Average Optometrist Salary

Optometry is a highly competitive and demanding profession. It can be very rewarding personally for a person who chooses this profession & it can be lucrative. However, you must be willing to make sacrifices in order to make a salary that is in the six figure range. Factors that will directly affect your salary will be location, type of employment, and the overall economic climate. The average optometrist salary in the United States will vary based on these factors. Lets take a look at the facts and numbers.

One of the biggest factors that will influence an optometrist salary is time. How long a person has been practicing as a optometrist will directly effect income. This is something that comes along with most professions. Over time you should expect your salary to go up within this profession as long as you are working hard and choose the right type of employment to insure job growth and maximize income potential. Here are some average statistics based on years in practice :

• (0-1 years) $55,000-$80,000 Median Salary $80,000
• (1-4 years) $50,000-$103,000 Median Salary $80,000
• (5-9 years) $67,000-$120,000 Median Salary $94,000
• (10-19 years) $60,000-$140,000 Median Salary $97,000
• (20+ years) $67,000-$180,000 Median Salary $100,000

Of course these numbers are just averages and are by no means indicative or what you might make as an optometrist. Your employment type will also play a major role in your overall salary.

An optometrist salary will also be heavily influenced by employer type. The good majority of optometrist opt to be self employed because the ceiling for income is unlimited. The stress load is higher but the long term payoff tends to be a lot higher also. However, self employment isn't for everyone and for many people working for the government, a franchise, or corporation is just fine also. Here are some general statistics to take a look at provided by payscale.com. For more detailed information be sure to go to this link :

Median Salary by Employer Type - Job: Optometrist (United States)

We've all heard this phrase before, "Location is Everything!". The truth is that location isn't everything but it sure does play into overall salary potential. Optometrist have to carefully decide where they will practice to insure a solid income and business growth. It is really important to weigh out the various options when it comes to where you will live and work. For the most part an optometrist can expect to make a very good living as long as they hustle, network, and have good business practices. Cost of living is a major factor to consider also. There are some great statistics regarding location and salaries over at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Be sure to refer to this page and the other links provided in this article to make good choices if you decide that optometry is the profession you wish to pursue. It will be challenging but also very rewarding.

For more great information regarding the field of optometry be sure to stop by our other websites chalked full of great optometry facts and figures. Read More Now!