Report says optometrists have ‘surprisingly low’ salaries

Article

According to a report from Business Insider, optometry tops the list of prestigious professions with surprisingly low pay.

According to a report from Business Insider, optometry tops the list of prestigious professions with surprisingly low pay.

Best and worst cities in the U.S. to practice

The report used data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics on the mean salary of full-time civilian workers in various fields that are traditionally considered to be prestigious and generally require advanced degrees.

“Some of these gigs, like being an architect or an optometrist, pay well below what you might expect,” the authors write.

Topping that list was optometry, where the average annual salary is $111,640.

“(Optometrists) perform eye exams and make just a fraction as much as some medical professionals,” the authors write. “For comparison, the average physician earns $191,880 a year, and dentists, who undergo a similar amount of training, earn $168,870.”

Which other professions made the list?

 

• Biomedical engineers: $93,960

• Chemists: $77,740

• Budget analysts: $72,560

• Credit analysts: $72,590

• Architects, surveyors, and cartographers: $71,790

• Psychologists: $74,310

• Accountants and auditors: $72,500

• Professors: $77,550 for area, ethnic, or cultural studies; $74,210 for mathematics or science; and $68,360 for English language or literature.

• Zoologists and marine/wildlife biologists: $62,610

• Legislators: $39,320

• Dietitians/nutritionists: $56,300

• Graphic designers: $49,610

• Post-doctoral fellows: Varies, but NIH offers $42,000

• Chefs and head cooks: $46,620

• Marriage and family therapists: $51,690

• Embalmers: $46,620

• Reporters: $44,360

Study ranks cities with happiest patients

Newsletter

Want more insights like this? Subscribe to Optometry Times and get clinical pearls and practice tips delivered straight to your inbox.

Recent Videos
Selina McGee, OD, shares what she wants to see in future State of Dry Eye surveys and how this year's results will affect her patient care.
Marc Bloomenstein, OD, FAAO, is a clinical investigator in the trials and overviews the transformative potential of LNZ100.
Shawn Hobbs, OD, previews the annual NOA convention, which takes place in Columbus, Ohio, from July 10 to 12, 2025.
Clark Chang, OD, MSA, MSc, FAAO, gave a presentation alongside Susan Gromacki, OD, MS, FAAO, FSLS, at this year's Optometry's Meeting.
Selina McGee, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO, shares key takeaways and a personal anecdote relating to the State of Dry Eye survey results.
Devin Sasser, OD, shares his excitement for Acuvue Oasys MAX 1-Day multifocal for astigmatism, the first and only daily disposable multifocal toric contact lens.
Reviewing the State of Dry Eye Survey with Selina McGee, OD, FAAO, Dipl ABO.
Jessilin Quint, OD, MBA, FAAO, outlines her AOA's Optometry's Meeting 2025 presentation on nutrition and its impact on ocular health.
Carolyn Majcher, OD, FAAO, detailed a talk she gave alongside Mary Beth Yackey, OD, at Optometry's Meeting 2025.
Shelby Brogdon, OD, details opportunities for practices to answer the patient's concerns from the chair before they hit the internet for their contact lens needs.
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.