Chiropractic vs. optometry

[RLK]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Does anyone happen to know how the salary of a chiropractor compares to an optometrist? If I can't into optometry school for next year, I may consider chiropractic. I was looking into audiology too, but the pay in that is pretty crappy, around 55K. I wonder if it is expected to go up. I know money isn't everything, but you gotta have enough to pay back the loans and to keep the lights on.

 

[PublicHealth]

Optometrists: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos073.htm

Chiropractors: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos071.htm

Take these figures with a grain of salt. There are always exceptions. Moreover, optometry schools tend to be more costly than chiropractic schools. Before pursuing any field, I highly recommend that you shadow optometrists, chiropractors, and other healthcare professionals, discover what you are passionate about, and then pursue it.

Optometry and chiropractic are VERY different professions. I hope that you're not looking for a quick way to become a "doctor." If so, I regret to inform you that there are no shortcuts in professional training. Tread carefully, my friend.

 

[RLK]

Optometrists: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos073.htm

Chiropractors: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos071.htm

Take these figures with a grain of salt. There are always exceptions. Moreover, optometry schools tend to be more costly than chiropractic schools. Before pursuing any field, I highly recommend that you shadow optometrists, chiropractors, and other healthcare professionals, discover what you are passionate about, and then pursue it.

Optometry and chiropractic are VERY different professions. I hope that you're not looking for a quick way to become a "doctor." If so, I regret to inform you that there are no shortcuts in professional training. Tread carefully, my friend.

Well, I've always been interested in optometry because my father managed an optical lab when I was a kid. So optometry is my first choice. But, if I don't get accepted into optometry school, then I need a backup plan. Chiropractic, pharmacy, optometry, and probably some other fields that I can't think of at the moment all have similar pre-requisites. I've completed just about all of the pre-reqs so now I need to move forward.

I did shadow one optometrist so far. I can see how shadowing gives you an idea what the profession is like, but I don't really think there's any way to tell if any type of job is something that you would like without actually doing it yourself.

 

[BackTalk]

Does anyone happen to know how the salary of a chiropractor compares to an optometrist? If I can't into optometry school for next year, I may consider chiropractic. I was looking into audiology too, but the pay in that is pretty crappy, around 55K. I wonder if it is expected to go up. I know money isn't everything, but you gotta have enough to pay back the loans and to keep the lights on.

As a chiropractor I can say that you can make a good living. One thing you need to look at is cost of education versus income. It can be very hard to be a chiropractor. Much of the profession has an identity crisis. Also, managed care is an issue that needs to be evaluated with any healthcare profession. With optometry you will be part of a legitimate profession. The chiropractic profession still struggles with this issue. Another thing is you are pretty much on your own when exiting chiropractic school. Those that lack business savvy will have a hard time making it on their own. With optometry I would say associate positions pay much more than associate chiropractic positions. You could probably make a decent living working for the various optometry chains. I have a friend who works for a chain of optometry centers and makes around 80K. This includes health insurance, malpractice and retirement plan as well. Again, as a chiropractor you are on your own when it comes to retirement and insurance. Like with any self-employment profession there is many factors involved such as location, demand etc. If your motive were to strictly make lots of money, I would consider Dental School. Many dentists make a fine living. Also, you really can’t go wrong as a MD. All MD’s for the most part make very good money regardless of position.

 

[JunkyardWillie]

As a chiropractor I can say that you can make a good living. One thing you need to look at is cost of education versus income. It can be very hard to be a chiropractor. Much of the profession has an identity crisis. Also, managed care is an issue that needs to be evaluated with any healthcare profession. With optometry you will be part of a legitimate profession. The chiropractic profession still struggles with this issue. Another thing is you are pretty much on your own when exiting chiropractic school. Those that lack business savvy will have a hard time making it on their own. With optometry I would say associate positions pay much more than associate chiropractic positions. You could probably make a decent living working for the various optometry chains. I have a friend who works for a chain of optometry centers and makes around 80K. This includes health insurance, malpractice and retirement plan as well. Again, as a chiropractor you are on your own when it comes to retirement and insurance. Like with any self-employment profession there is many factors involved such as location, demand etc. If your motive were to strictly make lots of money, I would consider Dental School. Many dentists make a fine living. Also, you really can’t go wrong as a MD. All MD’s for the most part make very good money regardless of position.

