Optometrist salary: where it sits on the Australian salary index

What is an optometrist salary?

An optometrist salary in Australia is the gross pay earned by a registered optometrist for performing eye examinations, prescribing lenses and optical aids, and diagnosing eye movement disorders. Unlike some health professions, the optometrist salary is not straightforward to pin down because official data is limited and award coverage is unresolved. This article explains where the optometrist salary sits on the Australian salary index, using the most current public information from the Fair Work Commission and Jobs and Skills Australia.

The salary index explained

The Salary Index compares any gross annual salary to the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings line. The national line is $2,083.70 per week, annualised to $108,352 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). An index of 100 means the salary matches the national average. An index of 50 means half the national average; an index of 150 means 50% above. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour ($1,004.90 per week), which gives an index of 48.2. The index helps you see where a pay figure sits relative to the broader workforce.

Where does the optometrist salary sit on the index?

Because the Australian Bureau of Statistics and Jobs and Skills Australia do not publish a reliable median optometrist salary (the data is marked N/A due to high standard error), we must rely on minimum rates from the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (HPSS Award). These are provisional rates that took effect from 1 October 2026, following a Fair Work Commission review that found health professional wages had been undervalued due to gender-based assumptions.

Optometry Australia reports that optometrists have been provisionally classified at AQF Level 9 (reflecting master’s-level qualifications). Based on this classification, the minimum weekly rates are:

• Level 1, first year: $1,444.90 per week ($38.02/hr) — index 69.3
• Level 1, second to third year: $1,545.20 per week ($40.66/hr) — index 74.2
• Level 1, fourth to sixth year: $1,659.30 per week ($43.67/hr) — index 79.6
• Level 1, seventh year onwards: $1,755.00 per week ($46.18/hr) — index 84.2
• Level 2.1: $1,945.40 per week ($51.19/hr) — index 93.4
• Level 2.2: $1,983.20 per week ($52.19/hr) — index 95.2
• Level 3: $1,983.20 per week ($52.19/hr) — index 95.2
• Level 4: $2,499.10 per week ($65.77/hr) — index 119.9

These are minimum rates, not typical salaries. An entry-level optometrist on the award minimum earns about 69% of the national average full-time earnings. An experienced optometrist at Level 1 (seventh year) earns about 84% of the national line. Only those in senior or managerial roles (Level 4) exceed the national average, with an index of 119.9.

The problem with award coverage

A major caveat: the Fair Work Commission has not formally decided whether optometrists are covered by the HPSS Award. The profession is not listed in Schedule B of the award. Optometry Australia’s consistent advice is that employers should at least benchmark wages against the award to ensure employees are no worse off. But many optometrists work under individual contracts or enterprise agreements that may pay more than the award minima. The provisional AQF Level 9 classification may also change after future Commission decisions.

What the official data says

Jobs and Skills Australia’s occupation profile for optometrists and orthoptists (ANZSCO 2514) shows median weekly earnings as N/A. The profile does reveal that 59% of optometrists work full-time, with an average of 40 hours per week. The median age is 33, and 76% of the workforce is female. The industry is overwhelmingly Health Care and Social Assistance, with a small share in Education and Training. Without a median earnings figure, we cannot calculate a reliable index position for the typical optometrist.

Comparing to other health professions

For context, the health care and social assistance industry as a whole has an index of 97.8, just below the national line. Within that industry, some professions sit higher. For example, the professional, scientific and technical services index is 114.7. The optometrist award minima (except Level 4) fall below the industry average, but actual market rates may be closer to or above it. The industries page provides benchmarks for comparison.

Factors that affect the optometrist salary

Several factors influence where an individual optometrist’s pay sits on the index:

• Experience: The HPSS Award progression from first year to seventh year adds roughly $310 per week (index +15 points).
• Location: State indices vary. For example, Western Australia has an index of 106.9, while Tasmania is 88.6. Optometrists in higher-index states may command higher pay.
• Employment type: Part-time work is common (41% of optometrists work less than full-time hours). The salary index is based on full-time ordinary-time earnings, so part-time pay should be scaled accordingly.
• Private vs public: Optometrists in private practices may earn more than those in public hospitals or community health centres, but no official breakdown is available.

Superannuation and tax considerations

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% on earnings up to $270,830. So an optometrist earning the Level 1 seventh-year minimum of $1,755 per week would receive an additional $210.60 per week in super (annualised $10,951). This is not included in the salary index, which uses gross ordinary-time earnings before super. For tax, a resident optometrist earning $91,260 per year (Level 1 seventh-year annualised) would pay approximately $20,677 in income tax plus $1,825 in Medicare levy (2%), leaving a take-home of about $68,758. The pay guides page has more detail on award entitlements.

The bottom line

The optometrist salary in Australia is not well captured by official statistics. The best available public data comes from the Fair Work Commission’s HPSS Award, which sets provisional minimum rates ranging from index 69 to index 120 depending on experience and role. Most optometrists likely earn above these minima, but without a median figure, the true index position remains uncertain. If you are an employer or employee reviewing pay, the Salary Index provides a framework for benchmarking against the national line, and the topics page covers related occupations.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average optometrist salary in Australia? There is no official average optometrist salary published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics or Jobs and Skills Australia, as the data is considered unreliable due to a high standard error. However, provisional minimum rates under the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (HPSS Award) provide a lower bound. For a first-year optometrist classified at AQF Level 9, the minimum is $38.02 per hour ($1,444.90 per week). For an experienced optometrist (seventh year or more), the minimum is $46.18 per hour ($1,755.00 per week). Actual salaries in private practice are typically higher, but no reliable median figure is available.

Are optometrists covered by a modern award? Coverage is unresolved. The Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020 (HPSS Award) does not expressly list optometrists in Schedule B, and the Fair Work Commission has not formally determined whether the award applies. Optometry Australia advises employers to benchmark wages against the HPSS Award as a risk-averse approach. The Commission has provisionally classified optometrists at AQF Level 9 for the purpose of minimum rates, but this may change after further review. Many optometrists are employed under individual contracts or enterprise agreements rather than an award.

How does the optometrist salary compare to the national average? The national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings line is $2,083.70 per week (index 100). The provisional HPSS Award minimum for a first-year optometrist ($1,444.90 per week) sits at index 69.3, well below the national line. For an experienced optometrist at the top of Level 1 ($1,755.00 per week), the index is 84.2. A senior optometrist at Level 4 ($2,499.10 per week) would be at index 119.9, above the national line. However, these are minimum rates, not typical earnings. Without a reliable median figure, the true position of the optometrist salary on the index remains uncertain.