Is this a typical salary for ODs?

[For-Life]

http://www.optiboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29386

Curioisity killed the cat, but I am not a cat. This is not to criticize, this is not to try to show someone up, but I just wanted to know if this was the typical range for ODs ($95k-135k). Is it more? Is it less?

Also, for the sake of keeping everything equal, lets use the staff position argument. Not a manager and not an owner.

[cocoisland58]

Where I work yes. We have two docs. One owner, one employee. I don't see the owner's paycheck.

[braheem24]

Central Florida would be 135K+ range, It's almost amusing the MDs seem to be the hungry ones willing to work and the ODs seem to want the 9-5 M-F at 150K where we can find a willing MD for 180K a year.

[MarcE]

Central Florida would be 135K+ range, It's almost amusing the MDs seem to be the hungry ones willing to work and the ODs seem to want the 9-5 M-F at 150K where we can find a willing MD for 180K a year.

Supply and demand. Too few ODs?? Too many MDs??

Some markets are just a little over half that for a new OD right out of school.

[orangezero]

It is all over the board. The most accurate estimates are going to be with the federal government showing those who list optometry as their type of employment. Many believe the AOA stats are bogus at best, but a good way to attract the best and brightest from the universities.

You also have to keep in mind some of the "salaries" they list are as independent contractors, which almost never receive health benefits, retirement, paid time off and other things which typically would add several thousands of dollars to most jobs. Many ODs have to pay those things out of pocket.

Owning your own practice is usually going to give the opportunity for the most income.

Not complaining, but trying to paint an honest picture of those numbers. As always, good pay in California would be a lot different than good pay in rural Illinois. Alternatively, because of oversupply I make just as much or more than those in the suburbs of Chicago even though their cost of living is so much higher.

[Jacqui]

I think I'm in the wrong end of the business.

[Johns]

For my area, it's low.

[peregrinerose]

http://www.optiboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29386

Curioisity killed the cat, but I am not a cat. This is not to criticize, this is not to try to show someone up, but I just wanted to know if this was the typical range for ODs ($95k-135k). Is it more? Is it less?

Also, for the sake of keeping everything equal, lets use the staff position argument. Not a manager and not an owner.

I'm a full time OD and don't make anywhere near those numbers. In the 8 years since I graduated, my salary has ranged from $60K-75K depending on whether I was in private vs. corporate eye care. It's on the lower end now.

[kws6000]

I'm a full time OD and don't make anywhere near those numbers. In the 8 years since I graduated, my salary has ranged from $60K-75K depending on whether I was in private vs. corporate eye care. It's on the lower end now.

Are you only seeing 5-6 people/day? your wage sounds very low.

[orangezero]

I don't remember the numbers, but looking at the federal statistics, around 25% or so of ODs earned less than $65,000 or $70,000. Probably a fair amount of them work part time.

I wish I knew the exact numbers but I'm too lazy to look them up right now.

[peregrinerose]

Are you only seeing 5-6 people/day? your wage sounds very low.

Nope. I'm in private practice 3 days a week, WM 2 days a week, definitely more than 6 patients a day, by a long shot. My salary is typical for ODs employed by other ODs in this region... it's the lowest payed subgroup of optometrists out there, based on the stats. However, I also have a lot more freedom this way, and I'll take freedom over dollars any day :p