Optometrist demographics and statistics in the US
Optometrist demographics research summary. Zippia estimates optometrist demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our optometrist estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about optometrists after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 35,141 optometrists currently employed in the United States.
- 74.1% of all optometrists are women, while 25.9% are men.
- The average optometrist age is 44 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of optometrists is White (72.9%), followed by Asian (17.1%), Hispanic or Latino (5.2%) and Unknown (3.0%).
- Optometrists are most in-demand in New York, NY.
- Greensboro, NC pays an annual average wage of $212,018, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women optometrists earned 86% of what men earned.
- West Virginia is the best state for optometrists to live.
- Optometrists are 82% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to education companies.
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Optometrist demographics by:
Optometrist gender statistics
74.1% of optometrists are women and 25.9% of optometrists are men.
- Female, 74.1%
- Male, 25.9%
Optometrist gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 74.1% |
| Male | 25.9% |
Optometrist gender pay gap
Women earn 86¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male Income
$98,072
Female Income
$84,663
Optometrist gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in optometrist positions over time. Currently, 74.1% of optometrists are female.
Optometrist gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 32.11% | 67.89% |
| 2011 | 37.94% | 62.06% |
| 2012 | 33.88% | 66.12% |
| 2013 | 32.67% | 67.33% |
| 2014 | 31.20% | 68.80% |
| 2015 | 30.12% | 69.88% |
| 2016 | 34.45% | 65.55% |
| 2017 | 28.06% | 71.94% |
| 2018 | 25.16% | 74.84% |
| 2019 | 27.98% | 72.02% |
| 2020 | 27.62% | 72.38% |
| 2021 | 25.86% | 74.14% |
Optometrist related jobs gender ratio
We compared optometrists with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, flight surgeon and optometrist, owner have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job Title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Staff Nurse Midwife | 2% | 98% |
| Perinatal Nurse | 3% | 97% |
| Therapeutic Dietitian | 3% | 97% |
| Optometrist | 26% | 74% |
| Radiology Resident | 75% | 25% |
| Optometrist, Owner | 76% | 24% |
| Flight Surgeon | 82% | 18% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Optometrist demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among optometrists is White, which makes up 72.9% of all optometrists. Comparatively, 17.1% of optometrists are Asian and 5.2% of optometrists are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 72.9%
- Asian, 17.1%
- Hispanic or Latino, 5.2%
- Unknown, 3.0%
- Black or African American, 1.4%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
Optometrist Race
| Optometrist Race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 72.9% |
| Asian | 17.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5.2% |
| Unknown | 3.0% |
| Black or African American | 1.4% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.4% |
Optometrist race and ethnicity over time
See how optometrist racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Optometrist race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 78.28% | 1.88% | 12.65% | 4.81% |
| 2011 | 82.03% | 2.21% | 9.03% | 4.75% |
| 2012 | 79.11% | 1.89% | 11.28% | 5.57% |
| 2013 | 81.63% | 1.88% | 10.26% | 4.82% |
| 2014 | 77.06% | 1.88% | 16.04% | 3.60% |
| 2015 | 76.45% | 2.11% | 14.51% | 4.79% |
| 2016 | 82.38% | 1.29% | 10.37% | 4.21% |
| 2017 | 76.28% | 1.28% | 15.68% | 4.83% |
| 2018 | 74.82% | 1.91% | 15.72% | 5.86% |
| 2019 | 75.03% | 2.67% | 16.09% | 3.77% |
| 2020 | 73.65% | 1.74% | 17.32% | 3.81% |
| 2021 | 72.90% | 1.43% | 17.09% | 5.20% |
Optometrist wage gap by race
According to our data, asian optometrists have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Unknown optometrists have the lowest average salary at $95,360.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $95,360 |
| White | $101,260 |
| Black or African American | $95,418 |
| Asian | $101,320 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $97,186 |
Average optometrist age
See how the average age of optometrists varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Optometrist age by race and gender
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| White | 49.5 | 39 |
| Asian | 47 | 39 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 37.5 |
Optometrist age breakdown
The average age of optometrists is 40+ years years old, representing 59% of the optometrist population.
Optometrist age breakdown
| Optometrist Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 59% |
| 30-40 years | 33% |
| 20-30 years | 7% |
Optometrist educational attainment
The most common degree for optometrists is bachelor's degree, with 36% of optometrists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are doctoral degree degree at 26% and doctoral degree degree at 13%.
- Bachelor's, 36%
- Doctorate, 26%
- Associate, 13%
- High School Diploma, 11%
- Other Degrees, 14%
Optometrists by degree level
| Optometrist Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 36% |
| Doctorate | 26% |
| Associate | 13% |
| High School Diploma | 11% |
| Other Degrees | 14% |
Optometrist Jobs You Might Like
Optometrist employment statistics
Most optometrists work for a private in the health care industry.
Company size where optometrists work
Below, you can see the size of companies where optometrists work.
Optometrist jobs by employer size
| Company Size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 14% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 23% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 26% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 6% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 20% |
| > 10,000 employees | 12% |
Optometrist jobs by company type
Employees with the optometrist job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most optometrists prefer to work at private companies over education companies.
Optometrist jobs by sector
| Company Type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 9% |
| Public | 7% |
| Private | 82% |
| Government | 3% |
Optometrist jobs by industry
The most common industries for optometrists are health care, retail and education.
Optometrist industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Health Care | 44% |
| Retail | 14% |
| Education | 8% |
| Professional | 7% |
| Non Profits | 5% |
| Manufacturing | 4% |
| Technology | 4% |
| Start-up | 3% |
| Fortune 500 | 3% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Government | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Hospitality | 1% |
| Insurance | 1% |
Optometrist turnover and employment statistics
Optometrist unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for optometrists between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Unemployment rate
Optometrist unemployment rate by year
| Year | Optometrist Unemployment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.26% |
| 2011 | 0.27% |
| 2012 | 0.51% |
| 2013 | 0.51% |
| 2014 | 0.00% |
| 2015 | 0.00% |
| 2016 | 0.23% |
| 2017 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 0.18% |
| 2020 | 1.92% |
| 2021 | 1.30% |
Average optometrist tenure
The average optometrist stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 2,847 optometrists resumes in Zippia's database.
Optometrist tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 23% |
| 1-2 years | 32% |
| 3-4 years | 12% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 11% |
Optometrist LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of optometrists that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job Title | LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Speech-Language Pathology Internship | 5.69% | 72,220 |
| Baby Doctor | 9.88% | 1,178 |
| Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Technician | 11.62% | 6,831 |
| Educational Therapist | 13.00% | 23,538 |
| Anesthesiologist And Critical Care | 13.05% | 68,091 |
| Optometrist | 17.57% | - |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 31.64% | 62,419 |
Similar optometrist jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|
| Speech-Language Pathology Internship | 5.69% | 72,220 |
| Baby Doctor | 9.88% | 1,178 |
| Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Technician | 11.62% | 6,831 |
| Educational Therapist | 13.00% | 23,538 |
| Anesthesiologist And Critical Care | 13.05% | 68,091 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | 31.64% | 62,419 |
Foreign languages spoken by optometrists
The most common foreign language among optometrists is Spanish at 58.3%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Vietnamese at 5.3% and French is the third-most popular at 5.3%.
- Spanish, 58.3%
- Vietnamese, 5.3%
- French, 5.3%
- Hindi, 4.0%
- Urdu, 3.3%
- Other, 23.8%
Optometrist languages spoken
| Foreign Language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 58.3% |
| Vietnamese | 5.3% |
| French | 5.3% |
| Hindi | 4.0% |
| Urdu | 3.3% |
| Other | 23.8% |
