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The differences between optometrists and dentists 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 $147,415 average annual salary of a dentist.
The top three skills for an optometrist include patients, patient care and diagnosis. The most important skills for a dentist are patients, diagnosis, and DDS.
| Optometrist | Dentist | |
| Yearly salary | $187,654 | $147,415 |
| Hourly rate | $90.22 | $70.87 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 20,993 | 8,570 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Average age | 45 | 46 |
| Years of experience | - | - |
A licensed optometrist is primarily responsible for the vision and eye care of clients, treating different conditions such as astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. Their duties mostly revolve around performing eye and vision tests, diagnosing issues, providing consultations, prescribing corrective glasses and lenses, and educating clients on proper eye care methods. Furthermore, an optometrist must maintain records of all cases and treatment plans, and supervise support staff should they choose to work at a private clinic or a similar setting.
Dentists are physicians specializing in oral health. The main responsibilities of dentists are to diagnose oral diseases and treat them with the help of different equipment and technologies. They manage to provide several services like tooth repair, cavities removal, teeth whitening, fillings, crowns, bridges, and even surgical procedures. They also help promote oral care by participating in community outreach and awareness programs. Sometimes, they would also conduct lectures and seminars for preventive education.
Optometrists and dentists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Optometrist | Dentist | |
| Average salary | $187,654 | $147,415 |
| Salary range | Between $94,000 And $373,000 | Between $99,000 And $218,000 |
| Highest paying City | Greensboro, NC | Lynn, MA |
| Highest paying state | North Carolina | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Mayo Clinic | The Primary Health Network |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between an optometrist and a dentist in terms of educational background:
| Optometrist | Dentist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 36% | Bachelor's Degree, 46% |
| Most common major | Optometry | Advanced Dentistry And Oral Sciences |
| Most common college | University of California, Berkeley | University of Southern California |
Here are the differences between optometrists' and dentists' demographics:
| Optometrist | Dentist | |
| Average age | 45 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 25.9% Female, 74.1% | Male, 45.5% Female, 54.5% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 3.2% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 22.0% White, 62.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 18% | 12% |