Money isn't really the thing that interests me. I left my old job making 42K, which is only about half of a starting optometrist's pay, but still not too bad. Optometry is something that I've been interested in since I was a kid so that's why I'm trying to pursue it now. I was considering chiropractic too for a couple of reasons. My cousin is a chiropractor and the types of things he tells me about are pretty interesting. I think you're right about denistry - it would be a great profession. The only thing is I can't imagine telling a 10 year old kid he needs impressions. I was afraid of the dentist and orthodontist probably more than anyone when I was a kid. I'm sure an MD would be good, but I'm 29 yrs old and even with optometry or chiropractic I'll be around 35 at least when I'm done with school. If I finish any later than that I probably won't be able to have a family. I don't want to have a kid when I'm 40 years old. By the time he/she's my age now, I'd probably be dead. haha. Too bad you can't slow down the aging process.

 

[JunkyardWillie]

As a chiropractor I can say that you can make a good living. One thing you need to look at is cost of education versus income. It can be very hard to be a chiropractor. Much of the profession has an identity crisis. Also, managed care is an issue that needs to be evaluated with any healthcare profession. With optometry you will be part of a legitimate profession. The chiropractic profession still struggles with this issue. Another thing is you are pretty much on your own when exiting chiropractic school. Those that lack business savvy will have a hard time making it on their own. With optometry I would say associate positions pay much more than associate chiropractic positions. You could probably make a decent living working for the various optometry chains. I have a friend who works for a chain of optometry centers and makes around 80K. This includes health insurance, malpractice and retirement plan as well. Again, as a chiropractor you are on your own when it comes to retirement and insurance. Like with any self-employment profession there is many factors involved such as location, demand etc. If your motive were to strictly make lots of money, I would consider Dental School. Many dentists make a fine living. Also, you really can’t go wrong as a MD. All MD’s for the most part make very good money regardless of position.

I forgot to ask...Is that a picture of The Hedgehog, Ron Jeremy ?

 

[BackTalk]

Thats right!

 

[BackTalk]

Money isn't really the thing that interests me. I left my old job making 42K, which is only about half of a starting optometrist's pay, but still not too bad. Optometry is something that I've been interested in since I was a kid so that's why I'm trying to pursue it now. I was considering chiropractic too for a couple of reasons. My cousin is a chiropractor and the types of things he tells me about are pretty interesting. I think you're right about denistry - it would be a great profession. The only thing is I can't imagine telling a 10 year old kid he needs impressions. I was afraid of the dentist and orthodontist probably more than anyone when I was a kid. I'm sure an MD would be good, but I'm 29 yrs old and even with optometry or chiropractic I'll be around 35 at least when I'm done with school. If I finish any later than that I probably won't be able to have a family. I don't want to have a kid when I'm 40 years old. By the time he/she's my age now, I'd probably be dead. haha. Too bad you can't slow down the aging process.

You are never too old to go to school or back to school. I saw a program on TLC where a guy was in his mid forties and had a family and went to medical school. You are still young. I thought about going to DO school but I have two young kids and afraid of missing out on them growing up. I hear where you are coming from. We had our son my last year of chiropractic school and it was a nightmare going to school, seeing patients and studying for boards with an infant. I definitely wouldn’t recommend anyone going through that. My wife helped out a lot but it still takes two. Out of curiosity what interesting things does your cousin say about chiropractic that intrigue you?

 

[hflyer]

Does anyone happen to know how the salary of a chiropractor compares to an optometrist? If I can't into optometry school for next year, I may consider chiropractic. I was looking into audiology too, but the pay in that is pretty crappy, around 55K. I wonder if it is expected to go up. I know money isn't everything, but you gotta have enough to pay back the loans and to keep the lights on.

If you really want to make money, then go to be business school. 55k is enough money to keep your lights on and some more. I bet you have a very demanding lifestyle. Don't go to optometry school if all you want is to be able to buy that new sports car.

Please tell the interview panel you want to become an optometrist in order to make some big bucks, so I don't have to sit next to you in class.

 

[JunkyardWillie]

If you really want to make money, then go to be business school. 55k is enough money to keep your lights on and some more. I bet you have a very demanding lifestyle. Don't go to optometry school if all you want is to be able to buy that new sports car.

Please tell the interview panel you want to become an optometrist in order to make some big bucks, so I don't have to sit next to you in class.

I don't think that's a fair post. First of all you don't know RLK's position. He may have a wife, kids, and a lot of debt. Second, after going to school for 6 to 8 years, it's pretty important to make a decent salary so that you can pay back your loans and pay your bills. Let me know which school you're going to because I won't sit by you either. You sound like a real a**hole.