The invention relates to a method for preparing high-concentration isooctyl thioglycolate with short reaction time, high conversion rate, low cost and little pollution, comprising esterification, salt formation, hydrolysis and reduction, and the specific steps are (1) in a weight ratio of (1.3 ~ 1.5): 1 isooctyl alcohol and chloroacetic acid solution, add 2% ~ 5% rare earth solid superacid catalyst by weight of chloroacetic acid, react at 70°C ~ 90°C for 0.5h ~ 0.7h, generate chloroacetic acid (2) Under the condition of normal pressure and 120°C to 160°C, add sodium thiosulfate to the above-mentioned isooctyl chloroacetate, and reflux the mercaptolation reaction in isopropanol solvent for 0.5h to 0.8h, Prepare bunte salt; by weight, the consumption ratio of isooctyl chloroacetate, sodium thiosulfate and isopropanol is 1: (1.33~1.61): 0.98; (3) add dilute sulfuric acid to the prepared bunte salt Hydrolyze and reduce for 0.8h to 1.1h, then wash with water and rectify to obtain high-concentration isooctyl thioglycolate.