Healthcare practitioners · SOC 29-1041
Optometrists
BLS projects 45,100 jobs in 2025 to become 49,400 by 2035 — +9.5%, against +3.5% across all occupations.
+9.5%
projected change to 2035
About 4,300 more jobs
2,000
openings a year
4.4% of the occupation a year, counting people who retire or move on
$136,570
median annual pay
Usually entered with: doctoral or professional degree
2025 to 2035
Employment at the start and end of the projection, in jobs.
- 2025 employment45,100
- 2035 projected49,400
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025–2035 projections.
Other healthcare practitioners occupations
The largest occupations in the same group, by projected change to 2035.
- Registered nurses3,465,400+5.6%
- Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses666,900+3.0%
- Pharmacy technicians471,200+6.4%
- Physicians, all other367,400+3.4%
- Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians343,000+2.7%
- Nurse practitioners336,300+41.0%
- Pharmacists325,200+5.2%
- Physical therapists283,700+11.9%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.