NHS Optometrist salary, 2026/27
NHS optometrists work in hospital eye services, providing specialist eye examinations, contact lens fitting and clinical decision-making for complex eye conditions. The role requires a three-year optometry degree, the General Optical Council pre-registration year and GOC registration. Most hospital optometrists sit at Band 7, with consultant optometrists at Band 8a.
- Range (England)
- £49,387 to £64,750
- Typical bands
- Band 7, Band 8a
- Hourly entry
- £25.26
- Hourly top
- £33.11
Optometrist pay by band, England 2026/27
The table below shows the entry and top step at each band Optometrists are typically paid on. Most Optometrists move through the bands over the course of their career as they take on more senior or specialist responsibilities.
Optometrist salary after tax, 2026/27
The figures below show Optometrist take-home pay — the cash that lands in your bank account after income tax, employee National Insurance and the NHS pension contribution on the 2026/27 England scale. They exclude London weighting, unsocial hours and overtime. The band-level take-home pages have the full step-by-step breakdown and London weighting variants.
Gross vs net at the top of each band on the 2026/27 England scale
| Band | Entry net | Top net | Monthly at top | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band 7 | £35,206 | £39,708 | £3,309 | Full breakdown |
| Band 8a | £40,230 | £43,955 | £3,663 | Full breakdown |
Assumes full-time pay, standard NHS Pension membership and no student loan. Open the band's take-home page for London weighting variants, or use the calculator to add part-time hours, student loan, or HCAS.
Optometrist career pay progression
Most Optometrists progress through more than one band over their career. The path below shows the typical pay journey on the 2026/27 England scale, from entry at the lowest banding to the top step at the highest. Promotion between bands depends on additional qualifications, experience or moving into a more senior post; it isn't automatic.
- 1 Step timeline
Band 7 £49,387 to £56,515 gross
Top step net: £39,708 a year (£3,309/month). 3 steps; 5 years from entry to top.
- 2 Step timeline
Band 8a £57,528 to £64,750 gross
Top step net: £43,955 a year (£3,663/month). 3 steps; 5 years from entry to top.
Across the typical Optometrist career on the 2026/27 England scale, gross pay rises by £15,363 a year from entry on Band 7 (£49,387) to the top of Band 8a (£64,750). National pay deals add a further cost-of-living rise on top each April.
Optometrist pay in Scotland
Scottish NHS staff are paid on a separate pay scale, negotiated by the Scottish Government rather than the UK Pay Review Body. Scotland consistently pays more than England at every band. The figures below are the Scottish equivalents for the same bands.
Common questions
- What pay band is a Optometrist on?
- NHS Optometrists sit at Band 7 or Band 8a depending on experience and the specific responsibilities of the role. Newly qualified Optometrists usually start on the lowest banding shown, with progression to the higher bands as they take on more senior or specialist work.
- How much does an NHS Optometrist earn in 2026/27?
- On the 2026/27 England pay scale, an NHS Optometrist earns between £49,387 and £64,750 a year gross, depending on band and step. At the lowest entry rate that works out to roughly £25.26 an hour, and at the top rate roughly £33.11 an hour. Take-home pay after tax, NI and the NHS pension contribution is typically 70% of the gross figure. Scottish Optometrists earn between £52,845 and £70,303 on the equivalent Scottish scale.
- Where can I find Optometrist jobs in the NHS?
- NHS Jobs (jobs.nhs.uk) lists all current vacancies across the four UK nations. Filter by 'Pay Band' to focus on roles at the band you're interested in. HSC Recruit covers Northern Ireland (jobs.hscni.net) and NHS Scotland Jobs covers Scotland (jobs.scot.nhs.uk). Most Trusts also list vacancies on their own websites alongside the national portal.
- What is an NHS Optometrist salary after tax?
- An NHS Optometrist starting on Band 7 (£49,387 gross) takes home around £35,206 a year after income tax, employee National Insurance and the NHS pension contribution — about £2,934 a month. At the top of Band 8a (£64,750 gross), take-home pay rises to £43,955 a year, or £3,663 a month. The figures exclude student loan repayments, unsocial hours and London weighting.
- Does Optometrist get London weighting?
- Only at NHS Trusts in England inside one of the three London weighting (HCAS) zones. Optometrists working at Inner London Trusts get 20% on top of basic pay (minimum £5,794, maximum £8,746 for 2026/27). Outer London is 15%, Fringe is 5%. Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish Optometrists don't receive a London weighting equivalent.