Optometrist assistant demographics and statistics in the US
Optometrist assistant demographics research summary. Zippia estimates optometrist assistant demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our optometrist 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 optometrist assistants after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 5,310 optometrist assistants currently employed in the United States.
- 88.2% of all optometrist assistants are women, while 11.8% are men.
- The average optometrist assistant age is 36 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of optometrist assistants is White (50.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (24.7%), Asian (9.9%) and Black or African American (9.8%).
- In 2022, women earned 95% of what men earned.
- 6% of all optometrist assistants are LGBT.
- Optometrist assistants are 77% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Optometrist assistant demographics by:
Optometrist assistant gender statistics
88.2% of optometrist assistants are women and 11.8% of optometrist assistants are men.
- Female, 88.2%
- Male, 11.8%
Optometrist assistant gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 88.2% |
| Male | 11.8% |
Optometrist assistant gender pay gap
Women earn 95¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$130,413
Female income
$123,794
Optometrist assistant gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in optometrist assistant positions over time. Currently, 88.2% of optometrist assistants are female.
Optometrist assistant gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.64% | 92.36% |
| 2011 | 9.70% | 90.30% |
| 2012 | 9.85% | 90.15% |
| 2013 | 10.48% | 89.52% |
| 2014 | 10.53% | 89.47% |
| 2015 | 12.42% | 87.58% |
| 2016 | 13.02% | 86.98% |
| 2017 | 12.05% | 87.95% |
| 2018 | 11.73% | 88.27% |
| 2019 | 13.62% | 86.38% |
| 2020 | 11.84% | 88.16% |
| 2021 | 11.83% | 88.17% |
Optometrist assistant related jobs gender ratio
We compared optometrist 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% |
| Optometrist Assistant | 12% | 88% |
| Dental Officer | 79% | 21% |
| Donations Attendant | 81% | 19% |
| Delivery Technician | 88% | 12% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Optometrist assistant demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among optometrist assistants is White, which makes up 50.0% of all optometrist assistants. Comparatively, 24.7% of optometrist assistants are Hispanic or Latino and 9.9% of optometrist assistants are Asian.
- White, 50.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 24.7%
- Asian, 9.9%
- Black or African American, 9.8%
- Unknown, 4.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
Optometrist assistant race
| Optometrist assistant race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 50.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 24.7% |
| Asian | 9.9% |
| Black or African American | 9.8% |
| Unknown | 4.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.8% |
Optometrist assistant race and ethnicity over time
See how optometrist assistant racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Optometrist assistant race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 56.39% | 10.67% | 7.70% | 21.99% |
| 2011 | 56.30% | 10.92% | 7.62% | 21.89% |
| 2012 | 54.98% | 11.63% | 7.44% | 22.28% |
| 2013 | 55.85% | 11.22% | 7.73% | 22.15% |
| 2014 | 56.11% | 10.72% | 7.33% | 22.86% |
| 2015 | 55.17% | 11.32% | 7.29% | 23.21% |
| 2016 | 53.92% | 9.86% | 8.06% | 24.23% |
| 2017 | 53.98% | 9.55% | 8.70% | 24.23% |
| 2018 | 52.95% | 10.07% | 8.08% | 25.11% |
| 2019 | 55.05% | 9.38% | 8.86% | 22.81% |
| 2020 | 53.28% | 9.52% | 9.40% | 22.65% |
| 2021 | 50.03% | 9.82% | 9.88% | 24.69% |
Optometrist assistant wage gap by race
According to our data, asian optometrist assistants have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. White optometrist assistants have the lowest average salary at $127,890.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $131,207 |
| White | $127,890 |
| Black or African American | $130,193 |
| Asian | $133,842 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $129,012 |
Average optometrist assistant age
See how the average age of optometrist assistants varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Optometrist 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 |
Optometrist assistant age breakdown
The average age of optometrist assistants is 40+ years years old, representing 37% of the optometrist assistant population.
