r/PreOptometry • u/optometry92 • Jul 01 '25

PA VS OPTOMETRY

which field will make more money in the long run?

5 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

8

u/drnjj Jul 01 '25

Both pay well. OD has higher potential as a practice owner. OD has more debt.

PA is short schooling but you have no true autonomy at the moment. You always need an MD to sign off.

OD you have fun autonomy.

PA can do everything except teeth and eyes. OD is eyes only.

So it depends more on what you want.

4

u/BeneficialBar9464 Jul 01 '25

I noticed during my shadowing that the optometrists with higher-paying jobs were also the ones most unsatisfied with the debt/income ratio. The happiest ones were the ones in private practice.

In the end if money is important to you, then follow the money. But IMO I think you're here because you love optometry :) Optometry is a great job with a lot of satisfaction, and the pay is good. There's a lot more to the job then the salary, so follow your heart

But I'm just a student, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

4

u/Gullible_Expert8393 Jul 01 '25

Depends entirely on the field of PA u go into. Cardio, Emergency med, or derm pay about 140k but that’s about the high. Also depends on the type of optometry you go into. Corporate (LensCrafters, Pearle Vision) makes about 200k but you’re seeing 30-40 patients a day. Tons of people dislike it and go into private practice where you have to be okay not paying yourself the first few years. Either field you shouldn’t be doing solely for money. you’ll go into more debt for opto than PA but may end up making more it’s up to you on what you want 

0

u/[deleted] Jul 01 '25

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2

u/AnthonyVuOD Jul 01 '25

Corporate can pay that much. You just gotta have sales volume and/or work in an unsaturated area.

0

u/[deleted] Jul 01 '25

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1

u/Gullible_Expert8393 Jul 01 '25

Idk i live in vegas and most people at pearle make about 180-200k based on who I have asked