# Orthoptists

> Diagnose and treat visual system disorders such as binocular vision and eye movement impairments.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/orthoptists
- SOC code: 29-1299.02
- Career family: Healthcare practitioners
- Median annual pay: $115,210 (10th percentile $65,210, 90th percentile $195,190)
- Projected growth: Faster than average, +5.5%
- Openings a year: 1,900
- Typical entry education: Master's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections
- Pay and outlook are for the broader BLS group "Healthcare diagnosing or treating practitioners, all other".

## Interest profile (code IRS)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 65 |
| Investigative (I) | 79 |
| Artistic (A) | 15 |
| Social (S) | 63 |
| Enterprising (E) | 8 |
| Conventional (C) | 47 |

## What you'd do

- Assisting and Caring for Others (importance 93/100)
- Getting Information (importance 92/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 88/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 85/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 84/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 80/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 77/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 77/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 77/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 77/100)

## Skills

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

## Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Biology, Education and Training, Psychology, Mathematics, Therapy and Counseling, Physics, Administrative

## Also called

Clinical Orthoptist (CO), CO (Certified Orthoptist)

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

- [Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5133) (CIP 5133, 54 colleges)
- Alternative and Complementary Medical Support Services (CIP 5134, 6 colleges)
- Energy and Biologically Based Therapies (CIP 5137, 6 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Metropolitan State University of Denver](https://www.collegesref.com/college/metropolitan-state-university-of-denver-1667) | Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems | $33,605 | $45,766 | $19,000 |
| [Ashford University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/ashford-university-121) | Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems | $43,308 | $44,036 | $40,444 |
| [Vermont Technical College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/vermont-technical-college-3121) | Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems | not reported | $40,273 | $26,636 |
| [Everglades University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/everglades-university-930) | Alternative and Complementary Medicine and Medical Systems | $31,786 | $36,960 | $40,291 |

## Related careers

- [Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/ophthalmologists-except-pediatric): $300,080 median pay
- [Optometrists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/optometrists): $136,570 median pay
- [Emergency Medicine Physicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/emergency-medicine-physicians): $335,550 median pay
- [Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physical-medicine-and-rehabilitation-physicians): $265,930 median pay
- [Neurologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/neurologists): $248,560 median pay
- [General Internal Medicine Physicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/general-internal-medicine-physicians): $256,560 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.