# Optometrists

US SOC code 29-1041. Markdown version of https://futurehistory.earth/timeline/29-1041

Also called: OD, Doctor of optometry, Eye doctor, Eye care specialist, Optometric physician.

## In brief

In May 2025, [BLS](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip) counted **42,790** US optometrists, with median pay of **$136,570** a year. Of the BLS counts since 2003, the May 2025 count is the highest. The earliest figure here is [a Census count](https://www.census.gov/library/publications/1963/dec/population-pc-2-7a.html) of **16,044** from 1960, not measured the same way as today's count. The last full technology era for optometrists: Spectral-domain OCT + AI-assisted imaging platforms, 2010 to 2022.

## What the sources say

### Official outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 9.5% from 2025 to 2035. Source: [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=29-1041&ioType=o).

### AI exposure studies

- **5%** of this job's tasks are exposed to large language models. Not a forecast of job losses. [Eloundou and others, 2023](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv)

Data as of BLS OEWS May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35. BLS publishes these counts as yearly survey snapshots and cautions against reading them as a precise trend. In May 2021 BLS changed how it estimates these counts (a model-based method using three years of survey data) and moved fully to the 2018 occupation codes, so part of a change across 2021 can come from the method rather than the work.

## Optometrists employment and pay by year

- On record since: 1901
- Latest US employment: 42,790 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [4]
- Latest US median pay: $136,570 (May 2025). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 [9]
- Outlook: +9.5% by 2035. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 [27]

### In other countries

The latest figure each country's statistics agency publishes for this job. Each uses its own occupation definition, survey basis and currency, so the numbers are not directly comparable with each other or with the US figures.

- **Canada** (NOC 31111)
  - Employment, 2020: 6,055. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [6]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021: number of persons with employment income in NOC 31111 Optometrists, Canada, reference year 2020. A recipients basis (anyone with employment income during the year), slightly broader than a point-in-time employed count. Statistics Canada Open Licence.
  - Median pay, 2020: C$81,000. Source: Statistics Canada Census 2021 [12]. Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021 (Table 98-10-0586): median employment income for NOC 31111 Optometrists, Canada, reference year 2020, full-year full-time workers (the basis comparable to the US OEWS full-time median). Statistics Canada Open Licence.

### All 27 years of cited US data

| Year | US employment | Annual pay (median unless marked) | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1960 | 16,044 | n/a | Decennial Census 1960 [1] |
| 1968 | 18,000 (estimate) | n/a | Est., CDC NCHS Data Series 14, No. 8 [2] |
| 1990 | 30,600 (estimate) | $60,000 (estimate) | Est., Hyer et al. (2020) (employment) [3]; Est., AOA Practice Economics Survey (1990 era) (pay) [7] |
| 2000 | n/a | $82,860 | BLS OEWS 2000 [8] |
| 2003 | 22,740 | $85,430 | BLS OEWS May 2003 [4] |
| 2004 | 22,780 | $88,410 | BLS OEWS May 2004 [4] |
| 2005 | 23,720 | $88,040 | BLS OEWS May 2005 [4] |
| 2006 | 24,220 | $91,040 | BLS OEWS May 2006 [4] |
| 2007 | 24,900 | $93,800 | BLS OEWS May 2007 [4] |
| 2008 | 25,970 | $96,320 | BLS OEWS May 2008 [4] |
| 2009 | 26,480 | $96,140 | BLS OEWS May 2009 [4] |
| 2010 | 26,480 | $94,990 | BLS OEWS May 2010 [4] |
| 2011 | 27,950 | $94,690 | BLS OEWS May 2011 [4] |
| 2012 | 29,180 | $97,820 | BLS OEWS May 2012 [4] |
| 2013 | 32,040 | $101,290 | BLS OEWS May 2013 [4] |
| 2014 | 33,340 | $101,410 | BLS OEWS May 2014 [4] |
| 2015 | 35,300 | $103,900 | BLS OEWS May 2015 [4] |
| 2016 | 36,430 | $106,140 | BLS OEWS May 2016 [4] |
| 2017 | 37,240 | $110,300 | BLS OEWS May 2017 [4] |
| 2018 | 37,220 | $111,790 | BLS OEWS May 2018 [4] |
| 2019 | 39,420 | $115,250 | BLS OEWS May 2019 [4] |
| 2020 | 36,690 | $118,050 | BLS OEWS May 2020 [4] |
| 2021 | 38,720 | $124,300 | BLS OEWS May 2021 [4] |
| 2022 | 40,640 | $125,590 | BLS OEWS May 2022 [4] |
| 2023 | 41,390 | $131,860 | BLS OEWS May 2023 [4] |
| 2024 | 41,890 | $134,830 | BLS OEWS May 2024 [4] |
| 2025 | 42,790 | $136,570 | BLS OEWS May 2025 [4] |

