# Optometrists

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/optometrists
- SOC code: 29-1041.00
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $136,570 (10th percentile $74,870, 90th percentile $202,180)
- Projected growth: Much faster than average, +9.5%
- Openings a year: 2,000
- Typical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code ISR)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 63 |
| Investigative (I) | 80 |
| Artistic (A) | 10 |
| Social (S) | 67 |
| Enterprising (E) | 21 |
| Conventional (C) | 49 |

## What you'd do

- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 95/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 95/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 95/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 93/100)
- Getting Information (importance 92/100)
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public (importance 89/100)
- Processing Information (importance 89/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 88/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 86/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 82/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Writing, Social Perceptiveness, Science, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Judgment and Decision Making

## Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry, Biology, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Mathematics, Education and Training, Therapy and Counseling, Psychology, Administration and Management, Economics and Accounting

## Also called

Optometrist, Optometry Doctor (OD), Therapeutic Optometrist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- Optometry (CIP 5117, 15 colleges)

## Related careers

- [Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/ophthalmologists-except-pediatric): $300,080 median pay
- [Pediatric Surgeons](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/pediatric-surgeons): $559,030 median pay
- [General Internal Medicine Physicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/general-internal-medicine-physicians): $256,560 median pay
- [Dermatologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/dermatologists): $328,730 median pay
- [Urologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/urologists): $265,930 median pay
- [Neurologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/neurologists): $248,560 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.