Optometrist vs Ophthalmologist: pay, outlook, education and work, side by side.
Every row comes from one named source and says which career leads on that one dimension. There is no overall score.
Optometrist vs Ophthalmologist: BLS classifies them as different occupations (SOC 29-1041 and 29-1241). The national median annual wage is $136,570 for optometrists and $300,080 for ophthalmologists (BLS, May 2025). BLS projects national employment to change +9.5% for optometrists and +4.5% for ophthalmologists from 2025 to 2035. Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree vs Doctoral or professional degree. Which fits better depends on what you value; the table shows who leads on each dimension, with no overall winner.
Side by side
Data Differences smaller than a stated threshold read “About the same” (pay 5%, growth 2 points, openings 10%, one education level, ORS 10 points, O*NET 0.2).
Pick what matters to you; the matching rows are highlighted. Nothing is combined into a score.
| Dimension · source | OptometristSOC 29-1041 | OphthalmologistSOC 29-1241 | Leads on this dimension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wageBLS OEWS, May 2025 (national) | $136,570 | $300,080 | Ophthalmologist |
| EmploymentBLS OEWS, May 2025 | 42,790 | 8,950 | Not ranked |
| Projected employment change, 2025–35BLS Employment Projections (national) | +9.5% | +4.5% | Optometrist |
| Projected numeric change in jobs, 2025–35BLS Employment Projections (national) · A count, not a rate: it scales with the size of the occupation. | +4,300 jobs | +400 jobs | Not ranked |
| Projected openings (annual average)BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35 | 2,000 a year | 200 a year | Optometrist |
| Typical entry-level educationBLS Employment Projections · typical, not a legal requirement | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree | About the same |
| Typical work experience in a related occupationBLS Employment Projections | None | None | About the same |
| Typical on-the-job trainingBLS Employment Projections | None | Internship/residency | Not ranked |
| Pressure level (O*NET, 1–5; lower = less)O*NET® 31.0 work context | 3.53 | 4.12 | Optometrist |
| Freedom to make decisions (O*NET, 1–5)O*NET® 31.0 work context | 4.71 | 5.00 | Ophthalmologist |
| Work styles O*NET rates most importantO*NET® 31.0 work styles (occupation ratings, not a personality test) | Attention to Detail, Dependability, Cautiousness | Attention to Detail, Dependability, Cautiousness | Not ranked |
Choose based on what matters to you
Data Each line restates a measured difference from the table; nothing here predicts how you will feel about a job.
- faster projected national growth matters (+9.5% vs +4.5%)
- a lower-pressure work environment matters (3.53 vs 4.12)
- higher median pay matters most ($300,080 vs $136,570)
- more decision-making freedom matters (5.00 vs 4.71)
Which skills each one leans on
Data O*NET 31.0 skill ratings: level (0–7) and importance.
Skill-profile match: 88% (similarity of the two O*NET skill profiles, importance × level; 100% = identical).
- Quality Control Analysis (+0.5 on O*NET's 0–7 skill-level scale)
- Troubleshooting (+0.4 on O*NET's 0–7 skill-level scale)
- Instructing (+1.4 on O*NET's 0–7 skill-level scale)
- Equipment Selection (+1.0 on O*NET's 0–7 skill-level scale)
- Learning Strategies (+0.8 on O*NET's 0–7 skill-level scale)
- Time Management (+0.8 on O*NET's 0–7 skill-level scale)
What each career involves
Data Core tasks from O*NET 31.0.
Optometrist
- Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.
- Prescribe, supply, fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision aids.
- Prescribe medications to treat eye diseases if state laws permit.
- Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements, and safety factors.
Ophthalmologist
- Perform comprehensive examinations of the visual system to determine the nature or extent of ocular disorders.
- Diagnose or treat injuries, disorders, or diseases of the eye and eye structures including the cornea, sclera, conjunctiva, or eyelids.
- Provide or direct the provision of postoperative care.
- Develop or implement plans and procedures for ophthalmologic services.
Largest employing industries
Data Share of all jobs in each occupation, BLS Employment Matrix 2025.
Optometrist
- Ambulatory healthcare services (78.4% of all jobs in this occupation)
- Hospitals; state, local, and private (1.3% of all jobs in this occupation)
- Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals (1.3% of all jobs in this occupation)
Ophthalmologist
- Ambulatory healthcare services (80.7% of all jobs in this occupation)
- Hospitals; state, local, and private (7.8% of all jobs in this occupation)
- Educational services; state, local, and private (3.5% of all jobs in this occupation)
Moving between these careers
Data The comparison shows which; the career-change guides show how.
- Optometrist → Ophthalmologist: skills to build: Instructing, Equipment Selection, Learning Strategies.
- Ophthalmologist → Optometrist: skills to build: Quality Control Analysis.
Go deeper
Optometrist career hub · Optometrist salary · Optometrist how to become
Common questions
Which pays more, Optometrist or Ophthalmologist?
Which is growing faster?
Which is better?
How this page is built
BLS classifies them as different occupations (SOC 29-1041 and 29-1241). Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025 national median for each occupation's SOC code. Outlook: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 (growth, numeric change and annual openings are separate metrics). Requirements rows: 2025 preliminary BLS Occupational Requirements Survey, shown only when both roles have detailed-occupation estimates. Work environment: O*NET 31.0 work context. This page includes information from the O*NET® 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. TryHired has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Searches this page answers include “optometrist vs ophthalmologist salary”, “ophthalmologist vs optometrist salary”, “optometrist vs ophthalmologist education” (Ahrefs, U.S.).
- Any one employer's pay, schedule or culture.
- Job security, ease of hiring or work-life balance: these are not measured here.
- Which career you will prefer: the rows describe the occupations, not you.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025–35 national projections (growth, openings, typical entry-level education and experience).
- O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey, 2025 estimates (preliminary: two of the third wave's samples, collected August 2023 to July 2025; released January 16, 2026), public domain.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025–35 National Employment Matrix (all jobs, including self-employed).