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Orthoptists

Job Zone 5 - Extensive preparation needed

Diagnose and treat visual system disorders such as binocular vision and eye movement impairments.

Pay & job outlook

Median pay: $115,210/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)

$65,210$195,190

Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Job outlook: +2% projected growth, 20242034 — about as fast as average.

About 2,400 openings per year, on average, over the decade.

Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.

Top skills
Active ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessScienceReading ComprehensionWritingService OrientationComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision Making
Top knowledge areas
English LanguageMedicine and DentistryEducation and TrainingCustomer and Personal ServicePsychologyBiologyTherapy and CounselingMathematics
Core tasks

Examine patients with problems related to ocular motility, binocular vision, amblyopia, or strabismus.

Evaluate, diagnose, or treat disorders of the visual system with an emphasis on binocular vision or abnormal eye movements.

Provide instructions to patients or family members concerning diagnoses or treatment plans.

Perform diagnostic tests or measurements, such as motor testing, visual acuity testing, lensometry, retinoscopy, and color vision testing.

Provide nonsurgical interventions, including corrective lenses, patches, drops, fusion exercises, or stereograms, to treat conditions such as strabismus, heterophoria, and convergence insufficiency.

Develop nonsurgical treatment plans for patients with conditions such as strabismus, nystagmus, and other visual disorders.

Interpret clinical or diagnostic test results.

Develop or use special test and communication techniques to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of children or patients with disabilities.

Frequently asked questions

What's the median pay for Orthoptists?

The median pay for Orthoptists is $115,210 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What's the job outlook for Orthoptists?

Employment for Orthoptists is projected to change +2% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.

What education is typically required for Orthoptists?

Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.

How many job openings are there each year for Orthoptists?

About 2,400 openings per year, on average, over the decade.