What is an optometrist's salary?

Question

What is the salary of a fresh graduated optometrist? Please don't google this and give me the answer, I want people who have real life experience or know someone that does. What is the salary of one who:

1. Works at a place like walmart?

2. Joined a running practice?

3. Opened an office

4. Any other optometry related salary information

Answer 1

The only reason I can think of as to why you want Optometrists to give out personal information about their salaries ,  is that you want to use that as an incentive to go into optometry yourself.

If you are basing salary as the criteria to choose that as a profession...you are not suited for it.

I have worked with dozens and dozens of optometrists over 38 years, and one thing they all had was... a passion for the work...that has nothing to do with money.

Answer 2

This is a very difficult question to answer because there are so many factors that come into play.  Generally speaking, optometrists who work in commercial settings and are employed by places such as Walmart make less than many other optometrists.  BUT, a private practice optometrist who has poor patient interaction skills, poor clinical skills, practices in a location with too many established optometrists, or possibly in a small town with a small population may make less than you would expect.  BUT, progressive well educated doctors who build a good practice based upon their clinical skills, office facilities, and reputation for service can be very well rewarded.  In these situations it would not be unheard of for an optometrist to make $400,000 to $500,000 per year.  And some may even make more.  Optometrists who work as partners within a partnership generally make more than other optometrists because of the ability to share common expenses such as facilities, employees, and instrumentation between the partners.  As to a fresh graduate who goes into a practice as an employee having not purchased a partnership, I would say a starting salary of 60,000 to 75,000 would be in the neighborhood.  This can vary greatly, though, based upon the type of practice and the graduates ability to produce income for the practice.  As in any occupation, though, there will always be those who simply don't have the business skills necessary to be highly succesful and in those cases the optometrist might make only 40,000  or so.  So it realy depends upon YOU as to what type of person you are and what type of practice you create.

And in regard to the thought that your interest in salary makes you unsuited to be an optometrist, I'm not sure I would agree with this totally.  Many things factor into a person's decision as to what they want to do with their life.  And your ability to support a family and provide a secure future for yourself and your family is a very valid criteria.  If the ONLY reason you would be interested in optometry is the compensation then I would agree you need to reconsider.  But if you are motivated to help others in a health care related field  and are looking at all your options then why not choose a field of service that can also be financially rewarding.  I have been blessed greatly by my profession and I enjoy getting up and going to work every day.  I can't imagine enjoying any profession more than I do optometry.  I help others and at the same time am well rewarded for it.  There is no shame in that.