Optometrists vs Podiatrists: $137K vs $160K Median Pay

Optometrists vs Podiatrists: what changes?

Consider Optometrists if you want to diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. Consider Podiatrists if you would rather diagnose and treat diseases and deformities of the human foot. Both list doctoral or professional degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

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

Podiatrists

National median pay (2025): $160,300
Route into the job: Doctoral or professional degree; Internship or residency follows qualifying education. Check its duration, pay, and licensing requirements
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: Internship or residency follows qualifying education. Check its duration, pay, and licensing requirements.
Work to investigate: Treat bone, muscle, and joint disorders affecting the feet and ankles.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 200

Know before you choose

Training continues through internship/residency after the degree path.

See the full Podiatrists brief

How the national numbers differ

Optometrists has the edge on projected growth

Optometrists is at 9.5% projected growth, compared with 2% projected growth for Podiatrists.

Optometrists has the edge on annual openings

Optometrists is at 2,000 annual openings, compared with 200 annual openings for Podiatrists.

Podiatrists has the edge on median pay

Podiatrists is at $160,300, compared with $136,570 for Optometrists.

61.7/ 100

Optometrists

41/ 100

Podiatrists

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.

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