How to Become an Optometrist
Examine eyes, diagnose vision problems and eye disease, prescribe corrective lenses, and manage ongoing eye health. It typically requires a doctoral degree (od), with a median salary of $136,570 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$136,570/yr
Middle half
$109,400 to $165,120
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
2,400
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Clinical Diagnosis
- Patient Care
- Critical Thinking
- Attention to Detail
- Communication
Helpful certifications
- OD + NBEO boards (state optometry licensure)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
1/100
Work-life balance
72/100
Stress level
64/100
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- Physician Assistant$135,880 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Optometrist make?
The median pay for an Optometrist is $136,570 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $109,400 and $165,120 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become an Optometrist?
The usual entry point is a doctoral degree (od). Common majors are Biology, Chemistry, Pre-Med / Pre-Health, and Neuroscience.
Is Optometrist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 2,400 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does an Optometrist use most?
Common skills for this role are Clinical Diagnosis, Patient Care, Critical Thinking, Attention to Detail, and Communication.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).