Optical Dispensers Australia (ODA) has raised “serious concerns” about wages for dispensers after the release of national income rates.
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) income figures for 2022-23 showed that, for the second year running, ophthalmology was the highest paid profession in the country.
Those figures revealed that male ophthalmologists had an average taxable income of $758,984 in 2022-23, nearly $100,000 clear of the second group – male neurosurgeons on $658,996.
And ophthalmologists as a group, when also accounting for female professionals with an average income of $393,035, were the third highest paid cohort at $643,389.
But it was a very different picture for others in the optical sector.
ATO’s figures showed incomes for optometrists rose 1.5% between 2021-22 and 2022-23, with the average income for the country’s 5,297 professionals increasing from $102,773 to $104,353.
For optical dispensers, the average income for the 7,127 dispensers was $45,490, a 6.8% rise on the $42,561 made the previous year.
The 1,566 male optical dispensers made $52,330 ($48,512 in 2021-22) and the 5581 females $43,571 ($40,944).
ODA CEO Ms April Petrusma said that despite the increase, pay for optical dispensers continued to hover around the national minimum wage, which was $21.38 per hour in 2022–23, or $42,246.88 per annum for a full-time, 38-hour week employee.
“When the average salary for optical dispensers sits only marginally above this baseline, it raises serious concerns, especially considering the level of responsibility, skill, and knowledge required in the role,” she said.
“It highlights a misalignment between the demands of the profession and the financial recognition provided.”
Petrusma said “the buck stops with the employer”.
“Given the multifaceted nature of the role, competitive and fair remuneration is essential not only to attract skilled professionals but also to retain them in a field that requires continuous learning, precision, and people-focused service.
“To drive meaningful change, employers must begin by recognising the true value of their optical dispensers.”
ODA was also talking to the Fair Work Ombudsman to clarify the appropriate industry award for a role that involved not only retail duties but also health-related tasks, such as taking lens measurements.
“This ambiguity contributes to widespread underpayment and misclassification across the profession,” said Petrusma.
“It’s clear that a more accurate award system and better recognition of the role’s complexity is needed to ensure fair pay and professional respect.”
The data revealed the average incomes in other roles in Australia’s optical sector.
It showed that orthoptists experienced a rise of 5.7% on the previous year, with the average income for 1,061 people increasing to $73,526, with the 131 male staff on $87,344 and 930 females making $71,580.
Optical mechanics made an average of $67,631 among its 488 members, up from $64,824 in 2021-22, with 306 males on $69,992 and 182 females $63,663.
Practice managers in the health sector made an average of $83,534 in the 2022-23 year, up slight from $83,205 a year earlier, with males making $105,059 and females $80,695.
In the area of medical and pharmaceutical product sales, the average income appears to have taken a significant dip, its 1459 participants making $110,584, down 11.5% on the 2021-22 average income of $124,903.
As in other roles, men made more than women – $126,373 compared with $101,362.
