Optometric assistant demographics and statistics in the US
Optometric assistant demographics research summary. Zippia estimates optometric assistant demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our optometric assistant estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about optometric assistants after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 24,338 optometric assistants currently employed in the United States.
- 90.4% of all optometric assistants are women, while 9.6% are men.
- The average optometric assistant age is 36 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of optometric assistants is White (53.4%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (22.0%), Asian (9.8%) and Black or African American (9.2%).
- Optometric assistants are most in-demand in Dearborn, MI.
- The manufacturing industry is the highest-paying for optometric assistants.
- Baltimore, MD pays an annual average wage of $129,297, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women optometric assistants earned 94% of what men earned.
- 6% of all optometric assistants are LGBT.
- Massachusetts is the best state for optometric assistants to live.
- Optometric assistants are 79% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Optometric assistant demographics by:
Optometric assistant gender statistics
90.4% of optometric assistants are women and 9.6% of optometric assistants are men.
- Female, 90.4%
- Male, 9.6%
Optometric assistant gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 90.4% |
| Male | 9.6% |
Optometric assistant gender pay gap
Women earn 94¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$105,419
Female income
$99,595
Optometric assistant gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in optometric assistant positions over time. Currently, 90.4% of optometric assistants are female.
Optometric assistant gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 6.18% | 93.82% |
| 2011 | 7.88% | 92.12% |
| 2012 | 8.00% | 92.00% |
| 2013 | 8.52% | 91.48% |
| 2014 | 8.57% | 91.43% |
| 2015 | 10.14% | 89.86% |
| 2016 | 10.64% | 89.36% |
| 2017 | 9.83% | 90.17% |
| 2018 | 9.57% | 90.43% |
| 2019 | 11.15% | 88.85% |
| 2020 | 9.66% | 90.34% |
| 2021 | 9.65% | 90.35% |
Optometric assistant related jobs gender ratio
We compared optometric assistants with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, delivery technician and donations attendant have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Pathology Transcriptionist | 3% | 97% |
| Radiology Transcriptionist | 5% | 95% |
| Certified Registered Dental Assistant | 5% | 95% |
| Optometric Assistant | 10% | 90% |
| Dental Officer | 79% | 21% |
| Donations Attendant | 81% | 19% |
| Delivery Technician | 88% | 12% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Optometric assistant demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among optometric assistants is White, which makes up 53.4% of all optometric assistants. Comparatively, 22.0% of optometric assistants are Hispanic or Latino and 9.8% of optometric assistants are Asian.
- White, 53.4%
- Hispanic or Latino, 22.0%
- Asian, 9.8%
- Black or African American, 9.2%
- Unknown, 4.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%
Optometric assistant race
| Optometric assistant race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 53.4% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 22.0% |
| Asian | 9.8% |
| Black or African American | 9.2% |
| Unknown | 4.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.9% |
Optometric assistant race and ethnicity over time
See how optometric assistant racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Optometric assistant race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 59.80% | 10.10% | 7.58% | 19.30% |
| 2011 | 59.71% | 10.35% | 7.50% | 19.19% |
| 2012 | 58.39% | 11.06% | 7.32% | 19.58% |
| 2013 | 59.26% | 10.64% | 7.61% | 19.46% |
| 2014 | 59.52% | 10.14% | 7.21% | 20.16% |
| 2015 | 58.58% | 10.75% | 7.18% | 20.51% |
| 2016 | 57.33% | 9.29% | 7.95% | 21.54% |
| 2017 | 57.39% | 8.98% | 8.58% | 21.53% |
| 2018 | 56.36% | 9.49% | 7.97% | 22.41% |
| 2019 | 58.46% | 8.81% | 8.75% | 20.11% |
| 2020 | 56.68% | 8.95% | 9.29% | 19.96% |
| 2021 | 53.44% | 9.25% | 9.76% | 21.99% |
Optometric assistant wage gap by race
According to our data, asian optometric assistants have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White optometric assistants have the lowest average salary at $103,196.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $106,120 |
| White | $103,196 |
| Black or African American | $105,225 |
| Asian | $108,446 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $104,184 |
Average optometric assistant age
See how the average age of optometric assistants varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Optometric assistant age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 35 | 37 |
| Unknown | 38.5 | 33.5 |
| Asian | 30 | 35 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 31 | 32.5 |
| White | 33 | 37 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 34.5 |
Optometric assistant age breakdown
The average age of optometric assistants is 40+ years years old, representing 37% of the optometric assistant population.
