Optometrist: career path and pay in the US
Where a Optometrist goes next, what each step typically pays in the United States, and how exposed the path is to AI replacement. 3 steps, from Optometrist to Senior Optometrist / Practice Owner / Optometry Director.
Also for the United Kingdom: Optometrist in the UK
The path
Step 1 · 0 to 3 years
Optometrist
$125K to $185K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: OD (Doctor of Optometry) - US, GOC Registration - UK/EU, Optometry License - US.
Step 2 · 3 to 10 years
Optometrist / Senior Optometrist
$125K to $190K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: OD - US, GOC Registration - UK/EU, Optometry License - US, Specialty Certification (optional) - Global.
Step 3 · 10+ years
Senior Optometrist / Practice Owner / Optometry Director
$140K to $210K
Typical US pay for this job title, retrieved September 2026.
What this step adds
Credentials that help: OD - US, GOC Registration - UK/EU, Optometry License - US, Specialty Certification - Global.
Exposure and pay along the path
Exposure to AI, now to later
24% → 24%
Stays level across the path. Lower is better.
Typical pay, now to later
$125K to $185K → $140K to $210K
US estimates by job title, Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US. The published figure for Practice Owner sat below the previous step, so this band is set 12% above it.
What the work involves
Diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. Examine eyes and visual system, diagnose problems or impairments, prescribe corrective lenses, and provide treatment. May prescribe therapeutic drugs to treat specific eye conditions.
Skills that matter most
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Speaking
- Science
Knowledge areas
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Biology
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
Education people bring
- Doctoral Degree: 95%
- First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.: 5%
- Some College Courses: 0%
Job Zone 5, job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Other paths from here
- Practice Owner
- Optometry Director
- Optometry Consultant
- Optometry Educator
More Healthcare paths in the US
Related occupations in O*NET: Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric, Pediatric Surgeons, General Internal Medicine Physicians, Dermatologists, Urologists.
Your own role
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SourcesSalary bands: Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale US, US national averages by job title, retrieved September 2026Skills, knowledge and education: O*NET 31.0 Database
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CC BY 4.0
Salary estimates by job title from Glassdoor, Indeed and PayScale, retrieved September 2026. Each band runs from 20% below to 20% above the reported average, rounded to $5K. Exposure percentages and the skills listed under each step are this app's own editorial ratings, not published data.