Optometry is in a quiet recruitment crisis: the GOC's latest business survey found roughly a quarter of practices found it 'very challenging' to recruit optometrists in the past year, and the profession is forecast to be around 2,000 practitioners short by 2030. That's pushing pay — especially locum rates — upward. Here's what to budget in 2026.
What optometrists earn in 2026
£25k–£30k
Newly qualified
£40k–£55k
Typical private practice
£50k+
10+ years / specialist
~£295/day
Average locum day rate
Headline averages vary widely by source (from roughly £40,000 to over £60,000) because high-street, private hospital and independent practices all set their own scales. In private practice specifically, £40,000–£55,000 is the realistic band for a qualified optometrist.
Salary by experience
| Experience | Typical salary (2026) |
|---|---|
| Newly qualified | £25,000 – £30,000 |
| 2–5 years | £35,000 – £45,000 |
| 5–10 years | £42,000 – £55,000 |
| 10+ years / specialist (IP, etc.) | £50,000 – £65,000+ |
Locum rates are the pressure point
Locum optometrists average around £295 a day (roughly £30/hour), with flexible locums commanding £250–£300+ — and higher in hard-to-staff areas. Annualised, a busy locum can clear £55,000–£58,000. When a permanent chair sits empty, locum cover is what fills it — fast and expensively.
What else affects pay
- Independent prescribing (IP) and specialist accreditations command a premium.
- Location — London and under-served regions both pay above average, for different reasons.
- Practice type — independents often flex on package where chains flex on base.
- Testing-time and clinical autonomy increasingly matter as much as salary.
Before you make an offer
Check the candidate is on the GOC register (annual re-registration deadline is 15 March). On The Practice Standard, GOC registration is verified before a candidate reaches you.
How to hire one — without agency fees
With demand outstripping supply, the practices that win reach registered optometrists directly and move quickly. An agency charges a percentage of salary for the introduction; a verified board reaches the same candidates for a flat fee and filters out the unregistered noise.
Hire a verified optometrist
Figures drawn from 2026 UK market data (PayScale, Glassdoor, Reed, Indeed, Globe Locums and GOC survey data); ranges vary by region and practice type.