Also called: Eye Doctor, OD
Examines eyes, prescribes glasses and contacts, and diagnoses and treats many eye diseases.
Runs 15-25 eye exams a day: flipping lenses ('better one, or two?'), checking eye pressure for glaucoma, spotting signs of diabetes in the retina, and fitting a teen for first contact lenses. Hours are regular; many own practices.
Estimate based on BLS May 2024.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Professional degree (MD, JD, DVM…), about 8 years after high school. Bachelor's plus a 4-year Doctor of Optometry (OD) program and licensing exams.
Ways in: 4-year college, Professional school. Training cost: Over $150k.
Majors to look at: Biology, Chemistry, Pre-Optometry.
Growing faster than average (about 7% over 10 years). Faster than average.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Auto-refractors and online vision tests handle basic prescriptions; disease diagnosis, contact fitting and patient care stay human.
Classes: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Physics (optics), Business class.
Official data: O*NET occupation 29-1041.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.