Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (occupation group), with detailed role definition from O*NET, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Examine patients with problems related to ocular motility, binocular vision, amblyopia, or strabismus.
Evaluate, diagnose, or treat disorders of the visual system with an emphasis on binocular vision or abnormal eye movements.
Provide instructions to patients or family members concerning diagnoses or treatment plans.
Perform diagnostic tests or measurements, such as motor testing, visual acuity testing, lensometry, retinoscopy, and color vision testing.
Provide nonsurgical interventions, including corrective lenses, patches, drops, fusion exercises, or stereograms, to treat conditions such as strabismus, heterophoria, and convergence insufficiency.
Top skills:Critical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessScienceReading Comprehension
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Orthoptist pay by experience level
Entry level$67,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$86,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$119,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$167,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$202,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+2%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
2,400
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Orthoptist salary by industry
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
19,380 workers
$136,000
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
18,810 workers
$136,000
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
3,820 workers
$115,000
Ambulatory Health Care Services
3,480 workers
$143,000
Offices of Physicians
1,500 workers
$178,500
Offices of Other Health Practitioners
1,330 workers
$119,000
Educational Services
890 workers
$94,000
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
840 workers
$93,000
Educational Services, State Government Owned
710 workers
$99,000
Other Ambulatory Health Care Services
330 workers
$97,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Orthoptist make?
The average base salary for a Orthoptist in the United States is $132,000 per year, or about $63.46 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $86,500 and $167,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Healthcare Practitioners and Technical roles?
The Healthcare Practitioners and Technical job family averages $162,000 across 91 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.