## Sources (94)

### Employment series

1. [1960 Census of Population, PC(2)-7A Occupational Characteristics — employed optometrists (16,044)](https://www.census.gov/library/publications/1963/dec/population-pc-2-7a.html), U.S. Census Bureau
2. [CDC NCHS Data Series 14, No. 8 — "Optometrists Employed in Health Services, United States" (18,000 active optometrists in practice, 1968)](https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_14/sr14_008.pdf), National Center for Health Statistics / CDC
3. [Hyer et al. (2020) — "National Trends in the United States Eye Care Workforce from 1995 to 2017" (Pubmed 32445703): optometrist density 11.06 per 100,000 in 1990; derived count using 1990 Census population 249M](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32445703/), JAMA Ophthalmology / PubMed
4. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2024](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
5. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
6. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Wage series

7. [AOA Practice Economics Survey (1990 era) — approximate median OD earnings consistent with AOA practice survey historical data; cross-referenced with BLS health diagnosing occupations series](https://www.aoa.org/news/practice-management/perfect-your-practice/the-latest-on-ai-and-optometry), American Optometric Association
8. [BLS OES 2000 national estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oes00nat.zip), Bureau of Labor Statistics
9. BLS OEWS, national cross-industry estimates (flat file), Bureau of Labor Statistics. Editions: [2003](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm03nat.zip), [2004](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm04nat.zip), [2005](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm05nat.zip), [2006](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm06nat.zip), [2007](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm07nat.zip), [2008](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm08nat.zip), [2009](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm09nat.zip), [2010](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm10nat.zip), [2011](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm11nat.zip), [2012](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm12nat.zip), [2013](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm13nat.zip), [2014](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm14nat.zip), [2015](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm15nat.zip), [2016](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm16nat.zip), [2017](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm17nat.zip), [2018](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm18nat.zip), [2019](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm19nat.zip), [2020](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm20nat.zip), [2021](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm21nat.zip), [2022](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm22nat.zip), [2023](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm23nat.zip), [2025](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm25nat.zip)
10. [BLS OEWS May 2024, national cross-industry estimates (flat file)](https://www.bls.gov/oes/special-requests/oesm24nat.zip), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
11. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2016, Table 98-400-X2016356 (Occupation by employment income statistics, NOC 2016), income reference year 2015](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/98-400-X2016356), Statistics Canada
12. [Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021, Table 98-10-0586 (Employment income statistics by occupation unit group, NOC 2021), income reference year 2020](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810058601), Statistics Canada