Optometrist assistant age breakdown
| Optometrist Assistant Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 37% |
| 30-40 years | 32% |
| 20-30 years | 30% |
Optometrist assistant educational attainment
The most common degree for optometrist assistants is bachelor's degree, with 31% of optometrist assistants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 25% and associate degree degree at 23%.
- Bachelor's, 31%
- Associate, 25%
- High School Diploma, 23%
- Diploma, 7%
- Other Degrees, 14%
Optometrist assistants by degree level
| Optometrist assistant degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 31% |
| Associate | 25% |
| High School Diploma | 23% |
| Diploma | 7% |
| Other Degrees | 14% |
Optometrist assistant jobs you might like
Optometrist assistant wage gap by degree level
According to the data, optometrist assistants with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $149,736 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, optometrist assistants earn a median annual income of $132,750 compared to $131,899 for optometrist assistants with an Associate degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $149,736 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $129,054 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $132,750 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $131,899 |
Optometrist assistant employment statistics
Most optometrist assistants work for a private in the health care industry.
Company size where optometrist assistants work
Below, you can see the size of companies where optometrist assistants work.
Optometrist assistant jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 11% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 24% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 35% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 9% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 11% |
| > 10,000 employees | 10% |
Optometrist assistant jobs by company type
Employees with the optometrist assistant job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most optometrist assistants prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Optometrist assistant jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 7% |
| Public | 10% |
| Private | 77% |
| Government | 7% |
Optometrist assistant jobs by industry
The most common industries for optometrist assistants are health care, retail and government.
Optometrist assistant industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Health Care | 24% |
| Retail | 19% |
| Fortune 500 | 7% |
| Government | 6% |
| Manufacturing | 6% |
| Start-up | 5% |
| Education | 5% |
| Technology | 4% |
| Insurance | 4% |
| Finance | 4% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Media | 3% |
| Hospitality | 3% |
| Automotive | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Telecommunication | 1% |
| Utilities | 1% |
| Professional | 1% |
| Real Estate | 1% |
Optometrist assistant turnover and employment statistics
Optometrist assistant unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for optometrist assistants between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Optometrist assistant unemployment rate by year
| Year | Optometrist 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 optometrist assistant tenure
The average optometrist assistant stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,761 optometrist assistants resumes in Zippia's database.
Optometrist assistant tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 30% |
| 1-2 years | 37% |
| 3-4 years | 13% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 3% |
| 11+ years | 4% |
Optometrist assistant LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of optometrist 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Ceramist Assistant | 4.40% | 22,298 |
| Optometrist Assistant | 5.81% | - |
| Phlebotomy Supervisor | 7.76% | 61,376 |
| Medical Transcription-Radiology | 8.65% | 47,272 |
| Prescription Clerk | 9.41% | 66,325 |
| Avian Keeper | 9.55% | 5,509 |
| Clinical Massage Therapist | 13.02% | 79,875 |
Similar optometrist assistant jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Dental Ceramist Assistant | 4.40% | 22,298 |
| Phlebotomy Supervisor | 7.76% | 61,376 |
| Medical Transcription-Radiology | 8.65% | 47,272 |
| Prescription Clerk | 9.41% | 66,325 |
| Avian Keeper | 9.55% | 5,509 |
| Clinical Massage Therapist | 13.02% | 79,875 |
Foreign languages spoken by optometrist assistants
The most common foreign language among optometrist assistants is Spanish at 61.9%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Vietnamese at 5.2% and French is the third-most popular at 5.2%.
- Spanish, 61.9%
- Vietnamese, 5.2%
- French, 5.2%
- Mandarin, 4.1%
- Russian, 3.1%
- Other, 20.5%
Optometrist assistant languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 61.9% |
| Vietnamese | 5.2% |
| French | 5.2% |
| Mandarin | 4.1% |
| Russian | 3.1% |
| Other | 20.5% |
