Is optometry a rewarding career?
Yes. Optometrists have the satisfaction of helping their patients care for the most highly valued human sense – sight. Doctors of Optometry are recognized as leaders in their communities. Most are self-employed, receive relatively few emergency calls, and can establish a flexible working schedule, which allows them the luxury of combining a prestigious professional career with a very satisfying personal life. Optometry is also rated as one of the top ten income-earning professions in the country (USA TODAY, Gates). According to the 2007 American Optometric Association Economic Survey, the average net income for optometrists was $175,329.
