Optometrists

Detailed Occupation

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2020 Workforce

37.8k

Average Age

45.5

Estimated Job Growth

4.28%

10-year projection

Average Salary

$120,614

Average Male Salary

$142,185

Average Female Salary

$96,797

About

Optometrists are most often employed by the Offices of optometrists industry. The average yearly wage for Optometrists was $120,614 in 2016. The top 3 most similar occupations to Optometrists by wage are Software developers, Financial analysts, and Computer & information systems managers.

Optometrists are part of the Healthcare practitioners & technical occupations, along with Chiropractors, Dentists, Dietitians & nutritionists, Optometrists, Pharmacists, and 37 more.

The top 3 locations that employ the most Optometrists are Memphis City (Central Riverside) PUMA, TN, Upper East Side PUMA, NY, and Farragut Town PUMA, TN. The top 3 locations with a relatively high concentration of Optometrists are Memphis City (Central Riverside) PUMA, TN, San Gabriel Valley Region (North) PUMA, CA, and Davie Town & Cooper City PUMA, FL.

Photo by David Lee

Management, business, science, & arts occupations Healthcare practitioners & technical occupations

Employment

Information on the businesses and industries that employ Optometrists and on wages and locations for those in the field. Offices of optometrists is the industry that employs the most Optometrists, both by share and by number, though the highest paid industry for Optometrists, by average wage, is Offices of physicians. Optometrists are paid most in DeKalb County (North)Dunwoody City PUMA, GA but are relatively concentrated in Memphis City (Central Riverside) PUMA, TN.

Wages

Yearly Wage

$120,614

AVERAGE SALARY

± $11,277

In 2020, Optometrists earned an average of $120,614, $64,660 more than than the average national salary of $55,954.

Computer & information systems managers make somewhat more than Optometrists while Software developers make somewhat less. This chart shows the various occupations closest to Optometrists as measured by average annual salary in the US.

Wage Distribution

0.353

WAGE GINI

In 2015, Optometrists had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.353, which is lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly for Optometrists (shown in red) than for the overall labor force (shown in gray).

Wage by Location

HIGHEST PAYING PUMAS

This map shows the Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States shaded by average annual wage for Optometrists.

Spatial Concentration

PUMAs with a Relatively High Concentration of Optometrists

This map displays which Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States have a relatively high population of Optometrists.

Industries

Most Common

The most common industries employing Optometrists, by number of employees, are Offices of optometrists, Health & personal care, except drug, stores , Offices of physicians, General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals, Outpatient care centers, Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges, Administration of human resource programs, Other health care services, and U. S. Army.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries for Optometrists, by average wage, are Offices of physicians, Offices of optometrists, and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals.

Industries by Share

37.8k

2020 Workforce

± 4,774

6.97%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 17%

The number of people employed as Optometrists has been growing at a rate of 6.97%, from 35,359 people in 2019 to 37,824 people in 2020.

This graphic shows the share of Optometrists employed by various industries. Offices of optometrists employs the largest share of Optometrists at 77.1%, followed by Health & personal care, except drug, stores with 5.71% and Offices of physicians with 4.61%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Optometrists in the US. The average age of male Optometrists in the workforce is 50.3 and of female Optometrists is 40.3, and the most common race/ethnicity for Optometrists is White (Non-Hispanic).

Composition by Sex

19.8k

MALE WORKFORCE

± 3,459

18k

FEMALE WORKFORCE

± 3,292

52.5% of Optometrists are Male, making them the more common sex in the occupation. This chart shows the sex breakdown of Optometrists.

Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity of Optometrists

White (Non-Hispanic)
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
White (Hispanic)

73.4% of Optometrists are White (Non-Hispanic), making that the most common race or ethnicity in the occupation. Representing 18.8% of Optometrists, Asian (Non-Hispanic) is the second most common race or ethnicity in this occupation. This chart shows the racial and ethnic breakdown of Optometrists.

Age by Sex

50.3

AVERAGE MALE AGE

± 2.28

40.3

AVERAGE FEMALE AGE

± 1.87

The median age of Optometrists is 45.5, and Male employees are generally 10 years older than than their Female counterparts.

Education

Data on higher education choices for Optometrists from The Department of Education and Census Bureau. The most common major for Optometrists is Biology but a relatively high number of Optometrists hold a major in Biology.

Majors

ACS PUMS data only shows the major for bachelor's degrees. However, we can filter the data based on highest degree obtained.

MOST COMMON MAJORS

MOST SPECIALIZED MAJORS

Skills

Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for Optometrists from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Optometrists need many skills, but most especially Active Listening, Critical Thinking, and Reading Comprehension. The revealed comparative advantage (RCA) shows that Optometrists need more than the average amount of Science, Operation and Control, and Management of Material Resources.

Radar Distribution

Bar Chart

Projections

Projections on job growth for Optometrists from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The 10-year national workforce is projected to grow 3.71%, but Optometrists are expected to see a growth of 4.28% over the same period. This occupation is expected to grow more than the national average.

Job Growth

4.28%

Estimated Job Growth

10-year Projection

3.71%

National Growth

10-year Projection

This line chart shows the projected 10-year growth in the number of jobs for Optometrists. This profession is expected to grow more than than 3.71%, the average rate of national job growth.