Optometrist Demographics and Statistics In The US
Research Summary. Using a database of 30 million profiles, Zippia estimates demographics and statistics for optometrists in the United States. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
- 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 age of an employed optometrist 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 2021, women 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.
Optometrist Statistics By Gender
74.1% of optometrists are women and 25.9% of optometrists are men.
- Female, 74.1%
- Male, 25.9%
Optometrists By Gender
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Female | 74.1% |
| Male | 25.9% |
Gender Pay Gap For Optometrist
Women Earn 86ยข For Every $1 Earned By Men
Optometrist Gender Over Time
This data shows how men and women predominate in the optometrist position over time.
Optometrist Gender 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 Male to Female Ratio
We compared this job title with other job titles to see how gender percentages varied. As you can see, flight surgeon and optometrist, owner have the biggest difference in gender.
| 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% |
Optometrist Statistics By Race
The most common ethnicity among optometrists is White, which makes up 72.9% of all optometrists. Comparatively, there are 17.1% of the Asian ethnicity and 5.2% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity.
- 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
Using the Census Bureau data, we found out how the percentage of each ethnic category trended between 2010-2019 among optometrists.
- White
- Asian
- Hispanic or Latino
- Black or African American
Optometrist Race 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
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $95,360 |
| White | $101,260 |
| Black or African American | $95,418 |
| Asian | $101,320 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $97,186 |
Optometrist JOBS
Average Age of an Optometrist
We determined the average age of optometrists based on ethnicity and gender.
Optometrist Age By Race
| Race | Male Age | Female Age |
|---|---|---|
| White | 49.5 | 39 |
| Asian | 47 | 39 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 37.5 |
Optometrist Age Breakdown
This chart breaks down the ages of optometrist employees. Interestingly enough, the average age of optometrists is 40+ years old, which represents 59% of the population.
Optometrist Age
| Optometrist Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 59% |
| 30-40 years | 33% |
| 20-30 years | 7% |
Types of Optometrist Degree Levels
The most common degree for optometrists is bachelor's degree 36% of optometrists earn that degree. A close second is doctoral degree with 26% and rounding it off is associate degree with 13%.
- Bachelors, 36%
- Doctorate, 26%
- Associate, 13%
- High School Diploma, 11%
- Other Degrees, 14%
Optometrists By Education
| Optometrist Degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelors | 36% |
| Doctorate | 26% |
| Associate | 13% |
| High School Diploma | 11% |
| Other Degrees | 14% |
Optometrist Jobs You Might Like
Optometrist Employment Statistics
This section highlights information about where optometrists work. We found most optometrists work for a private company. In addition, the industry that employs the most optometrists is the health care industry.
Company Size
We created this chart to show you the average size of companies that typically hire optometrists.
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% |
The Types Of Companies Optometrist Work In
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% |
Top Industries Hiring Optometrists
Just based on the number of employees within each industry, we were able to determine the most common industries that employ optometrists. Those industries include 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 Bureau of Labor Statistics came in clutch when it came down to figuring out how the unemployment rate has changed over time. Between 2008 and 2018, this is how the number of optometrists changed.
- 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% |
The Average Number of Years That Optometrist Stay in a Job
By looking over 2,847 optometrists resumes, we figured out that the average optometrist enjoys staying at their job for 1-2 years for a percentage of 32%.
Optometrist Tenure
| Number or 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% |
Comparing The LGBT Ratio of Optometrists with Other Job Titles
After finding the gender ratio, we wondered if the percentages of LGBT persons were different as well. Using the data below, you can see how other job titles compare to optometrists.
| 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 |
Optometrist 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% |
Optometrist Jobs
Recently Added Optometrist Jobs
Optometrist Heatmaps
Where Do Optometrists Earn The Most?
Optometrists earn the most in North Carolina, where the average optometrist salary is $177,597. The map here shows where optometrists earn the highest salaries in the U.S. The darker areas across the 50 states highlight the highest salaries.
Which State Has The Most Optometrists?
By looking through more than 2,847 resumes, we found that the most popular places for optometrists are New York, NY and Chicago, IL.
Number Of Optometrist Jobs By State
Where Are Optometrists In High Demand?
Optometrists are in high demand in New York, NY. There are currently 48 job openings for optometrists here. We looked over job openings to determine where in the country optometrists are in the most demand.
