Welcome to the 2025 Optometrist Report! Annually, we conduct a survey of hundreds of optometrists to learn how today’s ODs are advancing their careers, overseeing their practices, and adjusting to trends within the ever-changing eyecare field.
In September 2025, we reached out to recent graduates, early-career professionals, and established clinicians to gather their perspectives on salary standards, product preferences, interest in innovation, growth goals, and overall career satisfaction.
The report represents the data and views of 543 ODs across diverse practice settings—from private to corporate sublease to community health centers—within the US.
To get the data, download the full report!
2025 Optometrist Report
Download the report to learn how fellow optometrists are growing their practices, paying off student loan debt, which clinical specialties show the most potential for innovation, and more!
In the 2025 Optometrist Report, we cover the following:
- Career satisfaction: If given the option, would most respondents still choose to enter optometry? And, exactly, why or why not?
- Optometrist salaries: How much do optometrists make in 2025? Has this number increased or decreased from 2024?
- Student loan debt: How much student loan debt do optometrists have? How confident do ODs feel about being able to manage their debt?
- Growth goals: What are ODs’ plans for their practices in the next 3 years? Where do they feel the most significant growth opportunities lie? Which modalities do ODs hope to implement?
- Product preferences: What are the preferred manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies? Which electronic health record (EHR) do most ODs currently use?
- Purchasing considerations: What factors influence purchasing decisions?
- Innovations and technology: What are the most exciting developments in eyecare? How eager are optometrists to adopt newly released innovations?
- And much more!
Let’s take a look at our respondents
Of those surveyed, the majority, at 63%, were female. This aligns with last year’s gender breakdown of respondents and corresponds directly to the gender distribution within the eyecare community.
As for the practice settings of our respondents, slightly more than half—51.6%—reported being in private practice, with OD/MD multidisciplinary practice coming in a distant second at 24.1%. Of those in private practice, practice owners made up 32%.
On an optimistic note, the majority of these respondents reported they would choose the field of optometry again.
Reasons our surveyees gave for continued gratification in their decision to enter the field included:
- Work/life balance
- Satisfaction derived from improving patients’ lives
- Job security amidst growing concerns in other occupations about job loss to artificial intelligence
Those who would not choose optometry again listed salary and stress as the primary reasons. One simply stated, “Underpaid and underappreciated.”
On the topic of finances, overall, debt among respondents is lower than that reported in the 2024 survey, and the current average salary has risen. Optometrists’ confidence in their ability to pay off their student loans has remained unchanged at 4.1 out of 5, with 1 indicating "not at all confident" and 5 indicating "extremely confident."
As for salaries, optometrists reported their starting salary as $102,233.02 and their current salary as $178,717.63. This is up from last year’s $97,112 and $151,970, respectively.
Growth goals
Regardless of current levels of satisfaction, the primary focus is on next steps. As the field of optometry is ever-growing and changing, ODs are adapting and planning for the future.
For most, the focus will be on growing their business in its current location. Others are eager to expand their practice by adding an associate optometrist. A somewhat alarming 14.4% reported their primary goal as simply to “remain on my feet.”
ODs are open to opportunities
Recent years have brought a wealth of new pharmaceutical and technological solutions into the optometric space. Meanwhile, an aging population, increased screen time, lifestyle changes, and environmental factors have led to a rise in the prevalence of two of the most common conditions. This combination presents optometrists with opportunities to expand their services and elevate care.
Currently, tens of millions of people worldwide are affected by dry eye disease (DED).1 In the United States alone, over 16 million people have been clinically diagnosed with DED.2 According to the TFOS DEWS III Epidemiology Report, pervasiveness varies significantly by age, sex, and diagnostic criteria, ranging from approximately 4.7% to 62.9% of the worldwide population when both symptoms and signs are required.3
Similarly, myopia is now recognized as a major public health concern, with a rapidly rising prevalence and serious long-term health implications.4 Over 30% of the global population is currently myopic. By 2050, that number is projected to reach 50% (5 billion people).4 In addition, children are becoming myopic at younger ages, often progressing faster and longer than in previous generations.5
Therefore, it is logical that those surveyed saw the greatest opportunities within these realms.
Investing in the future
Of course, growth requires financial investment. Our survey participants listed several factors that influenced their purchasing decisions for optometric equipment and supplies.
With essential diagnostic lane instruments running into tens of thousands of dollars (e.g., $10,000+ for a slit lamp, $25,000+ for a digital phoropter) and advanced imaging systems (e.g., fundus cameras, OCT) easily costing dozens of thousands of dollars, it is no surprise that cost was the top consideration.6 However, ease of implementation and availability of education were also major concerns.
Conclusion
In addition to the topics mentioned above, this report covers a range of other areas of interest, including sentiments surrounding advocacy, private equity, the utilization of telemedicine, the relationship between optometry and ophthalmology, and awareness and adoption of new innovations in the field.
To the tens of thousands of individuals who will ultimately download this report, we hope this valuable data serves to educate, enlighten, and empower you. We are confident you will find ways to leverage this information to positively impact your practice and patient care.
