Optometric Support Services
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Types of Degrees Optometric Support Services Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many ophthalmic and optometric support services graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Master’s Degree | 15 |
Doctor’s Degree | 2 |
Graduate Certificate | 2 |
What Optometric Support Services Majors Need to Know
People with careers related to optometric support were asked what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. They weighted these areas on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest.
Knowledge Areas for Optometric Support Majors
According to O*NET survey takers, a major in optometric support should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

- 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.
- Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
- 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.
Skills for Optometric Support Majors
A major in optometric support prepares you for careers in which the following skill-sets are crucial:

- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- 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.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
- Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Abilities for Optometric Support Majors
Some of the most crucial abilities to master while a optometric support student include the following:

- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
What Can You Do With a Optometric Support Services Major?
People with a optometric support degree often go into the following careers:
Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
---|---|---|
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians | 19.6% | $36,530 |
Opticians, Dispensing | 15.1% | $37,010 |
Who Is Getting a Master’s Degree in Optometric Support Services?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of optometric support majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 4 |
Black or African American | 0 |
Hispanic or Latino | 0 |
White | 1 |
International Students | 9 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 1 |
Geographic Diversity
Students from other countries are interested in Optometric Support, too. About 60.0% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:
- Vietnam
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- Italy
- Hungary
How Much Do Optometric Support Services Majors Make?
Salaries According to BLS
Average salaries range from $38,220 to $39,930 (25th to 75th percentile) for careers related to optometric support. This range includes all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Optometric Support Services
Some degrees associated with optometric support may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.
How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to optometric support have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
---|---|
Less than a High School Diploma | 2.0% |
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) | 32.2% |
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) | 28.2% |
Some College Courses | 6.0% |
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 28.2% |
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. | 2.0% |
Online Optometric Support Services Programs
In the 2018-2019 academic year, 85 schools offered some type of ophthalmic and optometric support services program. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
Degree Level | Colleges Offering Programs | Colleges Offering Online Classes |
---|---|---|
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) | 30 | 0 |
Certificate (1-2 years) | 31 | 2 |
Certificate (2-4 Years) | 4 | 0 |
Associate’s Degree | 46 | 1 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 4 | 0 |
Post-Baccalaureate | 30 | 0 |
Master’s Degree | 2 | 0 |
Post-Master’s | 1 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 1 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in Optometric Support Services Worth It?
The median salary for a optometric support grad is $38,220 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

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Majors Related to Optometric Support Services
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to optometric support.
References
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
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