optometry jobs

This forum made possible through the generous support of
SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
G

green

Junior Member
7+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2003
Messages
14
Reaction score
0
Members do not see this ad.
Hi for those of you that are optometrists or recently graduated, I was wondering if it was hard to find a job or not. I am thinking about optometry and one of the things I'm researching is the job outlook. I know according to the occupational outlook handbook and all it says that the job outlook is good but I don't see any jobs available in the classified ads in the paper, monster.com has about 2 jobs or so available, and I have even looked at jobsearch websites for optometrists and even the optometry schools' websites for jobs posted and there doesn't seem to be a lot available. Where are the jobs and how did you find them and was it difficult to get it? Thanks
 
In my opinion, it is hard to find jobs nowadays compared to 5 years ago. In major cities there is a saturation of OD's and OMD's. From from what I'm seeing, the jobs are just not out there. It has become difficult to find the right job and mode of practice to get into. Furthermore, even retail which was a sure thing (guarantee of easily finding a job) has become very difficult as well. Don't believe me? Pick up any Sunday newspaper in any major city- East/ West Coast and see how many opportunities are out there at the moment. Not many my friend. The hey days of finding jobs in commercial optometry has also dwindled unless you are willing to practice in a remote area where you are neede and have no desire to go.
try finding a job in a Hospital w/ OMD's or a clinic. Good Luck even harder to get in.
Salaries in my opinion have remained stagnant over the years. I challenge anyone to explain to me how the AOA derives annual optometric salaries for private /self employed / employed OD's across the country? These figures appear awefully high and bogus.
Do you really want to become an optometrist?
Think about it or you are going to regret it big time.
Good Luck!
 
i will say that optometry in Canada, in most locales, is extremely promising job-wise.
 
It's very hard to find a job in deed. There are little jobs available and I have been looking a lot myself. You don't have to believe me, just spend 4 years in any optometric school and you will find out yourself and then come back tell us about it then. Good luck
 
yeah job outlook has been a concern for me lately, and i haven't even started optometry school yet. =/

i've spoken to a recent grad who has 3 part time jobs! it's scary to think that once i finish school, there'll be no jobs out there since od's take forever to retire and there are so many od's out there practicing.

but i guess it really depends on where you want to work. i'm sure bigger cities are saturated with od's. i think with most professions you do have to work your way up. too bad opt schools dont' accept less students due to the saturation of the profession. but we all know that will never happen since the students' money keeps the schools going.

anyway, to the original poster: if job outlook is a big concern for you go to pharmacy. demand and recruitment are high, and income is excellent. but remember that money isn't everything and you really have to think whether you will be happy with what you choose to do since you'll be doing for the bulk part of your life.
 
It is difficult to find good hard working Optometrists. If you have a personality, are hard working and enjoy yourself you will find a job and most of the docs I know make about 200k. Some more some less, newer grads make about 350-450 per day. No one I know works more than 40 hours per week, I work 35 and looking to do less.
 
iiidave, thx for the info! which state do u practise in? and how long have you been practising?
 
iiiidave, I know many OD's who have been practicing for many years and none of them makes even close to 200K. Where do you get these numbers? 350-450 a day for a new grad.? Working less than 35 hours a week? This is not reality and certainly not the norm.
 
I have practiced in Arizona for ten years. I hire two doctors, base 300/day and 375/day plus bonus. Recently there have been a lot more O.D.?s looking but I think that?s the economy. I know at least four doctors that make more than me and I net over 200K. The guys that work for me work part time and part time elsewhere and earn 110 to 120 per year. The good guys will do very well.
 
iidave,

you're one of the many "successful" ODs i know. Have you any regret for choosing optometry as your career? Besides the $$ factor, do you enjoy your work at all? Do you face any inferiority complex as an OD?

Also, it would be interesting to see other ODs post their salaries up if you don't mind and the region of the country that you're in. I'm really interested (with no intention) in RC's post by the way.