### Tool eras

13. [Review of Optometry — "Legalizing Optometry": history of spectacle-maker trade and the optometric licensing movement](https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/article/legalizing-optometry), Review of Optometry
14. [Autorefractors — StatPearls / NCBI Bookshelf: history of refraction instrumentation from trial lens cases through phoropters to automated refractors](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK580520/), NCBI Bookshelf / StatPearls
15. [Wikipedia — Slit lamp: Gullstrand invention 1911, Zeiss manufacture, US adoption 1920s](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slit_lamp), Wikipedia
16. [AOA Blog (2012) — "1971-2011: Forty-Year History of Scope Expansion Into Medical Eye Care": Rhode Island DPA July 16 1971; West Virginia TPA March 4 1976; DC TPA April 22 1998](https://newsfromaoa.wordpress.com/2012/03/23/1971-2011-forty-year-history-of-scope-expansion-into-medical-eye-care/), American Optometric Association
17. [Indiana University Scholarworks — "A History of Scope Expansion in Optometry and its Impact on the Profession" (Hindsight: Journal of Optometry History)](https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/hindsight/article/view/40250), Indiana University / Journal of Optometry History
18. [Wikipedia — Humphrey visual field analyser: introduced 1984 by Humphrey Instruments; co-developed by Patella and Heijl; Zeiss acquisition 1991; Statpac 1986](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humphrey_visual_field_analyser), Wikipedia
19. [PubMed 3974997 — "A clinical comparison of visual field testing with a new automated perimeter, the Humphrey Field Analyzer, and the Goldmann perimeter": 21% detection improvement over Goldmann for glaucoma/OHT](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3974997/), PubMed / American Journal of Ophthalmology
20. [PMC 4968928 — "The Development, Commercialization, and Impact of Optical Coherence Tomography": Huang et al. 1991 foundational paper; Humphrey OCT 1 1996; Stratus OCT 2002; 10M procedures by 2004](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4968928/), Annual Review of Vision Science / PMC
21. [ASRS Retina History — "Optical Coherence Tomography": first commercial system timeline, market adoption milestones](https://retinahistory.asrs.org/milestones-developments/history-of-oct), American Society of Retina Specialists
22. [Topcon Healthcare — Maestro2: fully automated OCT + fundus camera; glaucoma Hood Report, AMD macular mapping, OCTA; single-button automated capture](https://topconhealthcare.com/products/maestro2/), Topcon Healthcare
23. [PMC 3088542 — "Optical Coherence Tomography: History, Current Status, and Laboratory Work": SD-OCT commercialization timeline and clinical adoption arc](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3088542/), PMC / Biomedical Optics Express
24. [Digital Diagnostics — LumineticsCore: first FDA De Novo authorized autonomous AI diagnostic system in US (April 2018); 87.4% sensitivity, 96% NPV; 1,000+ US clinic deployments](https://www.digitaldiagnostics.com/), Digital Diagnostics
25. [Ophthalmology Science / PMC 2025 — "Autonomous AI in Diabetic Retinopathy Testing — Lessons Learned": CPT 92229 $40.28 Medicare / $127.81 commercial; 15,097 Medicare claims 2021-2023; second fastest-growing AI medical procedure](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12553049/), Ophthalmology Science / PMC
26. [RevolutionEHR / AOA — AI Trends in Optometry Practice (2025-2026): 67% OD AI familiarity; 72% believe AI improves optometry; 65% willing to use AI in practice](https://www.revolutionehr.com/blogs/ai-optometry-practice), RevolutionEHR

### Forecasts and exposure studies

27. [BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, National Employment Matrix: 29-1041 Optometrists (2025: 45.1 thousand; 2035: 49.4 thousand; +9.5%)](https://data.bls.gov/projections/nationalMatrix?queryParams=29-1041&ioType=o), Bureau of Labor Statistics
28. [Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin & Rock (2023), "GPTs are GPTs", occupation-level exposure data occ\_level.csv (O\*NET-SOC 29-1041.00, human-rated β 0.05)](https://github.com/openai/GPTs-are-GPTs/blob/main/data/occ_level.csv), OpenAI

### Historical notes

29. [AOA — "History of The American Optometric Association": founding 1898 as American Association of Opticians; charter membership 183 persons from 31 states and Canada](https://www.aoa.org/archives/), American Optometric Association
30. [Review of Optometry — "Legalizing Optometry": Minnesota 1901 first practice act; subsequent state-by-state expansion; US Supreme Court affirmation 1917](https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/article/legalizing-optometry), Review of Optometry
31. [Salus University / Pennsylvania College of Optometry history — PCO founded October 6 1919; first OD degrees awarded 1923; first class of 33 students, largest entering class of any optometry school at the time](https://www.salus.edu/about/our-history/index.html), Salus University (formerly PCO)
32. [AOA Blog (2012) — "1971-2011: Forty-Year History of Scope Expansion Into Medical Eye Care": Rhode Island DPA authority July 16 1971; Maryland last DPA state January 13 1989](https://newsfromaoa.wordpress.com/2012/03/23/1971-2011-forty-year-history-of-scope-expansion-into-medical-eye-care/), American Optometric Association
33. [Digital Diagnostics — LumineticsCore (formerly IDx-DR): first FDA De Novo authorized autonomous AI diagnostic system; 87.4% sensitivity, 96% NPV; 1,000+ US clinic deployments](https://www.digitaldiagnostics.com/), Digital Diagnostics
34. [College of Optometrists — AI in Eye Care Summit (March 2025): 91% positive impact belief; 23% patient-relationship concern; College journal Acuity Winter 2026](https://www.college-optometrists.org/professional-development/college-journals/acuity/all-issues/winter-2026/decoding-disease), College of Optometrists (UK)

