State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
Optometrist Salary (2026): Data, Outlook & How to Become One
Optometrists earn a median of $136,570 per year ($65.66/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 8.0% through 2034, with about 2,400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2024–2034). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
SOC 29-1041Healthcare Practitioners and TechnicalLast updated August 23, 2026
- Median pay
- $136,570
- Projected growth
- +8.0%
- Openings a year
- 2,400
- Typical education
- Doctorate
BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
BLS EP, 2024–2034
Also advertised as: Optometrist, Optometry Doctor (OD), Therapeutic Optometrist.
How much do Optometrists make?
10th percentile$74,870
Entry / lowest-paid tenth
25th percentile$109,400
Lower quartile
Median (50th)$136,570
Half earn more, half earn less
75th percentile$165,120
Upper quartile
90th percentile$202,180
Top-paid tenth
| Median annual wage | $136,570 |
|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $65.66/hr |
| Mean annual wage | $141,550 |
| People employed | 42,790 |
Versus all US occupations
At $136,570, Optometrists earn 168% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $85,590 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $97,870, this is 40% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $202,180 or more while the bottom 10% earn $74,870, a gap of 2.7×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 93% of the 923 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Alaska posts the highest raw median ($170,310), but once local prices are taken into account North Carolina leads at $171,278 in national-average dollars.
Which states pay Optometrists the most?
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $170,310 | $166,385 | 60 |
| Maryland | $165,840 | $158,005 | 780 |
| North Carolina | $161,560 | $171,278 | 1,140 |
| Delaware | $161,270 | $161,580 | 190 |
| New York | $161,140 | $149,313 | 2,390 |
| New Jersey | $159,040 | $146,170 | 1,380 |
| Minnesota | $158,700 | $160,919 | 710 |
| Washington | $157,560 | $147,234 | 760 |
| Hawaii | $154,620 | $140,626 | 230 |
| Maine | $154,110 | $158,794 | 180 |
Is Optometrist a growing career?
Optometrists8.0%
All US occupations3.1%
+8.0% projected growth vs 3.1% for all occupations.
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Optometrists to change 8.0% over 2024–2034, roughly 2.6× the 3.1% projected for all occupations. That is 3,800 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 2,400 openings are projected each year, 5.0% of the 47,800 jobs that existed in 2024. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Because vision problems tend to occur more frequently later in life, an aging population will lead to demand for optometrists. As people age, they become more susceptible to developing diseases that impair vision, such as cataracts and macular degeneration, and will therefore need vision care.
The increasing prevalence of refractive errors, particularly myopia, among the general population is another key source of demand for optometrists as they will be needed to diagnose and treat these common eye problems. Moreover, the growing use of electronic devices has translated into an increasing number of individuals experiencing digital eye strain, which may lead to more demand for eye care services. Meanwhile, diabetes has been linked to increased rates of diabetic retinopathy, a condition that affects the blood vessels in the eye and may lead to loss of vision. With diabetes on the rise, optometrists will be needed to monitor, treat, and refer these patients.
How to become an Optometrist
Optometrists typically need a Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree. O.D. programs take 4 years to complete, and applicants typically have bachelor’s degree before entering a program. Every state requires optometrists to be licensed.
| Typical entry-level education | Doctoral or professional degree |
|---|---|
| Preparation needed (O*NET job zone) | Considerable preparation |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as optometrists.
- Doctoral Degree95.2%
- First Professional Degree4.8%
What does an Optometrist do?
Diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. Examine eyes and visual system, diagnose problems or impairments, prescribe corrective lenses, and provide treatment. May prescribe therapeutic drugs to treat specific eye conditions.
Optometrists diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system, including examining eyes and prescribing corrective lenses.
Day-to-day tasks
- Examine eyes, using observation, instruments, and pharmaceutical agents, to determine visual acuity and perception, focus, and coordination and to diagnose diseases and other abnormalities, such as glaucoma or color blindness.
- Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.
- Prescribe, supply, fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision aids.
- Prescribe medications to treat eye diseases if state laws permit.
- Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements, and safety factors.
- Remove foreign bodies from the eye.
- Provide patients undergoing eye surgeries, such as cataract and laser vision correction, with pre- and post-operative care.
- Consult with and refer patients to ophthalmologist or other health care practitioner if additional medical treatment is determined necessary.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most optometrists work full time, but part-time work is common. Schedules may vary to include evenings and weekends.
Where the work happens
- Indoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day
Working with people
- Constant contact with other people
- Face-to-face discussions every day
- Dealing with customers or the public is very important
Pressure and stakes
- Meeting strict deadlines at least weekly
Autonomy
- A lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey, showing only the signals people in the job report decisively one way or the other.
Where optometrists work
| Offices of optometrists | 54% |
|---|---|
| Offices of physicians | 16% |
| Self-employed workers | 11% |
| Outpatient care centers | 3% |
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024–2034 edition.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension4.1/5
- Active Listening4.1/5
- Critical Thinking4.1/5
- Writing4.0/5
- Speaking4.0/5
- Science3.8/5
- Monitoring3.3/5
- Active Learning3.1/5
Transferable skills
- Social Perceptiveness3.9/5
- Coordination3.4/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.4/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.4/5
- Persuasion3.3/5
- Instructing3.3/5
- Service Orientation3.3/5
- Time Management3.3/5
Tools and software
- Accounting software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Internet browser software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Medical software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
What personality type suits an Optometrist?
Interest profile: O*NET Occupational Interests, scored 1–7
Realisticprimary4.8
Investigativeprimary5.8
Artistic1.6
Socialprimary5.0
Enterprising2.3
Conventional3.9
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Optometrist: frequently asked questions
How much do Optometrists make?
Optometrists earn a median of $136,570 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 168% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $65.66/hr. The middle half earn between $109,400 and $165,120. The top 10% earn $202,180 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Optometrist?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Optometrists. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 95.2% hold doctoral degree.
Is Optometrist a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 8.0% over 2024–2034, more than double the 3.1% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2024–2034). BLS still projects about 2,400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Optometrist do?
Optometrists diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system, including examining eyes and prescribing corrective lenses. A core O*NET task: examine eyes, using observation, instruments, and pharmaceutical agents, to determine visual acuity and perception, focus, and coordination and to diagnose diseases and other abnormalities, such as glaucoma or color blindness. Employers most often ask for Accounting software, Data base user interface and query software, Internet browser software.
Which states pay Optometrists the most?
The highest state medians for Optometrists are Alaska ($170,310), Maryland ($165,840), North Carolina ($161,560) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, North Carolina moves to the top at $171,278.
What personality type suits an Optometrist?
O*NET scores Optometrists highest on the Investigative, Social and Realistic interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, ISFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 923 occupations in the bank.