Published in Non-Clinical

The State of Corporate Optometry Report

This post is sponsored by National Vision
4 min read

In this report, you’ll see how salaries, practice settings, and job outlooks differ between corporate and private optometry practices.

The State of Corporate Optometry Report
Welcome to the 2020 Corporate Optometry Report—the first of its kind.
Using survey data from optometrists and optometry students since 2016, this report focuses solely on optometry in a corporate setting. We’ll take a look at the salary differences between corporate and independent optometry, the pros and cons of corporate settings, and overall perceptions of the corporate optometry modality.
In a year with massive disruptions to jobs, salaries, and telehealth practices, this report will provide an especially valuable look at the state of corporate optometry.

Download the 2020 Corporate Optometry Report or keep reading for a sneak preview of our findings!

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When it comes to corporate vs. independent optometry, there are pros and cons to each. As you’ll see from the report, corporate optometry tends to offer higher salaries, more benefits, and additional professional opportunities like national or regional leadership groups, speaking opportunities, or writing in trade journals due to the size of a corporate practice.
On the other hand, working at a private practice means you have more flexibility around your schedule, can manage patient load, and offer more input on business decisions. That type of flexibility has been more attractive to optometry students, but as you’ll see in the report, more are showing an interest in corporate optometry for a variety of reasons.
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In The State of Corporate Optometry Report, we cover:

  • Corporate Optometrist salaries: How much do corporate optometrists make, and how does that compare to non-corporate salaries?
  • Optometrist employment: What are the top settings for corporate optometrists in 2020? Who are the top corporate optometry brands?
  • Benefits of corporate optometry: What are the top reasons ODs cite for staying in corporate optometry? Which corporate benefits are most attractive to optometry students?
  • And more!

Show me the money: corporate optometry salaries in 2020

What’s the most important factor in an optometry job choice? According to our survey respondents, optometry salaries and benefits ranked #1. And based on survey trendlines, both independent and corporate salaries have increased since 2018. Additionally, salaries for corporate optometrists exceeded the expectations of student-projected compensations—a likely factor in students’ increased likelihood of choosing corporate optometry in the next five years.
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To see the full salary breakdown and non-corporate salary comparison, download the free report.

Corporate optometry: switch or stay?

What are the top factors that make ODs stay in corporate optometry? Compensation and stability are some of the top factors, followed by a refined focus on patient care (rather than the additional responsibilities of running a business).
On the other hand, ODs may switch out of corporate optometry due to patient volume or desire for more independence. Surprisingly, neither of those are the top reason ODs want to leave corporate optometry.
In a year of profound changes to careers and livelihoods, it’s not surprising to see that compensation, benefits, and stability are the driving forces influencing ODs to continue working in corporate optometry.
This is a small sample of the industry insights you’ll find in the free 27-page Corporate Optometry Report. Download the report now to see how your salary, practice setting, and job outlook compare with 500+ of your peers.
Antonio Chirumbolo, OD
About Antonio Chirumbolo, OD

Antonio Chirumbolo, OD is the Director of Client Services at CovalentCreative. He completed his optometry degree at the SUNY College of Optometry in 2013. Antonio is passionate about digital media, marketing, and advertising and in his free time still practices optometry in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Antonio Chirumbolo, OD