Dosimetrist Career Guide: Role, Salary, Education, and How to Get Started
11 Apr, 2026
If you've ever searched for "opteometrist" or "optometrist" while exploring healthcare careers, you're not alone — this is one of the most commonly searched and occasionally misspelled job titles in the medical field. Whether you typed "opteometrist" into your search bar or arrived here through a more traditional route, I'm glad you found us. Optometry is a rewarding, well-compensated, and growing healthcare profession, and at healthcareers.app, we're here to help you understand exactly what it takes to build a successful career in this field.
An optometrist is a Doctor of Optometry (OD) who specializes in examining, diagnosing, and treating conditions of the eye and visual system. Unlike ophthalmologists, who are medical doctors (MDs) that perform eye surgery, optometrists focus primarily on vision care, prescribing corrective lenses, detecting eye diseases, and managing chronic conditions like glaucoma and macular degeneration. They serve as the frontline providers for eye health, and millions of patients rely on them every year for routine and specialized care.
I've worked with thousands of healthcare professionals navigating career decisions, and optometry consistently ranks among the most satisfying healthcare careers — combining patient interaction, diagnostic problem-solving, and entrepreneurial opportunity in a way few other professions can match.
The demand for optometrists is growing, and the data backs it up. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov), employment of optometrists is projected to grow 9 percent from 2022 to 2032 — faster than the average for all occupations. An aging population that requires more vision care, increased screen time driving up eye strain and myopia rates, and expanded scope-of-practice laws in several states are all contributing to this upward trajectory.
Here's what makes optometry particularly attractive compared to other healthcare careers:
The journey to becoming an optometrist begins with a bachelor's degree. While there's no required major, most aspiring optometrists study biology, chemistry, or a related science. You'll need to complete prerequisite coursework that typically includes:
Strong academic performance is essential. According to the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (opt.edu), the average GPA for admitted students to Doctor of Optometry programs hovers around 3.4 to 3.5.
Before applying to optometry school, you'll need to take the OAT, a standardized test administered by the American Dental Association. The OAT covers natural sciences, reading comprehension, physics, and quantitative reasoning. A competitive score — generally 320 or above — significantly strengthens your application.
Optometry school is a four-year graduate program. The first two years focus heavily on classroom and laboratory instruction covering ocular anatomy, pharmacology, optics, and visual science. The final two years emphasize clinical rotations where students gain hands-on experience diagnosing and treating patients under supervision.
There are currently 23 accredited optometry schools in the United States. We recommend researching each program's strengths, clinical partnerships, and board pass rates when making your decision.
After earning your OD degree, you must pass the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) examinations — a three-part series covering applied basic science, patient assessment, and clinical skills. Each state also has its own licensing requirements, which may include jurisprudence exams covering state-specific laws and regulations.
While not required, completing a one-year residency in a specialty area can significantly enhance your career prospects. Popular residency specializations include:
Compensation is a major factor in any career decision, and optometry delivers strong financial returns on your educational investment. Here's a closer look at the salary landscape:
Geography plays a significant role in compensation. Optometrists in rural areas or underserved communities often command higher salaries due to supply-demand dynamics. States like Alaska, Vermont, and parts of the Midwest tend to offer above-average compensation packages. Practice ownership can push earnings well above the median, though it also comes with the responsibilities and risks of running a business.
One of the things I love about optometry is the variety of career paths available. Here are the most common settings:
About half of all optometrists work in private practice, either as solo practitioners or in group settings. This path offers the most autonomy but also requires business acumen — managing staff, billing, marketing, and operations alongside patient care.
Large retailers like Costco, Walmart, and LensCrafters employ optometrists to provide on-site eye exams. These positions often offer competitive salaries, benefits, and predictable schedules without the overhead of practice ownership.
Optometrists working in hospital settings often handle more complex cases, collaborate with ophthalmologists and other specialists, and may be involved in surgical co-management.
The VA is one of the largest employers of optometrists in the country. These positions come with federal benefits, loan repayment programs, and opportunities to work with a diverse patient population.
Teaching at an optometry school or conducting vision science research is another viable path, particularly for those who complete residency training and enjoy mentoring the next generation of practitioners.
One of the fascinating things about working in healthcare is how seemingly unrelated specialties can intersect. At healthcareers.app, we see job seekers exploring a wide range of niche roles, and I want to highlight a couple of interesting adjacent fields that often come up alongside optometry searches.
Medical illustrator work is a surprisingly relevant field for those interested in visual science. Medical illustrators create detailed anatomical drawings, surgical illustrations, and patient education materials — including those used extensively in ophthalmology and optometry textbooks. If you have artistic talent alongside a passion for eye science, medical illustrator work offers a creative career path within healthcare. These professionals typically hold a master's degree in medical illustration and can earn between $60,000 and $100,000 annually, according to the Association of Medical Illustrators.
While it may seem unrelated at first glance, understanding the odontology definition in forensics illustrates how specialized healthcare knowledge applies beyond traditional clinical settings. Forensic odontology involves the application of dental science to legal investigations — identifying remains through dental records, analyzing bite marks, and providing expert testimony. Just as forensic odontology bridges dentistry and law enforcement, optometrists occasionally serve in forensic capacities, providing expert analysis of visual evidence, evaluating trauma-related vision loss, or contributing to disability assessments. The odontology definition in forensics reminds us that healthcare expertise has applications far beyond the exam room.
We built healthcareers.app because we know how challenging the job search can be, even in high-demand fields. Here are my top recommendations for new optometry graduates:
The typical timeline is eight years after high school: four years of undergraduate education followed by four years of optometry school. If you choose to pursue a residency, add one additional year. Some accelerated programs allow students to complete their bachelor's and OD degrees in seven years through combined pathways.
Yes, "opteometrist" is one of the most common misspellings of "optometrist." While it won't affect your clinical career, it's worth noting that hiring managers and recruiters do notice attention to detail on resumes and cover letters. Always use the correct spelling — "optometrist" — on all professional documents. On our platform at healthcareers.app, we make sure you find the right listings regardless of how you spell your search.
An optometrist holds a Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree and provides primary vision care, prescribes corrective lenses, and manages many eye conditions medically. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (MD or DO) who has completed a residency in ophthalmology and can perform eye surgeries. Both professionals work collaboratively to ensure comprehensive eye care, and many practices employ both.
This depends on the state. A growing number of states — including Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Louisiana — have expanded optometric scope of practice to include certain laser and minor surgical procedures. According to the American Optometric Association, scope-of-practice legislation continues to evolve, and more states are likely to expand surgical privileges for optometrists in the coming years.
The "best" state depends on your priorities. For salary, states like New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Alaska tend to offer higher compensation. For scope of practice, states like Oklahoma and Kentucky give optometrists the broadest clinical privileges. For lifestyle, you'll want to weigh cost of living, climate, and proximity to family. We recommend using healthcareers.app to compare opportunities across states and find the right fit for your career goals.
Optometry is a profession that offers an exceptional combination of meaningful patient care, financial stability, work-life balance, and career flexibility. Whether you arrived here searching for "opteometrist" or you've been methodically researching your options for months, I hope this guide has given you a clear roadmap for pursuing this rewarding career. From the educational pathway and licensure requirements to salary expectations and practice settings, you now have the foundational knowledge you need to take the next step. And if you're curious about related fields — whether that's medical illustrator work, the intersection of forensic disciplines like the odontology definition in forensics, or any other healthcare career — we're here to help you explore every possibility. Browse open optometrist positions and other healthcare opportunities today at healthcareers.app, and take the first step toward the career you deserve.
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