Optometrist
Optometrists
SOC 29-1041
How Much Does an Optometrist Make?
The national median salary for an Optometrist is $132,860 per year ($63.88/hour), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024 data).
That's 103% above the national median salary of $65,470 for all occupations.
How to Become an Optometrist
NBEO exam + state license
Optometrist Job Outlook
Much faster than avg — the BLS projects 8% growth from 2024 to 2034.
That's significantly faster than the average across all occupations (4%).
About 2,100 positions are expected to open annually, from both new roles and replacement needs.
Aging population; screen-related eye strain
What It's Like to Work as an Optometrist
This is primarily desk-based or low-physical-effort work.
This role typically requires in-person work at a specific location.
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Career data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2024-34 projections (released August 2025). Salary data: BLS OEWS May 2024.
View on BLS.gov