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Optometrist - Federal Salaries of 2022
Pay Rates for "Optometrist"
How much does an Optometrist in the federal government get paid? $121,865.95* *Based on the 2022 average.Optometrist was the 142nd most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2022, with 1,319 employed. The most common payscale was the clinical podiatrists and optometrists schedule payscale.
In 2022, the Veterans Health Administration hired the most employees titled Optometrist, with an average salary of $121,215.
Government Optometrist jobs are classified under the General Schedule (GS) payscale. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
This occupation covers positions that require the application of professional optometric knowledges and skills in examining and analyzing the eye for diseases and defects and prescribing correctional lenses or exercises. Except for positions not involving patient care responsibility (e.g., research optometrist), positions in this occupation require a current license to practice optometry in a State or territory of the United States or in the District of Columbia.
Agencies that have hired an Optometrist
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Health Administration | 1,240 | $121,215.26 |
| Indian Health Service | 71 | $130,083.70 |
| Food and Drug Administration | 8 | $149,464.50 |
Optometrist Pay Distribution
The average pay for an Optometrist is $121,865.95. The highest paid Optometrist made $178,800 in 2022.
Common Optometrist Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Optometrist Employees |
|---|---|
| VP - Clinical Podiatrists And Optometrists Schedule | 819 |
| AD - Administratively Determined Rates, Not Elsewhere Specified | 420 |
| GS - General Schedule | 73 |
| EI - Advisory Committee Member (other) | 6 |
| SR - Statutory Rates Not Elsewhere Specified | 1 |
| Category: | N/A |
| Occupation Family: | 0600 MEDICAL, HOSPITAL, DENTAL, AND PUBLIC HEALTH GROUP |
Average Optometrist Pay Trend from 2004 to 2022
In 2004, the average pay for an Optometrist was $82,871. Since then, the average pay has increased to $121,866 in 2022.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 0662.