😎
 
The salaries you posted 350-400 are certainly attainable in busy practices and in large cities. 400-450 is unrealistic. I don't know many; if infact any getting that kind of base salary per day.
Especially new graduates. The numbers are just not there.
The AOA boasts how well optometrists fair across the country by posting gross and net median salaries every year. I honestly cannot believe these figures. They are too high and they try to make our profession seem better from a financial point than it is.
Eyedream 82 you spend way too much time on this board. Go back and hit the books and study so one day you too can be one of the few OD's making 200,000 buckaroos!
And then you'll wake up..................................time to go to your 70-80,000 dollar job :laugh:
 
70 to 80 K is nothing to laugh at. It's better than the 30K I made as a biotech researcher.. 🙄
 
Originally posted by Reality check
And then you'll wake up..................................time to go to your 70-80,000 dollar job :laugh:
Click to expand...
No kidding! :laugh: After all, we all know anybody who's worth anything as a professional, nay, as a human being, earns at least a salary at the high end of six figures. C'mon, seriously, how many people out there could honestly look favorably at a career where you make $75,000 a year?



...oh, that's right. A whole damned LOT of them, that's how many.
 
Optometry is a funny field. The guys that do a residency go out and work for a big Ophthalmology groups and make less than the guy that has a lease at a good Wal-Mart. It doesn?t pay to extend yourself beyond Op school. I wanted to make the point that there are a lot of guys on either end of the pay scale. The last income survey that I read had the average net income of an Optometrist at about 120k. There is a 150k guy for every 80k guy. The trick is to figure out how to become the higher paid one.

I think my job is the easiest job there is. Good pay, low stress, fun, but you have to build that scenario for yourself. Don?t leave it up to chance. I do not have any trouble with being an Optometrist I have many MD patients probably more than one hundred. They are the most satisfied group in the world. We are not junior ophthalmologists we are Optometrists. Get that straight early. I am a poor Ophthalmologist but a dam good Optometrist. More on that later.
 
What is that comment about? If salary isn?t important to you then that?s great but it is to a lot of folks and that is not a bad thing.
 
Well, i see less figures and hard facts here...i realize its hard to pull up those numbers. Regardless, the underlying point in most occupations is your salary will be determined not only by your hard-work but how tactful/good you are with people.

Onto some of my findings:

2002 Data: U.S. Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Please read the following wage results FOR OPTOMETRISTS:
http://stats.bls.gov/oes/2002/oes_29He.htm
especially this one:
http://stats.bls.gov/oes/2002/oes291041.htm

Please read the following for if you want to know how much they make in your METROPOLITAN AREA:
http://stats.bls.gov/oes/2002/oessrcma.htm (optometrist SOC-code number is 29-1041)

Please read the following for if you want to know how much they make in your STATE:
http://stats.bls.gov/oes/2002/oessrcst.htm (optometrist SOC-code number is 29-1041)


Just to be fair, how they came up with these numbers: read up on this link http://stats.bls.gov/oes/2002/oes_tec.htm and goto the part where it says Reliability of the estimates. 🙂


I really hope this helps, dont shoot the messenger--if ur going to, i want it in the back of the head. Also note that in most cases the RSE (relative standard error is given).

Tony
 
I realize there are problems with statistics and how they can be interpreted or relayed (ex. such figures dont tell us things like experience, etc.)

It would be nice if there was some "standard" on SDN when people talk salary numbers for those that are concerned. So I propose considering these numbers, as some sort of standard?

I wouldnt hesistate to say "as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics:" (rather than using AOA numbers)

Nationally, the mean annual wage for optometrists is $95,440
Nationally, the median annual wage for optometrists is $86,090

Money isnt everything 😉 have a nice life
 
Originally posted by HighlyFanatic


Money isnt everything 😉 have a nice life
Click to expand...

This is so true. I've been saying this for awhile and believe in it. Do what you love and the money is icing on the cake; however, do what you hate and the money becomes the shackle that binds you to the thing you despise.
 
