Independents and franchises pay best

Franchise and independent practices continue to offer the highest salaries with dispensing opticians at multiples earning on average half as much as those working at franchise practices, according to latest statistics.

Optician's 2006 online salary survey, with almost 800 respondents, revealed that on average dispensing opticians working at franchise practices earn £42,560 compared to just £22,970 at multiples and £28,100 at independents, although this could be influenced by a small dispensing optician sample.

Optometrists working at independents earn £41,700 and at franchise practices they earn £41,230, but those working for multiples earn £36,750.

Overall salary levels across all job titles, practice types and working patterns rose by around £2,000 from £34,300 reported in last year's salary survey (News, December 9, 2005) to £36,040.