others.
The findings also reveal that the independent sector is the most lucrative area in which to work. An average salary is £37,110 across all job titles, while those in multiples earn an average of £28,350. Those employed by independents are, on average 39 years, and those employed by multiples have an average age of 31 years.
An optometrist working in a franchised practice is likely to earn the best salary at £44,200 followed by optometrists in independent practice earning £42,570, then multiples at £38,670.
The biggest pay gap is experienced by dispensing opticians. Our survey shows a DO in an independent practice will earn on average a salary of £30,480, while a DO in a multiple will have an average salary of £15,880.
Other trends highlighted by the survey to be found in our supplement include a lengthening of the average working week from 35 hours to 37.5 hours. This, despite a fifth of our sample survey working part time.
Regional differences are also in evidence with low income areas such as the south west, Scotland and the north east commanding higher salaries than traditional high salary areas such as Greater London and the south east.