Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Doctoral or professional degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Optometrists are highly trained eye care professionals with strong career potential. Nationally, there are about 48,000 optometrists, and employment is projected to grow by 8.0%, indicating continued demand. The field offers a relatively small but steady stream of about 2,000 annual openings, which can appeal to those seeking a defined professional pathway. A doctoral or professional degree is the typical educational requirement, reflecting the advanced clinical and analytical skills needed. Successful optometrists draw on a mix of science, problem solving and decision making, critical and analytical thinking, and strong interpersonal and customer service skills. Writing and reading, attention to detail, and comfort with computers and information technology also play a role. Leadership and project management skills can support those interested in taking on broader responsibilities. For students and professionals who want a doctoral-level health career with a clear skill profile and consistent projected growth, optometry offers a structured and promising option.
Optometrists earn a national median annual salary of $134,830, indicating strong earning potential for a doctoral-level health profession. Salaries vary across states and metro areas. Among the top states by opportunity score, median salaries range from $136,300 in California to $161,140 in New York. Massachusetts, Colorado, and Washington all show median salaries above $150,000. At the metro level, median pay ranges from $135,330 in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, to $161,030 in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area. Several metros, including San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, also post median salaries above $140,000. These figures suggest that location decisions can significantly influence earnings, with some states and metros offering notably higher median pay than the national median, while still aligning with the same 8.0% projected growth rate.
Nationally, optometrists account for about 48,000 jobs, with projected employment growth of 8.0%. This growth rate indicates that the total number of positions is expected to increase over time, rather than remain static. There are about 2,000 annual openings, which combine new positions created by growth with openings from job changes or retirements. This steady flow of openings can provide ongoing entry points for new graduates and career changers who complete the required doctoral or professional degree. The consistent 8.0% growth rate also appears in the top states and metro areas listed, suggesting that expansion is broadly distributed rather than concentrated in a single region. For those planning a long-term career, these projections point to a field with both current employment depth and future hiring needs, supporting the case for investing in the advanced education and skill development required.
Location choices can meaningfully shape an optometrist’s career, especially when considering salary, employment size, and opportunity scores together. Among states, New York stands out with a median salary of $161,140 and 2,390 employed optometrists, paired with an opportunity score of 65.78. Massachusetts and Colorado both show median salaries slightly above $150,000, while Washington reports $157,560. California combines the largest employment level (6,890) with a median salary of $136,300 and an opportunity score of 67.38, the highest among the listed states. All these states share the same 8.0% projected growth rate. At the metro level, the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area and the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA area post the highest opportunity scores, both above 77, with New York also offering a median salary of $161,030. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH also present strong combinations of salary and opportunity score.
Becoming an optometrist requires a significant educational commitment, with a typical requirement of a doctoral or professional degree. This advanced training supports the scientific depth and clinical judgment needed in the role. The skill profile for optometrists is broad and combines technical knowledge with strong people skills. Science, critical and analytical thinking, and problem solving and decision making are central, reflecting the need to interpret complex information and make sound judgments. Customer service and interpersonal skills are also key, since optometrists work directly with patients and must communicate clearly and effectively. Writing and reading, attention to detail, and competence with computers and information technology support accurate documentation and use of modern tools. Leadership and project management skills can be particularly valuable for those interested in guiding teams or overseeing operations. Together, the doctoral education and this diverse skill set prepare optometrists for a professional, analytically demanding, and patient-focused career.
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