Originally posted by Andrew_Doan
Do what you love and the money is icing on the cake; however, do what you hate and the money becomes the shackle that binds you to the thing you despise.
Click to expand...

i really like the analogy there Dr. Doan. You got me thinking deep 😎

Great links Tony!!!! Good goin man.👍
 
Originally posted by HighlyFanatic

Nationally, the mean annual wage for optometrists is $95,440
Nationally, the median annual wage for optometrists is $86,090


Money isnt everything 😉 have a nice life
Click to expand...
Locally, the actual wage for r_salis is $0. 😀
 
I have a friend who graduated from optometry school about a year ago. She couldn't find a full-time position so she works part-time at two different Walmart's making about $60k total. She told me she was happy with that because a lot of her classmates couldn't find any work at all. From what I hear a lot of it has to do with location. You just have to be willing to move to where the work is. Obviously it isn't this way for everyone, but just another perspective.
 
kansas and missouri our great locations and i'm not worried in the least of finding a job when i'm done in 3.5 years.....all, the 4th and 3rd years i know are getting very lucrative offers to practice in kansas/missouri/oklahoma.........true, many people would rather not live/practice in those states, but i'm from a small town in kansas and it doesn't bother me in the least.....i would have to say that most people who have trouble finding jobs are those who are dead-set on living in a large metropolitan area where competition is fierce......
 
Originally posted by Serfes
I have a friend who graduated from optometry school about a year ago. She couldn't find a full-time position so she works part-time at two different Walmart's making about $60k total. She told me she was happy with that because a lot of her classmates couldn't find any work at all. From what I hear a lot of it has to do with location. You just have to be willing to move to where the work is. Obviously it isn't this way for everyone, but just another perspective.
Click to expand...
Just curious, does your friend get medical benefits from Walmart since she's in 2 part-time jobs rather than a true full-time position?
 
I'm not sure. I can ask her though.
 
Originally posted by thenderson
i would have to say that most people who have trouble finding jobs are those who are dead-set on living in a large metropolitan area where competition is fierce......
Click to expand...

I'd agree with that. The woman I'm referring to works in a large metropolitan area with an optometry school.
 
I have many MD patients probably more than one hundred. They are the most satisfied group in the world.

I ment to say they are NOT the most satisfied group in the world. The best thing about optometry is it is good pay with very little stress and short hours(less than 40hours per week). If you want to make a killing go into dentistry. It is short work week and more stress and more money.
 
Originally posted by iiiidave
I have many MD patients probably more than one hundred. They are the most satisfied group in the world.

I ment to say they are NOT the most satisfied group in the world. The best thing about optometry is it is good pay with very little stress and short hours(less than 40hours per week). If you want to make a killing go into dentistry. It is short work week and more stress and more money.
Click to expand...
There's no sense arguing against statistics (the average pay and average work week) for dental vs. opto, but dentistry certainly doesn't have to be stressful to bring success.
 
I don't know first hand how stressful dentistry is but my dentist told me never to become a dentist unfortunately I took his advice and did not pursue more information about dentistry. I do know that I get mixed reviews about the profession from the dentists that I care for in my practice but I think the good bad ratio favors the positive by about 65%-35%. Back before I became an Optometrist I talked to about 35 O.D.?s and 95% were happy. If you took a survey today the very happy would probably be closer to the 65/35 split that I quoted for dentistry. Hey that is my opinion if yours differs I would like to here your logic. Anyway I?m going to find out relatively soon because my wife has been accepted to dental school and begins dental school in July. I have it easy and am greatful.
 
not sure if this is relating to the stress level of dentist, but is it true that dentist have the highest suicidal rate? why is that? i'm very curious to know. don't get me wrong, i'm not trying to bad mouthing or putting down the profession or anything, i'm just curious.
 
I have a friend who graduated from optometry school about a year ago. She couldn't find a full-time position so she works part-time at two different Walmart's making about $60k total.

what state is she in?
 
Originally posted by eyedream82
not sure if this is relating to the stress level of dentist, but is it true that dentist have the highest suicidal rate? why is that? i'm very curious to know. don't get me wrong, i'm not trying to bad mouthing or putting down the profession or anything, i'm just curious.
Click to expand...
I've heard that that is an urban legend. Maybe aphistis can comment?
 
Originally posted by iiiidave
I have a friend who graduated from optometry school about a year ago. She couldn't find a full-time position so she works part-time at two different Walmart's making about $60k total.

what state is she in?
Click to expand...

