An optimist might look at the chart above and say that the income gap between men and women in the first five years of practice is relatively small—about 10 percent. If that holds true as these women and men advance through their careers, then it could be a signal that the income gap is closing somewhat.

However, among women with 6 to 15 years of experience, the gap sits at nearly 22 percent, and among women with more than 15 years of experience, male ODs reported making an astonishing 50 percent more, according to a new survey conducted by Jobson Research and sponsored in part by Women In Optometry. A total of 391 full-time optometrists responded, and 41 percent of the ODs who responded were women ODs.

Is that a reflection of the choices that these women made or the opportunities presented to them over their careers, or is that a trajectory that might define women’s experiences? Among male respondents, 64 percent reported having been in the profession for at least 16 years; only 38 percent of women ODs reported having been in the industry that long.

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