### Predecessors & successors

35. [Review of Optometry — "Legalizing Optometry": professional optometry grew from spectacle-making trade; Minnesota 1901 first practice act](https://www.reviewofoptometry.com/article/legalizing-optometry), Review of Optometry
36. [BLS OOH — Medical and Health Services Managers: +29% projected growth 2024-2034; practice-ownership ODs are a natural pipeline](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm), Bureau of Labor Statistics

### Present-day analysis

- [O\*NET 30.3 — Optometrists (29-1041.00): tasks, technology skills, work activities, employment data](https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1041.00), accessed 2026-05-24
- [BLS OOH — Optometrists: 47,800 employed 2024; +8% growth 2024-2034 (much faster than average); 2,400 annual openings; median $134,830](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/optometrists.htm), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Digital Diagnostics — LumineticsCore (formerly IDx-DR): first FDA De Novo AI diagnostic system; 87.4% sensitivity, 96% NPV; 1,000+ US clinic deployments](https://www.digitaldiagnostics.com/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Eyenuk — EyeArt FDA clearance K200667 (August 2020): 96% sensitivity, 97% imageability; first national health system deployment Sep 2025 (Norway)](https://web.archive.org/web/20221007143605/https://www.eyenuk.com/en/articles/news/eyenuk-announces-eyeart-fda-clearance/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [AEYE Health — FDA clearance April 2024 for portable autonomous AI DR screening (Optomed Aurora handheld); 92-93% sensitivity; pharmacy deployment partnership with Ford Medical 2025](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-clears-first-fully-autonomous-ai-for-portable-diabetic-retinopathy-screening-302131559.html), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Ophthalmology Science / PMC (2025) — Autonomous AI in DR Testing: CPT 92229 reimbursement $40.28 Medicare / $127.81 commercial median; 15,097 Medicare claims 2021-2023; second fastest-growing AI medical procedure](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12553049/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Retina Specialist — AI for DR Screening 2025: three FDA-cleared systems (LumineticsCore, EyeArt, AEYE-DS) with ≥87% sensitivity / ≥89% specificity; adoption still limited as share of eligible diabetic population](https://www.retina-specialist.com/article/ai-for-dr-screening-where-are-we-in-2025), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Notal Vision SCANLY Home OCT — FDA De Novo authorization May 2024 for AI nAMD monitoring; pivotal study validates AI fluid segmentation across 336 nAMD patients at 6 US retina clinics (Ophthalmology Science 2025)](https://notalvision.com/services/scanly-oct), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Eyefinity EncompassScribe — ambient AI documentation for optometry: optometric-terminology-trained transcription, structured notes and billing codes; Vision Expo West Sep 2025 preview; Early Advantage launch 2026](https://www.eyefinity.com/products/solutions/encompassscribe.html), accessed 2026-05-24
- [RevolutionEHR / AOA — AI Trends in Optometry Practice (2025-2026): 67% OD AI familiarity; 72% believe AI improves optometry; 65% willing to use AI in practice](https://www.revolutionehr.com/blogs/ai-optometry-practice), accessed 2026-05-24
- [AOA — The Latest on AI and Optometry: AI already embedded in most practices via diagnostic equipment; recommended steps for safe adoption; patient-care empathy flagged as non-negotiable differentiator](https://www.aoa.org/news/practice-management/perfect-your-practice/the-latest-on-ai-and-optometry), accessed 2026-05-24
- [College of Optometrists AI in Eye Care Summit (March 2025): 91% of members believe AI will positively impact diagnosis; 23% concerned about patient-practitioner relationship effects](https://www.college-optometrists.org/professional-development/college-journals/acuity/all-issues/winter-2026/decoding-disease), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Eloundou et al. 2024 — GPTs are GPTs (Science): occupational LLM exposure framework](https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.10130), accessed 2026-05-24
- [Optometry Advisor — AI scribe use modestly reduces clinical documentation time for optometrists; clinicians retain review and sign-off responsibility](https://www.optometryadvisor.com/news/ai-scribe-use-modestly-reduces-clinical-documentation-time/), accessed 2026-05-24
- [RevolutionEHR — AI Trends in Optometry Practice (2025-2026): most practical AI use cases in 2026 include scheduling automation, billing, and documentation; OD role is directing tool selection and quality oversight](https://www.revolutionehr.com/blogs/trends-optometry-practice-management), accessed 2026-05-24

How to read these figures: https://futurehistory.earth/methodology. Every figure links to its own source; gaps stay gaps.