Texas
 
rebuttal? Hardly at all. Go ask some ex-wm ODs. See what they say about it, because the current wm ODs are afraid to say it.
 
Originally posted by optcom
rebuttal? Hardly at all. Go ask some ex-wm ODs. See what they say about it, because the current wm ODs are afraid to say it.
Click to expand...

i totally agree. but that is wal-mart's lame attempt :laugh: at a rebuttal, not mine. either way, its interesting to see that they "supposedly care" now 🙄
 
Originally posted by Serfes
I have a friend who graduated from optometry school about a year ago. She couldn't find a full-time position so she works part-time at two different Walmart's making about $60k total. She told me she was happy with that because a lot of her classmates couldn't find any work at all. From what I hear a lot of it has to do with location. You just have to be willing to move to where the work is. Obviously it isn't this way for everyone, but just another perspective.
Click to expand...

I should add an update to this. I hadn't talked to my friend in a while. After talking with her yesterday she told me that she did find a full-time job shortly after making substantially more.
 
Originally posted by HighlyFanatic
Well, i see less figures and hard facts here...i realize its hard to pull up those numbers. Regardless, the underlying point in most occupations is your salary will be determined not only by your hard-work but how tactful/good you are with people.

Onto some of my findings:

2002 Data: U.S. Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Please read the following wage results FOR OPTOMETRISTS:
http://stats.bls.gov/oes/2002/oes_29He.htm
especially this one:
http://stats.bls.gov/oes/2002/oes291041.htm

Please read the following for if you want to know how much they make in your METROPOLITAN AREA:
http://stats.bls.gov/oes/2002/oessrcma.htm (optometrist SOC-code number is 29-1041)

Please read the following for if you want to know how much they make in your STATE:
http://stats.bls.gov/oes/2002/oessrcst.htm (optometrist SOC-code number is 29-1041)


Just to be fair, how they came up with these numbers: read up on this link http://stats.bls.gov/oes/2002/oes_tec.htm and goto the part where it says Reliability of the estimates. 🙂


I really hope this helps, dont shoot the messenger--if ur going to, i want it in the back of the head. Also note that in most cases the RSE (relative standard error is given).

Tony
Click to expand...


Hey Tony forgive me if you've already answered this question, but have you ever seen similar stats for Canada??

silverandblack
 
Originally posted by silverandblack
Hey Tony forgive me if you've already answered this question, but have you ever seen similar stats for Canada??

silverandblack
Click to expand...

http://www23.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/2001/e/groups/3121.shtml
NOC Code (occupationa code) for OD's in Canada is 3121.

http://www.alis.gov.ab.ca/occinfo/C...GetHTMLProfile&format=html&OCCPRO_ID=71002675 Provincial Gov't of Alberta Wage & Labor Stats

Most of the optometrists I know here in Edmonton earn 100K+ usually nothing less. The ones in group practices i've talked to have mentioned over 150K+.

http://saskjobfutures.ca/jobchart/jobchart.cfm?noc=3&lang=e&site=graphic Saskatchewan

http://www.opto.ca
 
Originally posted by aphistis
There's no sense arguing against statistics (the average pay and average work week) for dental vs. opto, but dentistry certainly doesn't have to be stressful to bring success.
Click to expand...

The h*ll it doesn't!! Dentistry is a stressful profession. There are numerous ADA (american dental association) studies documenting high levels of stress. Perhaps those with "natural hands" and a love for teeth won't find stressful, however, I have found dentistry to be far more detail-oriented and difficult than perceived.

And this compared to optomtery!! Of course OD's have less stress!!
 
I know most people don't ask this. But is it hard finding a job where they only want you to work for one day a week? Like a Monday for example.
 
Originally posted by stompy
I know most people don't ask this. But is it hard finding a job where they only want you to work for one day a week? Like a Monday for example.
Click to expand...
If that one day a week was a Saturday or Sunday, I think it would be a pretty easy thing to do. I often see ads in the paper looking for a 1 or 2 day a week position, usually for weekend work.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top