The U.S. Department of Labor has developed an automated occupational information database, O*NET, that identifies and describes work content, work skills, and training requirements for all jobs across the country in all sectors of the economy. Much of the occupational information contained in this report is derived directly from the O*NET database, and supplemented with information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census Bureau, and Labor Market and Career Information.
| Industry | % of Optometrists employed | Annual Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Offices of other health practitioners | 56.1 | 0.79 |
| Offices of physicians | 16.9 | 1.77 |
| Outpatient care centers | 3.7 | 1.73 |
| 2024 Statewide average hourly wage | $63.64 |
| 2024 National average hourly wage | $67.76 |
| 2022 National employment | 43,400 |
| 2022 Texas employment | 2,905 |
| Texas projected employment by 2032 | 3,431 |
| Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2032 | 147 |
| Region | Employment | Projected Employment 2032 | Projected Annual Openings 2032 |
Annual Growth Rate |
Average Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas (all regions) | 2,905 | 3,431 | 147 | 1.68% | $132,370.00 |
| Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas | Relevant Importance Levels |
|---|---|
| Medicine and Dentistry Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures. |
|
| Biology Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment. |
|
| Customer and Personal Service Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
|
| English Language Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. |
|
| Mathematics Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. |
|
| Education and Training Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. |
|
| Therapy and Counseling Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance. |
|
| Psychology Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders. |
|
| Administration and Management Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. |
|
| Economics and Accounting Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data. |
| Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas | Relevant Importance Levels |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. |
|
| Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
|
| Critical Thinking Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. |
|
| Writing Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. |
|
| Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
|
| Social Perceptiveness Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
|
| Science Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems. |
|
| Coordination Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. |
|
| Complex Problem Solving Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. |
|
| Judgment and Decision Making Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
| Top 10 Relevant Abilities | Relevant Importance Levels |
|---|---|
| Problem Sensitivity The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem. |
|
| Oral Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. |
|
| Oral Comprehension The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. |
|
| Written Comprehension The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. |
|
| Deductive Reasoning The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. |
|
| Inductive Reasoning The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). |
|
| Near Vision The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). |
|
| Information Ordering The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). |
|
| Flexibility of Closure The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material. |
|
| Written Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. |