Orthoptists earn a median of $115,210 per year ($55.39/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 5.5% through 2035, with about 1,900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
- SOC 29-1299
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Orthoptist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $115,210a year, or $55.39/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $65KTop 10% $195K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.5%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5.5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5.5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1,90039,600 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202539.6K
- Projected 203541.8K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 39.6K Projected 2035 41.8K - Typical education
- Master'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
Also advertised as: Clinical Orthoptist (CO), CO (Certified Orthoptist).
Pay
How much do Orthoptists make?
Every orthoptist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$115,210
Middle half earn $83,780 to $161,470
- 10th
- $65,210
- 25th
- $83,780
- 75th
- $161,470
- 90th
- $195,190
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $65,210 |
| 25th | $83,780 |
| Median | $115,210 |
| 75th | $161,470 |
| 90th | $195,190 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $115,210
- Median hourly wage
- $55.39/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $127,660
- People employed
- 28,630
Versus all US occupations
At $115,210, Orthoptists earn 126% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $64,230 a year.
Versus healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
Inside the Healthcare Practitioners and Technical group, where the middle occupation pays $102,760, this is 12% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $195,190 or more while the bottom 10% earn $65,210, a gap of 3.0×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 82% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Maryland pays the most at $164,670, and still leads at $156,890 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Orthoptists the most?
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.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Maryland | $164,670 | $156,890 | 5,840 |
| 2District of Columbia | $151,990 | $138,297 | 490 |
| 3New York | $127,360 | $118,012 | 750 |
| 4Georgia | $126,300 | $131,162 | 3,130 |
| 5California | $125,550 | $113,394 | 1,600 |
| 6Montana | $122,930 | $129,885 | 110 |
| 7Connecticut | $119,970 | $115,790 | 410 |
| 8Hawaii | $119,520 | $108,703 | 90 |
| 9Utah | $119,430 | $120,802 | 310 |
| 10North Carolina | $117,210 | $124,261 | 800 |
Job outlook
Is Orthoptist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.5% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Orthoptists | +5.5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Orthoptists to change 5.5% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 2,200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 1,900 openings are projected each year, 4.8% of the 39,600 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become an Orthoptist
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Master's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
The work
What does an Orthoptist do?
Diagnose and treat visual system disorders such as binocular vision and eye movement impairments.
Day-to-day tasks
- Evaluate, diagnose, or treat disorders of the visual system with an emphasis on binocular vision or abnormal eye movements.
- Examine patients with problems related to ocular motility, binocular vision, amblyopia, or strabismus.
- Perform diagnostic tests or measurements, such as motor testing, visual acuity testing, lensometry, retinoscopy, and color vision testing.
- Provide nonsurgical interventions, including corrective lenses, patches, drops, fusion exercises, or stereograms, to treat conditions such as strabismus, heterophoria, and convergence insufficiency.
- Develop nonsurgical treatment plans for patients with conditions such as strabismus, nystagmus, and other visual disorders.
- Provide instructions to patients or family members concerning diagnoses or treatment plans.
- Develop or use special test and communication techniques to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of children or patients with disabilities.
- Prepare diagnostic or treatment reports for other medical practitioners or therapists.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the timeRegular bending or twisting.
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantConstant contact with other people.
Face-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking3.9
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Writing3.8
- Science3.5
- Active Learning3.4
- Learning Strategies3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 3.9 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 |
| Writing | 3.8 |
| Science | 3.5 |
| Active Learning | 3.4 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.8
- Complex Problem Solving3.4
- Service Orientation3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Instructing3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Systems Analysis3.0
- Systems Evaluation3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 |
| Service Orientation | 3.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Instructing | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Computer based training software
- Electronic mail software
- Eye tracking software
- Medical software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Orthoptist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Orthoptist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 5 |
| Enterprising | 1 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Investigative5.7
- Realistic4.9
- Social4.8
- Conventional3.8
- Artistic1.9
- Enterprising1.5
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.
Explore further
Careers related to Orthoptist
O*NET related occupations
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician
$265,930median a year
Most earn $69K to $452K
+3.4%Doctorate - Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
- Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
More healthcare practitioners and technical careers
Median annual pay, with orthoptists highlighted
- Anesthesiologist$391,490
- Physician Assistant$135,880
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Orthoptist$115,210
- Physical Therapist$102,760
- Dental Hygienist$98,100
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographer$96,590
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician$80,110
- Surgical Technologist$64,650
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 |
| Orthoptist | $115,210 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 |
| Diagnostic Medical Sonographer | $96,590 |
| Radiologic Technologist and Technician | $80,110 |
| Surgical Technologist | $64,650 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Orthoptist appears on
Questions
Orthoptist: frequently asked questions
How much do Orthoptists make?
Orthoptists earn a median of $115,210 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 126% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $55.39/hr. The middle half earn between $83,780 and $161,470. The top 10% earn $195,190 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Orthoptist?
Yes. BLS reports a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for Orthoptists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation.
Is Orthoptist a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.5% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 1,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Orthoptist do?
Diagnose and treat visual system disorders such as binocular vision and eye movement impairments. A core O*NET task: evaluate, diagnose, or treat disorders of the visual system with an emphasis on binocular vision or abnormal eye movements. Employers most often ask for Presentation software, Spreadsheet software, Word processing software.
Which states pay Orthoptists the most?
The highest state medians for Orthoptists are Maryland ($164,670), District of Columbia ($151,990), New York ($127,360) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits an Orthoptist?
O*NET scores Orthoptists highest on the Investigative, Realistic and Social interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. 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 1,731 careers in the bank.