Dentist vs Optometrists: $176K vs $137K Median Pay

Dentist vs Optometrists: what changes?

Consider Dentist if you want to examine, diagnose, and treat diseases, injuries, and malformations of teeth and gums. Consider Optometrists if you would rather diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. Entry credentials differ: Dentist, professional dental degree; Optometrists, doctoral or professional degree.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Dentist and Optometrists. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

The labor-market benchmark for Dentist covers the broader BLS group Dentists (29-1020). It does not isolate this specialty.

Compare the practical differences

Dentist

National median pay (2025): $176,110
Route into the job: An accredited DDS or DMD program and state licensing are required. Most programs expect a bachelor's degree and prerequisite sciences; specialty practice adds postgraduate training.
Prior related experience: Prior experience requirements need verification for this occupation.
Training and licensing: Verify the specialty's training, licensing, and full preparation time with an accredited program or employer.
Work to investigate: Use masks, gloves, and safety glasses to protect patients and self from infectious diseases.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 4,800

Know before you choose

Exposure to illness or infection is a recurring part of the work context, even when safety procedures are followed.

See the full Dentist brief

Optometrists

National median pay (2025): $136,570
Route into the job: Doctoral or professional degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Examine eyes, using observation, instruments, and pharmaceutical agents, to determine visual acuity and perception, focus, and coordination and to diagnose diseases and other abnormalities, such as glaucoma or color blindness.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 2,000

Know before you choose

The work routinely happens in close physical proximity to other people; personal space is limited.

See the full Optometrists brief

How the national numbers differ

Dentist has the edge on annual openings

Dentist is at 4,800 annual openings, compared with 2,000 annual openings for Optometrists.

Optometrists has the edge on projected growth

Optometrists is at 9.5% projected growth, compared with 5.6% projected growth for Dentist.

Dentist has the edge on median pay

Dentist is at $176,110, compared with $136,570 for Optometrists.

64.7/ 100

Dentist

61.7/ 100

Optometrists

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence