Typical Career Progression
| |
Position |
Remuneration |
Experience |
Education (Optional) |
| Start Position |
Graduate |
~$60,000 |
1 |
Degree |
| 1st Promotion |
Employee |
~$60,000-$100,000 |
5 years |
Degree |
| 2nd Promotion |
Partner |
$100,000+ |
5+ years |
Degree |
| 3rd Promotion |
Self Employed |
More |
5+ years |
Postgraduate degree |
| 4th Promotion |
Specialist |
More still |
10 years |
Postgraduate degree |
*The above table is to be used as a guide only
Typical accountabilities and responsibilities
|
Graduate
|
Consulting, often with an experienced optometrist acting as a mentor. |
|
Employee
|
Consulting. Can often work in an optometry manager position, possibly contributing to the running of the business. |
|
Partner
|
Consulting. Business operations. |
| Self Employed |
General consulting. Business operations. |
| Specialist |
Specialist consulting. Business operations |
*The above table is to be used as a guide only
Career path options
Most optometrists are in general practice either as an employee or a partner in a busy practice, or (in the case of one third of all optometrists) as a sole practitioner. You can specialise in work with the elderly, children, or partially sighted persons who need specialised visual devices or develop and implement ways to protect workers’ eyes from on-the-job strain or injury.
You can also specialise in contact lenses, sports vision, or vision therapy and a few teach optometry, perform research, or consult. Some optometrists plunge into franchising, employing commercial staff to run the business. Irrespective you can remain in practice until you retire, so relatively few job openings arise from the need to replace those who leave the profession.
Demand for optometrists is expected to grow in response to the vision care needs of a growing and aging population, extensive use of computers, increased likelihood of cataracts, glaucoma, diabetes, and hypertension. Strong demand means there are plenty of career opportunities. Laser surgery can correct some vision problems and reduce the demand for eyewear.
More women optometrists are emerging due to the flexible hours they can command. There are major shortages of Optometrist in rural and regional Australia and these areas provide fantastic career opportunities both in terms of financial reward and the experience gained.
About the Author
Katie Chisnall
My name is Katie Chisnall and i have been working as an Optometrist for 4.5 years. I studied a 5 year Bachelor of Optometry at Melbourne University. I currently work for OPSM between 2 stores in the Inner suburbs of Melbourne.
Did you know we actually do not see with our eyes – we see with our brain and our eyes are basically the cameras of the brain?