How much does an optometrist make?

The median optometrist salary in the United States is $136,570 per year ($65.66/hour). Salaries range from $74,870 (10th percentile) to $202,180 (90th percentile). There are 42,790 optometrist jobs in the U.S. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.

Which state pays optometrists the most?

The highest paying state for optometrists is Alaska at $170,310 median salary.

Is optometrist a good career?

Optometrist employment is projected to grow 8% from 2024 to 2034 (faster than average). There are approximately 2,400 job openings per year. Typical education required: Doctoral or professional degree.

What interview questions are asked for optometrist roles?

Common optometrist interview questions include: "Walk me through a diabetic eye exam.", "How do you handle a patient with concerning ocular findings but limited insurance?", "Tell me about a difficult case.". Interview format at top employers ranges from behavioral panels (STAR method) to technical case rounds — for example LensCrafters (Luxottica) / Pearle Vision typically uses 1-2 rounds.

What is the career ladder for optometrists?

The typical optometrist career ladder: Associate OD (0-3 yrs) (0-3 yrs, $120-155k commercial · $95-130k private) → Established OD / Practice Partner (3-10 yrs, $130-190k employed · $150-280k owner) → Practice Owner (5+ yrs, $180-400k+ take-home depending on scale) → Sub-Specialty (Cornea, Glaucoma, Pediatric, Vision Therapy) (5+ with residency yrs, $140-220k + higher fees per procedure).

What certifications should optometrists get?

Top-ROI certifications for optometrists: NBEO Parts 1-3 + state licensure ($2,000-$4,000 total for all parts + state exams.); TPA + DPA (Therapeutic + Diagnostic Pharmaceutical Agents) (Coursework varies by state.); American Board of Optometry (ABO) ($675 exam + prep.).

How do you negotiate a optometrist salary?

Anchor on documented market data (BLS median $136,570, p75 $165,120), specific outcomes you've delivered, and the specific band for your years of experience. Given my [X years] + [residency / ABO certification], I was expecting base of $[X] + optical dispensing % of [15-25%]. Sign-on of $[Y], loan repayment support ($10-30k/year industry standard), non-compete geography reas...

Optometrist Salary

Bureau of Labor Statistics title: Optometrists

The median optometrist salary in the United States is $136,570 per year ($65.66/hour). Salaries range from $74,870 at the entry level to $202,180+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 42,790 optometrist jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 8% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Also known asOptometristOD

Median Salary

$136,570

per year

Hourly Rate

$65.66

per hour

Employment

42,790

jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile

$74,870

25th percentile

$109,400

Median

$136,570

75th percentile

$165,120

90th percentile

$202,180

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+8%

Faster than average

Annual Openings

2,400

jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Doctoral or professional degree

Optometrist Career Guide

Interview questions, resume templates, and a career ladder written specifically for optometrists.

Optometrists provide primary eye care — refractions, glasses/contact prescriptions, ocular disease diagnosis + management. OD (Doctor of Optometry) required (4 years post-bachelor's, ~$150k tuition). Career splits: commercial optical (LensCrafters, Costco, Sam's Club, Warby Parker — highest new-grad pay + benefits), private/small group (better patient relationships), specialty (dry eye, myopia control, vision therapy), and hospital/VA (interdisciplinary, better hours). Scope of practice expanding — many states now allow OD-administered oral medications + minor procedures.

Core Skills Hiring Managers Screen For

Comprehensive eye exam

Refraction, binocular vision, ocular health (slit lamp, dilated fundus, OCT). Distinguishing normal aging from pathology.

Ocular disease diagnosis + management

Glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye. Medical eye care within scope.

Contact lens fitting

Soft, rigid gas permeable, scleral, specialty lenses. Post-op refractive care.

Diagnostic imaging (OCT, fundus, corneal topography)

Reading + interpreting for glaucoma monitoring, macular disease, corneal pathology.

Patient communication + retention

Explaining recommendations, driving optical sales (for commercial), maintaining relationships.

Insurance + billing

Vision (routine) + medical (disease) insurance dynamics. Prior auth for prescription eyewear.

Business awareness (for owners)

Practice management, optical dispensing revenue, staffing. Owners earn 2-3x employees.

How to Become a Optometrist

1
Bachelor's + optometry prerequisites
Sciences + math. Volunteer/shadow hours common.
2
OAT + apply to optometry schools
~24 accredited US programs. Acceptance ~60%.
3
4-year OD program
Coursework + 4th-year clinical rotations. Cost $130-220k tuition.
4
Pass NBEO (National Board of Examiners in Optometry) + state boards
Multi-part national exam + state clinical + jurisprudence.
5
Optional 1-year residency (ocular disease, primary care, vision therapy, pediatric)
Residency = deeper specialty + $10-20k premium at hire.
6
First job: commercial optical + private + hospital
Commercial fastest hiring. Private better mentorship. Hospital interdisciplinary experience.

Career Progression

Associate OD (0-3 yrs)

0-3 yrs$120-155k commercial · $95-130k private

•Full patient day (18-30 exams)
•Managing common ocular disease under supervision
•Contact lens + refraction volume

Next: Established OD or specialty.

Established OD / Practice Partner

3-10 yrs$130-190k employed · $150-280k owner

•Complex ocular disease management
•Specialty patient panel
•Business decisions (private)

Next: Owner or specialty.

Practice Owner

5+ yrs$180-400k+ take-home depending on scale

•Clinical + business + optical dispensing
•Staff of 3-10
•Real estate + equipment investment

Sub-Specialty (Cornea, Glaucoma, Pediatric, Vision Therapy)

5+ with residency yrs$140-220k + higher fees per procedure

•Referral-based specialty practice
•Complex cases
•Sometimes co-management with MDs

Interview Questions & Answers

5 free questions below. Career Kit unlocks 10 total plus resume bullets for every level.

