NOC 31111: Optometrists
What optometrists do
Optometrists examine eyes to assess and diagnose ocular diseases and disorders. They prescribe and fit eyeglasses and contact lenses and recommend treatments such as exercises to correct vision problems or ocular disorders. They work in private practice, hospitals, clinics, community health centres, rehabilitation centres, the optical industry, government and universities.
Main duties
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Examine patients' eyes, conduct tests and use ophthalmoscopes, biomicroscopes and other specialized instruments to determine ocular health and visual efficiency
- Prescribe and provide treatment (excluding surgery) to maintain, improve and correct vision and manage other ocular diseases and disorders
- Prescribe, dispense and fit eyeglasses, contact lenses and other visual aids
- Educate, counsel and advise patients on contact lens use and care, ocular hygiene, surgical and non-surgical options, and preventive care and maintenance related to occupation and lifestyle
- Refer patients to ophthalmologists or other physicians and surgeons for treatment of ocular diseases or conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration and systemic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure
- Collaborate with ophthalmologists and other healthcare professionals to provide pre- and post-operative care for patients undergoing eye surgeries such as laser vision correction
- May prescribe from a limited list of medications
- Conduct research and promote advancement in the visual sciences.
- Optometrists may specialize in fitting visual aids for people who are partially blind, fitting contact lenses or correcting special vision problems.
Job titles under NOC 31111
2 job titles are classified here, including doctor of optometry (OD), optometrist.
- doctor of optometry (OD)
- optometrist
Employment requirements
- Three years of university undergraduate studies or, in Quebec, completion of a college program in sciences and a four- to five-year university program in optometry are required.
- Licensing by the provincial or territorial regulatory governing body is required.
Optometrists wages in Canada
Low, median and high annual salaries from Job Bank’s 2025 wage data.
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Canada | $32,867/yr | $81,000/yr | $162,000/yr |
Toronto ON | $37,561/yr | $69,500/yr | $162,000/yr |
Montréal QC | — | $82,000/yr | — |
Vancouver Lower Mainland region, BC | — | $67,500/yr | — |
Calgary AB | — | $83,000/yr | — |
Edmonton AB | — | $81,000/yr | — |
Ottawa ON | — | $83,000/yr | — |
Winnipeg MB | — | $135,000/yr | — |
Québec City Quebec region, QC | $33,109/yr | $97,000/yr | $178,000/yr |
Hamilton Hamilton–Niagara Peninsula region, ON | — | $80,000/yr | — |
Kitchener-Waterloo Kitchener–Waterloo–Barrie region, ON | — | $76,500/yr | — |
Victoria Vancouver Island and Coast region, BC | — | $74,500/yr | — |
| Where | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
Nova Scotia | — | $85,000/yr | — |
Quebec | $33,109/yr | $97,000/yr | $178,000/yr |
Ontario | $37,561/yr | $78,000/yr | $156,000/yr |
Manitoba | — | $119,000/yr | — |
Saskatchewan | — | $68,500/yr | — |
Alberta | $32,867/yr | $84,000/yr | $178,000/yr |
British Columbia | $37,929/yr | $69,500/yr | $145,000/yr |
Using NOC 31111 for your resume or Express Entry profile
- IRCC asks you to make sure the main duties listed for your NOC match what you actually did at your job. If they don’t, look for another unit group whose duties do.
- Describe your own work in your own words. Recruiters and ATS software look for concrete tools, results and scope, not text copied from the NOC.
- Applying from outside Canada? Run your resume through the Canadian resume format checker to catch things Canadian employers don’t expect, like a photo or date of birth.
- Use the job title the employer’s posting uses. The 2 titles above are how the same work is named across employers.
Not in this group
Similar jobs classified under a different NOC code:
- Ocularist (NOC 32129)
- Ophthalmologist (NOC 31101)
- Opticians (NOC 32100)
- Optometric technician (NOC 33109)
- Optometrist assistant (NOC 33109)
- Orthoptist (NOC 31303)
- Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating (NOC 31209)
Frequently asked questions
What is the NOC code for optometrists?
Optometrists are NOC 2021 unit group 31111. Example job titles in this group include doctor of optometry (OD), optometrist.
What TEER is NOC 31111?
NOC 31111 is TEER 1 (University degree). Usually requires a university degree (bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate), or experience from a related TEER 2 occupation. TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 work counts as skilled work experience for Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs.
How much do optometrists earn in Canada?
Job Bank's 2025 wage data puts the median at $81,000 a year, with a range of $32,867/yr to $162,000/yr.
Related occupations
Sources: Statistics Canada, National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 Version 1.0; Employment and Social Development Canada, Job Bank wages (2025). Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. OfferJetAI is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Check IRCC’s NOC guidance before you apply.