What they do
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Diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. Examine eyes and visual system, diagnose problems or impairments, prescribe corrective lenses, and provide treatment. May prescribe therapeutic drugs to treat specific eye conditions.
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| Also called: |
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Optometrist, Optometry Doctor (OD), Therapeutic Optometrist
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Wages
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| Vermont - 2021 |
| Percentile1 | Hourly | Yearly |
| 10% |
$ 36.96 |
$76,890 |
| 25% |
$ 38.12 |
$79,280 |
| Median |
$ 58.21 |
$121,070 |
| 75% |
$ 63.02 |
$131,080 |
| 90% |
$ 76.70 |
$159,540 |
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| Average |
$ 54.10 |
$112,530 |
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| More at CareerOneStop |
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Industries of Employment
| United States - 2020 |
| Industry | Percent of total |
- Ambulatory healthcare services
| 69% |
| 15% |
- Health and personal care stores
| 12% |
- Federal government, excluding postal service
| 1% |
- Hospitals; state, local, and private
| 1% |
| More at BLS |
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Knowledge
| People in this career often know a lot about: |
- Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
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- Biology
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
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- Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
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- English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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- Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
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| More at O*NET |
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Skills
| People in this career often have these skills: |
- Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
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- Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
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- Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
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- Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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- Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
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| More at O*NET |
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Interests
| People in this career often prefer these work environments: |
- Investigative
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
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- Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
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- Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
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| What are your interests? Take the O*NET Interest Profiler |
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Work Styles
| People in this career will do well at jobs that need: |
- Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
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- Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
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- Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
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- Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
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- Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
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| More at O*NET |
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Other Resources
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- CareerOneStop
resource for job seekers, students, businessess and career professionals
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- O*NET Online
nation's primary source of occupational information
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| Related Occupations
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| Career Video
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Projected Employment
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| Vermont |
| 2020 employment |
105 |
| 2030 employment |
115 |
Annual percent change
(compounded) |
0.9% |
Annual projected job openings
(due to change and separations) |
4 |
| More at Occupational Projections |
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Education and Experience:
- Typical education needed for entry
Doctoral or professional degree
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- Work experience in a related occupation
None
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- Typical on-the-job training needed to attain competency
None
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| Based on BLS Education and Training Classifications |
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Job Zone
| Extensive Preparation Needed |
- Specific Vocational Preparation Range
(8.0 and above) - A typical worker will require
over 4 years up to and including 10 years or more
of training to achieve average performance in this occupation.
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| Based on O*Net Job Zones and SVP |
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Education Level
| How much education do most people in this career have? |
| Education level |  | Percent of
U.S. Workers |
Doctoral or professional degree
or post-MA certificate | | 100% |
Master's degree or
post-BA certificate | | 0% |
| Bachelor's degree | | 0% |
| Associate's degree | | 0% |
Certificate or some college,
no degree | | 0% |
High school diploma
or equivalent | | 0% |
| Less than high school diploma | | 0% |
| More at O*NET |
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Licensing
| Vermont may require an occupational license: |
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| Select a license for details |
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Abilities
| People in this career often have talent in: |
- Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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- Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
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- Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
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- Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
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- Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
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| More at O*NET |
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Work Activities
| In general, what you might do: |
- Assisting and Caring for Others
Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
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- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
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- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
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- Documenting/Recording Information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
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- Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
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| More at O*NET |
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Detailed Work Activities
| What you might do in a day: |
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- Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
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- Develop medical treatment plans.
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- Fit eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other vision aids.
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- Prescribe assistive medical devices or related treatments.
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| More at O*NET |
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Tasks
| On the job, you would: |
- Examine eyes, using observation, instruments, and pharmaceutical agents, to determine visual acuity and perception, focus, and coordination and to diagnose diseases and other abnormalities, such as glaucoma or color blindness.
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- Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.
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- Prescribe, supply, fit and adjust eyeglasses, contact lenses, and other vision aids.
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- Prescribe medications to treat eye diseases if state laws permit.
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- Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements, and safety factors.
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| More at O*NET |
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