How much money does an optometrist make

The data for this snapshot was collected from individuals who took PayScale's salary survey.

Optometrist Salary - How Much Do Optometrists Make?

Add this chart to your site: Optometrists examine patients' eyes, conducting vision tests and diagnosing and treating sight problems. The main responsibilities of an optometrist include examining patients of all ages to detect vision defects, diseases or injuries; producing reports that detail patients' visual exam histories to supply the best care; providing advice to patients who may need lenses or frames; and writing referrals to other vision specialists when appropriate.

Additionally, optometrists may have monthly sales goals designated by his or her employer. Higher-level optometrists may manage staff, as well as communicate with sales representatives from various vision product suppliers to maintain product supply for the company. Optometrist generally work in private practice, such as in eye offices and vision centers; they may also teach at the university level. To become an optometrist, prospective employees must obtain an undergraduate degree in anatomy, biology, chemistry or another relevant field.

Then, they must complete optometry school. Some employers may require prospective applicants to obtain a doctorate of optometry, which requires an additional four years of education.

Upon completion of the optometry program, applicants must obtain a license in the state in which they wish to practice. To gain a license, applicants must pass a clinical and written examination administered by the National Board of Examiners in Optometry. Survey results suggest that Optometrists use a fairly large toolkit of professional skills.

Most notably, skills in contact lens, Glaucoma, low vision, and Optometry are correlated to pay that is above average.

Ocular disease and Contact Lenses, on the other hand, are typically associated with much lower pay. For most people, competency in Optometry indicates knowledge of Contact Lenses. Pay by Experience for an Optometrist has a positive trend. Average total compensation includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay.

With a pay rate for Optometrists that is 15 percent greater than the national average, Phoenix offers a comfortable salary for those in this profession. In Houston, salaries are 11 percent below the national average and represent the lowest-paying market. A couple other locations with smaller-than-average paychecks include Los Angeles 9 percent lower and Raleigh 5 percent lower. Cost of Living Calculator. What are you worth? Find out what you should be paid.

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Take the PayScale Survey to find out how location influences pay for this job. X Total Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity stock compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits e. National Hourly Rate Data? Is Optometrist your job title?

Get a personalized salary report! Find Out Exactly What You Should Be Paid Job Title: Job Description for Optometrist. Prescribe eye glasses, contact lenses, vision therapy and low vision aids for the correction of visual disorders.

Conduct tests to identify and evaluate eye defects and disease. Popular Employer Salaries for Optometrist. Popular Skills for Optometrist. This chart shows the most popular skills for this job and what effect each skill has on pay.

Pay by Experience Level for Optometrist. Pay Difference by Location.

Key Stats for Optometrist. Years of Experience Less than 1 year. Certified Ophthalmic Assistant COA. Certified Surgical Technologist CST.

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Experience Affects Optometrist Salaries. Skills That Affect Optometrist Salaries. I need salary information for… Myself. Pay the right way.

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