Optometrist assistant vs optometrist

The differences between optometrist assistants and optometrists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, an optometrist has an average salary of $187,654, which is higher than the $122,813 average annual salary of an optometrist assistant.

The top three skills for an optometrist assistant include patients, appointment scheduling and exam rooms. The most important skills for an optometrist are patients, patient care, and diagnosis.

Optometrist assistant vs optometrist overview

	Optometrist Assistant	Optometrist
Yearly salary	$122,813	$187,654
Hourly rate	$59.04	$90.22
Growth rate	16%	10%
Number of jobs	48,461	20,993
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 31%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Average age	37	45
Years of experience	12	-

Optometrist assistant vs optometrist salary

Optometrist assistants and optometrists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Optometrist Assistant	Optometrist
Average salary	$122,813	$187,654
Salary range	Between $85,000 And $177,000	Between $94,000 And $373,000
Highest paying City	-	Greensboro, NC
Highest paying state	-	North Carolina
Best paying company	-	Mayo Clinic
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between optometrist assistant and optometrist education

There are a few differences between an optometrist assistant and an optometrist in terms of educational background:

	Optometrist Assistant	Optometrist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 31%	Bachelor's Degree, 36%
Most common major	Business	Optometry
Most common college	-	University of California, Berkeley

Optometrist assistant vs optometrist demographics

Here are the differences between optometrist assistants' and optometrists' demographics:

	Optometrist Assistant	Optometrist
Average age	37	45
Gender ratio	Male, 11.8% Female, 88.2%	Male, 25.9% Female, 74.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 9.8% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 24.7% Asian, 9.9% White, 50.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 1.4% Unknown, 3.0% Hispanic or Latino, 5.2% Asian, 17.1% White, 72.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	6%	18%

Differences between optometrist assistant and optometrist duties and responsibilities

Optometrist assistant example responsibilities.

Adhere to OSHA guidelines while performing instrument sterilization in addition to managing medical inventory.
Pretest patients on NCT, OCT, refractomotor, visual field machine, and retinal camera.
Check in and work up patients for eye exam, assist optometrist with retinal photos, glaucoma testing and basic refraction.
Perform require pretests for the Dr's.
Perform OCT scan of optic nerve, macula, and fundus photo.
Clean and maintain equipment and instruments in the optometric area, pre-test room, and restock inventories.

Optometrist example responsibilities.

Experience in OCT, visual fields, and EMR.
View cataracts in live patients and compare to class examples.
Work closely with the LASIK and cataract surgeons to provide comprehensive care to patients.
Perform eye exams and care for all patients including pre op and post operative care.
Specialize in anterior segment surgery, cataract, glaucoma, retinal problems, and ocular oncology.
Create statistical reports with pre and post topography conditions and visual acuity results in IOL implant surgery.

Optometrist assistant vs optometrist skills

Common optometrist assistant skills

Patients, 37%
Appointment Scheduling, 7%
Exam Rooms, 6%
Customer Service, 5%
Eye Exams, 3%
Front Desk, 3%

Common optometrist skills

Patients, 29%
Patient Care, 13%
Diagnosis, 13%
Customer Service, 7%
Diagnostic Tests, 7%
Pre, 6%