Optometrists vs Pharmacist: Similar Pay, 9.5% vs 5.2% Growth

Optometrists vs Pharmacist: what changes?

Consider Optometrists if you want to diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. Consider Pharmacist if you would rather dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use. Both list doctoral or professional degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Optometrists and Pharmacist. 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.

Compare the practical differences

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

Pharmacist

National median pay (2025): $140,910
Route into the job: A Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree and state licensure are required. Check prerequisite coursework, the full program cost, and whether your intended role calls for residency training.
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.
Physical work: Much of the work is done standing. Ask about workload, interruptions, and breaks in the setting you are considering.
Schedule and hours: Most work full time. Pharmacies and hospitals may require nights, weekends, and holiday coverage.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 12,500

Know before you choose

Compare the full cost of the Pharm.D. route with hiring requirements in your intended setting, including any residency expectations.

BLS: entry routes, workplace, and schedules · Reviewed September 16, 2026. BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections.

See the full Pharmacist brief

How the national numbers differ

Pharmacist has the edge on annual openings

Pharmacist is at 12,500 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 5.2% projected growth for Pharmacist.

Pharmacist has the edge on median pay

Pharmacist is at $140,910, compared with $136,570 for Optometrists.

61.7/ 100

Optometrists

68.3/ 100

Pharmacist

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