There are many benefits to being an optometrist in Texas. One of the best is the salary. Optometrists in Texas can make salaries that are higher than the national average, which means more money for you! How much does an optometrist make? How much can you earn as an optometrist in Texas?
Each year, Optometry organizations conduct studies that provide the most accurate salary information for optometrists. The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) reports the median annual salary for optometrists in Texas was $129,700 in 2011 – down from $132,000 in 2009. That’s about 30% less than what the average doctor makes per year.
Starting Salary For Optometrist In Texas Overview
Optometrists are the doctors who examine, diagnose and treat vision problems. They provide treatments that range from correcting your vision to prescribing glasses or contact lenses. Optometrists work in a variety of settings including clinics, hospitals and private practice.
Optometrists are trained to perform eye examinations, prescribe medications and make recommendations for treatment. The job outlook and salary for optometrists is promising as the population ages and requires eye care services.
Here’s what you need to know about becoming an optometrist in Texas:
A Doctor of Optometry degree from one of the six schools in Texas takes four years to complete with an emphasis on biology, chemistry and physics courses as well as clinical training in an accredited residency program.
A Doctorate degree from one of these schools will enable you to sit for the national board exam which is required before you can practice independently as an optometrist in Texas or any other state.
How Much Do Optometrists Make?
The first thing you’ll want to know when considering an optometry career is how much do optometrists make? According to Payscale, the average starting salary for an optometrist is $60K. This number can vary depending on where you work and how much experience you have as a practicing professional. For example, those who work in private practice make an average annual salary of $135K while those who work at pharmaceutical companies earn an average annual salary of $140K per year according to PayScale data from 2018-2019.
How much do optometrists make in Texas?
As of May 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average hourly wage in Texas for optometrists is $55.34, and the average yearly salary is $115,100. These averages are slightly lower than the national values; the average hourly wage for optometrists throughout the country is $60.31, and the average yearly salary is $125,440. However, in Texas the highest-earning 25 percent of the optometrists employed in the state have an average hourly wage of $61.26 or more, and a yearly salary of $127,410 or more.
Additionally, Texas has the second highest level of employment in the country; as of May 2020, 2,830 optometrists are employed in the state. The Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area in Texas has the fourth highest level of employment of any metropolitan area in the country, with 900 optometrists employed in the area alone.
How to Become an Optician in Texas
The Texas Optometry Board issues licenses to different categories of optometrists and eye care providers, including opticians. As a dispensing optician in Texas, you will select, as well as manufacture and dispense spectacles and contact lenses. All applicants for licensing must have graduated from an approved college of optometry and meet certification requirements, in order to practice. Below are the key steps to help you prepare for licensure in Texas as a dispensing optician.
Optician Education Requirements
The Texas Optometry Board has a formal educational requirement for the field of optometry. If you intend to apply for a practicing license, you must complete an optometry educational program in an accredited school. Texas has two optometry schools. Applicants to optometry schools must have completed an undergraduate degree in an accredited school. It is vital that undergraduate coursework is drawn from the basic sciences, social and behavioral sciences and the humanities to give a well-rounded learning experience. Pre Optometry courses are completed during the undergraduate years. These may include advanced physiology, biochemistry, biosciences, calculus for the biosciences, laboratory investigations, microbiology, organic chemistry, and psychology. To be admitted into an optometry school, you should have successfully taken the Optometry Admission Test (OAT), administered by the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry. The optometry school curriculum includes courses on community health, geometric optics, human anatomy, pathology, primary care optometry, ophthalmic optics, and vision science. Programs also have a practicum component. Optometry programs are four-year programs that award the Doctor of Optometry (OD) degree upon completion of studies.
