Offices of Optometrists Revenue Benchmarks
The average offices of optometrists business in the United States generates $691K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 18,968 offices of optometrists businesses in the U.S., employing 143,900 workers with an average profit margin of 13.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $52K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Offices of Optometrists Business Actually Do?
Optometry practices providing eye exams, prescriptions for glasses and contacts, and treatment of minor eye conditions. Also sell frames, lenses, and contact lenses.
Who buys: Patients getting annual eye exams, updating prescriptions, or being fit for contact lenses.
How this is different: Different from ophthalmologists (MDs performing surgery) and optical retailers (LensCrafters — sell without on-site exam).
Average Revenue
$691K
per year
Profit Margin
13.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$91K
per year
Total Businesses
18,968
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$90K
small business avg
Labor Cost
50.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$52K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
5.7
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Offices of Optometrists Charge?
Optometry practices charge per eye exam and earn additional revenue on frames, lenses, and contacts.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Comprehensive eye exam | $100–250 list; $60–150 with insurance |
Contact lens fitting | $75–200 additional |
Frames (retail) | $150–500+ |
Prescription lenses (single vision) | $100–300 |
Progressive lenses | $250–700 |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete offices of optometrists business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a offices of optometrists business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the offices of optometrists industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Medical supplies & pharma | $13 | $89K | Disposables, medications, lab reagents, implants, and other direct patient supplies. |
Wages & benefits | $50 | $345K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $38K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $2 | $13K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $17 | $115K | Malpractice insurance, billing services, equipment leasing, regulatory compliance. |
Net profit | $13 | $90K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
12.64%
openings/year
Closure Rate
8.11%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+5.33%
annual
Businesses Closed
10,552
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Offices of Optometrists Business?
Startup Cost
$75K – $300K
Break-Even
25 months
5-Year Survival Rate
70.0%
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a offices of optometrists business do?
- Optometry practices providing eye exams, prescriptions for glasses and contacts, and treatment of minor eye conditions. Also sell frames, lenses, and contact lenses. Patients getting annual eye exams, updating prescriptions, or being fit for contact lenses.
- How much do offices of optometrists charge?
- Optometry practices charge per eye exam and earn additional revenue on frames, lenses, and contacts. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average offices of optometrists make per year?
- The average offices of optometrists business generates $691K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $90K per year at a 13.0% profit margin.
- How many offices of optometrists businesses are there in the US?
- There are 18,968 offices of optometrists businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 143,900 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a offices of optometrists business?
- Startup costs for a offices of optometrists business typically range from $75K to $300K, with a 5-year survival rate of 70.0%.
- What is the average salary in the offices of optometrists industry?
- The average employee in the offices of optometrists industry earns $52K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The offices of optometrists industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 5.3% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (12.6% entry vs 8.1% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 66% of offices of optometrists businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 10,552 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the offices of optometrists industry earns $51,909/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 21,306 establishments employing 150,984 people, the typical business has about 7 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The offices of optometrists industry has grown 93% since 2000 (from 78,459 to 151,050 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Offices of Optometrists revenue with other industries: