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Optometrist
HealthcareYou'll shine bright lights into people's eyes, flip lenses back and forth asking 'better one or better two' until they panic and guess, and prescribe glasses to people who will immediately lose them. It's a good gig — Monday through Friday, solid pay, and nobody dies on your watch (usually).
Salary Range
Low
$90k
Median
$125k
High
$175k
10-Year Growth
faster than average
US Workers
46K
Education
Doctor of Optometry (4 years post-bachelor's) + state license
Environment
indoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Phoropter and autorefractor operation
- ▸Slit-lamp biomicroscopy
- ▸Retinal imaging (OCT, fundus photography)
- ▸Tonometry for glaucoma screening
- ▸Contact lens fitting and evaluation
- ▸Visual field testing (Humphrey, Octopus)
- ▸Ophthalmic pharmacology
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Patient communication
- ▸Attention to detail
- ▸Business management
- ▸Empathy
- ▸Precision
What you'll actually do
- 01Ask 'which is better, one or two?' approximately 400 times per day
- 02Dilate pupils and shine lights into eyes while patients try not to blink their face off
- 03Prescribe corrective lenses to people who will sit on them within a month
- 04Screen for glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy before patients know they have it
- 05Fit contact lenses for people who are terrified of touching their own eyeballs
- 06Convince patients that yes, they really do need an eye exam every year, not every decade
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