Q1. Walk me through a diabetic eye exam.technical

History (duration of diabetes, control, systemic status). Refraction. Slit lamp (cornea, anterior chamber, lens). Dilated fundus: NPDR grading (mild-moderate-severe), PDR, macular edema. OCT for macular thickness. Refer to retina specialist if severe NPDR + PDR + DME. Screens for medical eye care depth.

Q2. How do you handle a patient with concerning ocular findings but limited insurance?situational

Explain findings clearly. Prioritize needed follow-up (medical vs cosmetic). Discuss financing (CareCredit). Refer with warm handoff. Never neglect a medically-needed workup. Screens for professional advocacy.

Q3. Tell me about a difficult case.behavioral

STAR. Real case: unusual pathology, delayed diagnosis caught, complex management. Reasoning + resolution + learning.

Q4. Why our practice / setting?culture

Concrete. Commercial: 'Volume + benefits + patient exposure.' Private: 'Long-term relationships + potential partnership.' Hospital: 'Interdisciplinary + specialty depth.'

Q5. How do you drive optical dispensing?situational

Only in commercial roles: recommend clinically-appropriate options. Educate patient on premium features (progressives, blue light, transitions). Never oversell. Long-term relationship worth more than one high sale.

Resume Template — Associate OD (0-3 yrs)

Copy these bullets into your resume as a starting point. Career Kit includes bullets for every level of the ladder.

Associate OD (0-3 yrs)

▸Averaged 22-28 patient exams daily at high-volume commercial optical; ranked top-quartile on optical dispensing metrics.
▸Passed NBEO Parts 1-3 + state boards on first attempt.
▸Managed 40+ glaucoma patients on IOP-lowering therapy with 90% target-pressure achievement.
▸Completed 1-year primary care optometry residency at [Academic Medical Center].

What Gets You Rejected

✗Slow with refractions — commercial expects speed.
✗Vague on ocular disease management for scope beyond refractions.
✗Missing NBEO parts or state licensure at start.
✗Poor patient rapport — retention drives practice value.
✗No specialty interest + CE plan.
✗Overselling optical without clinical justification.

Salary Negotiation Levers

✓Residency completion — $10-20k premium.
✓Sign-on bonus ($10-40k common at commercial + hard-to-fill).
✓Loan repayment support (OD debt averages $170k).
✓Base + productivity structure (commercial).
✓Non-compete waiver.
✓Malpractice + license + DEA fees covered.
✓CE budget ($3-5k annually).

Optometrist Resume Review — $29

Personalized resume review from someone who has hired optometrists. Purchase, email your resume to support@weblabra.com, and receive detailed written feedback within 7 days.

✓ Occupation-specific critique (not generic)
✓ Rewrite suggestions for weak bullets
✓ Missing skills / keywords flagged
✓ Formatting + ATS-readability feedback
✓ 7-day turnaround, 100% refund if we miss it

Optometrist Career Kit — $19

✓ All 10 interview questions with expert answers
✓ 5 real questions aggregated from Glassdoor, Blind, Reddit, LinkedIn
✓ Interview format intel for 5 top employers
✓ 3 copy-paste salary negotiation emails
✓ Resume bullets for every level of the career ladder
✓ 30–60–90 day plan for your first role
✓ Cover letter templates specific to this occupation
✓ Detailed salary negotiation script
✓ Ranked list of certifications with cost + ROI
✓ Downloadable PDF for offline access
✓ Instant access, no expiration, no subscription

✓ 7-day money-back guarantee — no questions asked

One-time purchase. 7-day refund guarantee.

Sample reviews — real customer reviews will appear here as they come in.

“The interview question bank saved me. I got the exact question about 'walking through a DCF' at my Goldman Sachs superday, verbatim.”

— Anonymous, Financial Analyst

“Copy-paste negotiation emails are worth the price alone. I used the 'accepting with counter' template and got an extra $8k signing bonus.”

— Anonymous, Software Developer

“The 30-60-90 day plan for a new grad RN was better than the orientation my hospital gave. Wish I'd bought this in nursing school.”

— Anonymous, Registered Nurse

Optometrist Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →

Salary Map — Click a state for details

$97K

$170K■ No data

Top Paying States

Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.

State	Median	vs. National	Employment
Alaska	$170,310	+24.7%	60
Maryland	$165,840	+21.4%	780
North Carolina	$161,560	+18.3%	1,140
Delaware	$161,270	+18.1%	190
New York	$161,140	+18.0%	2,390
New Jersey	$159,040	+16.5%	1,380
Minnesota	$158,700	+16.2%	710
Washington	$157,560	+15.4%	760
Hawaii	$154,620	+13.2%	230
Maine	$154,110	+12.8%	180

Showing 1–10 of 51

Optometrist Salary by Metro Area

Metro Area	Median	vs. National
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN	$175,810	+28.7%
Asheville, NC	$167,980	+23.0%
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$167,810	+22.9%
Anchorage, AK	$167,000	+22.3%
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$166,880	+22.2%
Peoria, IL	$166,600	+22.0%
Albuquerque, NM	$165,810	+21.4%
Dover, DE	$165,660	+21.3%
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$165,640	+21.3%
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$165,360	+21.1%

Showing 1–10 of 184

Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.

How does this compare to pro athletes?

A optometrist earning $136,570/year would need 436 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 469 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.

See all sports & celebrity salaries →

📈 See how optometrist salaries have changed over the past decade.

View Optometrist salary trend (2011–2024) →