The average optometrist salary in Canada is $100,000-$150,000 per year. This guide breaks down optometrist pay by province, practice type, and ownership status.
Table of Contents
Optometrist Salary by Province
Province
Associate
Practice Owner
Ontario
$120,000
$220,000
British Columbia
$125,000
$230,000
Alberta
$130,000
$250,000
Quebec
$100,000
$180,000
Saskatchewan
$120,000
$210,000
Manitoba
$115,000
$200,000
Nova Scotia
$110,000
$190,000
New Brunswick
$105,000
$185,000
Newfoundland
$115,000
$200,000
PEI
$100,000
$175,000
Territories
$150,000+
$280,000+
Salary by Employment Type
Type
Annual Income
Corporate (Costco, Walmart)
$100,000-$140,000
Private Practice Associate
$110,000-$160,000
Partnership
$150,000-$250,000
Solo Practice Owner
$180,000-$300,000
Multi-Location Owner
$300,000-$500,000+
Locum/Fill-in
$700-$1,000/day
Salary by Experience
Experience
Associate Salary
New Graduate
$95,000-$110,000
2-5 years
$110,000-$130,000
5-10 years
$130,000-$150,000
10+ years (Associate)
$140,000-$170,000
Take-Home Pay (Ontario Example)
Gross Salary
Annual Take-Home
Monthly Net
$120,000
$84,500
$7,040
$150,000
$101,000
$8,420
$220,000
$139,000
$11,580
Associate Payment Structures
Model
Details
Typical Income
Salary
Fixed annual pay
$100,000-$130,000
Per Diem
Daily rate
$600-$900/day
Production
% of billings
$120,000-$180,000
Hybrid
Base + production
$110,000-$160,000
Practice Ownership Economics
Metric
Typical Range
Gross Revenue
$500,000-$1,200,000
Net Profit Margin
25-35%
Owner Take-Home
$180,000-$350,000
Practice Value
50-70% of gross
Startup Cost
$400,000-$700,000
Buy-in Cost
$200,000-$500,000
Billing & Revenue
Service
Typical Fee
Eye Exam
$100-$150
Contact Lens Fitting
$150-$250
Medical Co-management
$75-$200
Glasses Sale (Markup)
100-300%
Contact Lens Sale
30-50% margin
Exams per day: 12-25 depending on practice type.
Corporate vs Private Practice
Factor
Corporate
Private Practice
Starting Salary
Higher
$95,000-$110,000
Ceiling
$140,000
Unlimited
Ownership Path
No
Yes
Hours
Set
Flexible
Patient Volume
High
Variable
Autonomy
Limited
Full
Education Requirements
Requirement
Details
Undergraduate
3-4 years (science prereqs)
OD Program
4 years
Schools
Waterloo, Montreal
Tuition
$20,000-$30,000/year
Licensing
National + Provincial exams
Is Optometry a Good Career in Canada?
Pros:
Excellent work-life balance
High income potential (ownership)
Growing scope of practice
No hospital/on-call requirements
Low physical demands
Patient relationships
Cons:
Limited Canadian school spots (2)
High startup costs for practice
4-year graduate program
Competition from corporate chains
Declining optical margins
Saturation in urban markets