Optometric assistant age breakdown
| Optometric Assistant Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 37% |
| 30-40 years | 32% |
| 20-30 years | 30% |
Optometric assistant educational attainment
The most common degree for optometric assistants is bachelor's degree, with 38% of optometric assistants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 22% and high school diploma degree at 21%.
- Bachelor's, 38%
- High School Diploma, 22%
- Associate, 21%
- Diploma, 7%
- Other Degrees, 12%
Optometric assistants by degree level
| Optometric assistant degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 38% |
| High School Diploma | 22% |
| Associate | 21% |
| Diploma | 7% |
| Other Degrees | 12% |
Optometric assistant jobs you might like
Optometric assistant wage gap by degree level
According to the data, optometric assistants with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $122,572 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, optometric assistants earn a median annual income of $107,482 compared to $106,730 for optometric assistants with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $122,572 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $104,221 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $107,482 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $106,730 |
Optometric assistant employment statistics
Most optometric assistants work for a private in the health care industry.
Company size where optometric assistants work
Below, you can see the size of companies where optometric assistants work.
Optometric assistant jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 15% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 29% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 26% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 6% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 13% |
| > 10,000 employees | 11% |
Optometric assistant jobs by company type
Employees with the optometric assistant job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most optometric assistants prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Optometric assistant jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 5% |
| Public | 9% |
| Private | 79% |
| Government | 7% |
Optometric assistant jobs by industry
The most common industries for optometric assistants are health care, retail and manufacturing.
Optometric assistant industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Health Care | 26% |
| Retail | 15% |
| Manufacturing | 12% |
| Government | 6% |
| Fortune 500 | 6% |
| Technology | 5% |
| Media | 4% |
| Hospitality | 4% |
| Start-up | 3% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Education | 3% |
| Pharmaceutical | 2% |
| Utilities | 2% |
| Professional | 2% |
| Insurance | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Transportation | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
Optometric assistant turnover and employment statistics
Optometric assistant unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for optometric assistants between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Optometric assistant unemployment rate by year
| Year | Optometric assistant unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.44% |
| 2011 | 8.37% |
| 2012 | 8.18% |
| 2013 | 6.70% |
| 2014 | 5.35% |
| 2015 | 5.12% |
| 2016 | 3.45% |
| 2017 | 3.55% |
| 2018 | 2.71% |
| 2019 | 2.49% |
| 2020 | 5.04% |
| 2021 | 3.86% |
Average optometric assistant tenure
The average optometric assistant stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 3,302 optometric assistants resumes in Zippia's database.
Optometric assistant tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 23% |
| 1-2 years | 35% |
| 3-4 years | 15% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 7% |
Optometric assistant LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of optometric assistants 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Registered Dental Assistant | 4.40% | 56,676 |
| Optometric Assistant | 5.81% | - |
| Clinical Phlebotomist | 7.76% | 63,582 |
| Certified Medical Transcriptionist | 8.65% | 102,953 |
| Ancillary | 9.41% | 3,569 |
| Veterinarian Assistant | 9.55% | 10,867 |
| Clinical Massage Therapist | 13.02% | 79,875 |
Similar optometric assistant jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Certified Registered Dental Assistant | 4.40% | 56,676 |
| Clinical Phlebotomist | 7.76% | 63,582 |
| Certified Medical Transcriptionist | 8.65% | 102,953 |
| Ancillary | 9.41% | 3,569 |
| Veterinarian Assistant | 9.55% | 10,867 |
| Clinical Massage Therapist | 13.02% | 79,875 |
Foreign languages spoken by optometric assistants
The most common foreign language among optometric assistants is Spanish at 54.7%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Mandarin at 7.3% and Chinese is the third-most popular at 6.0%.
- Spanish, 54.7%
- Mandarin, 7.3%
- Chinese, 6.0%
- French, 5.3%
- Cantonese, 4.7%
- Other, 22.0%
Optometric assistant languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 54.7% |
| Mandarin | 7.3% |
| Chinese | 6.0% |
| French | 5.3% |
| Cantonese | 4.7% |
| Other | 22.0% |
