OjO Recruitment Agency - Formerly Ophthalmology jobs Online

06/12/2026

1099 vs. W-2 Optometrist Jobs:

Pros, Cons, and Important Considerations Before Accepting an Offer.

Many optometrists encounter both W-2 and 1099 opportunities throughout their careers.

A new graduate evaluating a first position may receive a traditional W-2 employment offer with benefits and mentorship. An experienced optometrist may be presented with an independent contractor arrangement that, in some cases, offers greater flexibility and autonomy.

Neither employment model is universally better.

In fact, some of the happiest and most successful optometrists we know work as W-2 employees, while others intentionally choose independent contractor arrangements because they enjoy the freedom, variety, and scheduling flexibility they provide.

The key is understanding the differences before accepting an offer.

Important Note: This article is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice. Employment classifications, tax obligations, business entity requirements, and professional regulations can vary based on state law and individual circumstances. Optometrists should consult qualified CPAs, attorneys, financial advisors, and other professionals regarding their specific situation.

Neither Model Is Universally Better
One of the biggest misconceptions in optometry employment is that either 1099 or W-2 arrangements are inherently superior.

The reality is that the right choice depends on factors such as:

Career stage
Financial goals
Family circumstances
Lifestyle preferences
Desire for flexibility in scheduling
Need for benefits
Long-term professional objectives
Rather than asking which model is better, a more useful question may be:

Which model best aligns with the type of career and lifestyle you want now or would like to build?

What Is a W-2 Position?
In a W-2 position, the optometrist is considered an employee of the practice or organization.

Employers typically withhold taxes, contribute toward payroll-related expenses, and may offer benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, malpractice coverage, continuing education support, and licensing reimbursement.

For many optometrists, W-2 employment provides stability, predictability, and simplicity.

What Is a 1099 Position?
A 1099 optometrist is generally considered an independent contractor rather than an employee.

Compensation may be structured as a daily rate, hourly rate, production-based arrangement, or another negotiated model.

Many independent contractor optometrists appreciate the flexibility and autonomy that can accompany this type of arrangement.

Why Some Optometrists Prefer W-2 Employment
Potential advantages may include:

Employer-sponsored benefits
Paid time off
Retirement plans
Malpractice coverage
Continuing education support
Predictable compensation
Simplified tax administration
Greater employment stability
Mentorship opportunities
Many new graduates find comfort in knowing they can focus primarily on patient care and professional development rather than managing the additional administrative responsibilities that can accompany independent contractor work.

This article continues on OjO's website. Here's the link:

Considering a 1099 or W-2 optometrist job? Learn the pros, cons, benefits, tax considerations, retirement planning factors, and questions every OD should ask before accepting an offer.

05/27/2026

Lake Charles, LA – 2 Openings...An Optometrist Job and a Comprehensive Ophthalmology or Glaucoma Surgeon Role.

Partnership with Private, Well-Liked Group. 35 Minutes to the beaches of Louisiana!

https://ojorecruitment.com/job/5855/

https://ojorecruitment.com/job/5855-2/

OjO Recruitment Agency
[email protected]

05/18/2026

Job Search Timing for Young Ophthalmologists..."When Should I Start Looking for My First Job or Partnership Position?"

OjO Recruitment Agency

When should ophthalmology residents and cornea, glaucoma, or retina fellows start looking for jobs? Discover the optimal ophthalmic hiring timeline.

04/30/2026

What Is the Starting Salary for a New Grad Ophthalmologist? (Quick Answer)
One of the first questions we hear from residents and fellows is simple:
“What should I expect to earn?”

Based on the majority of opportunities we work on—and the many conversations we have with young ophthalmologists across the country—here’s what we typically see:

General / Comprehensive: $280,000 to $325,000
Glaucoma: $290,000 to $350,000
Cornea: $290,000 to $330,000
Retina (Surgical): $380,000 to $500,000+
Pediatric Ophthalmology: $250,000 to $300,000
Oculoplastics: $280,000 to $325,000
These ranges reflect what we see in roughly 80–85% of offers across private practices, private equity-backed groups, and health systems.

There are certainly offers above these numbers—and occasionally below—but this gives you a reliable, real-world baseline.

To see the entire article from OjO, click this link: https://ojorecruitment.com/blog/ophthalmologist-salary-compensation-for-new-graduates-2026-guide-for-residents-fellows/

04/14/2026

https://ojorecruitment.com/job/5827/

Washington, D.C. Medical Optometrist Job. Join a well-known, private ophthalmology practice. This is a happy team!
Join a genuinely happy, close-knit team—and patients who go out of their way to be here!
Join a well-established ophthalmology practice in the Washington, DC area that has been serving its community for more than 25 years. With a 4.77/5.0 rating across more than 1,500 patient reviews, the consistency of care—and the experience patients have here—truly stands out.
Patients routinely travel over an hour for care—and some even fly in twice a year. Not just for the clinical outcomes, but because they enjoy being here.
“Patients enjoy coming here because they get great care and they sense how much we enjoy working together.”
This is a team that genuinely enjoys one another. The staff are collaborative, engaging, and bring a lot of personality to the day—there’s conversation, curiosity, and laughter alongside a shared commitment to excellent care.
________________________________________
Position Highlights
• Established ophthalmology practice serving the DC area for 25+ years
• 4.77/5.0 rating across 1,500+ patient reviews
• Patients travel long distances—and some fly in twice a year
• Medical optometry role
• No nights, weekends, or call
• Monday–Friday schedule (~40 hours/week)
• Support staff help
________________________________________
About the Opportunity
This is a medical optometry role designed to let you focus on patient care in a collaborative, well-supported environment.
You’ll have your own patient flow and the autonomy to practice full-scope medical optometry. The structure is steady, predictable, and built for long-term satisfaction.
________________________________________
Clinical Scope & Technology
Our practice provides the following services:
• Cataract and premium lens surgery
• Cornea procedures
• Some LASIK and glaucoma management
Technology includes:
• OCT
• Fundus photography
• Auto refractor
• A-scan
• Compulink EHR
________________________________________
Compensation & Benefits
• Base salary: $135,000 – $175,000
• Productivity bonus: 30% of net professional collections after 2.25× base salary
• 401(k)
• PTO: 3 weeks
• Sick time: 1 week
• CME: 3 days
________________________________________
Culture & Environment
• A tight-knit, genuinely happy team
• Leadership that values dialogue, curiosity, and a positive environment
• A physician who is engaging, personable, and enjoys connecting with both patients and staff
• A workplace where people like coming to work—and patients can feel it
________________________________________
Who Will Thrive Here
The ideal optometrist is:
• Inquisitive and enjoys learning
• Clinically strong in medical optometry
• Friendly, positive, and engaging
• Someone who values being part of a collaborative, upbeat team
Just as important as clinical skill: being the kind of person patients—and colleagues—look forward to seeing.
________________________________________
Location – Washington, DC
Practice in a vibrant, diverse metro area with access to world-class culture, dining, and neighborhoods—while working in a setting that feels personal and grounded.

Contact
Reach out to Drew Caldwell of OjO Recruitment Agency (formerly OjO, Ophthalmology jobs Online) to learn more. [email protected].

All inquiries are confidential and there is no cost for ophthalmologists and optometrists who are searching for positions.

OjO is one of the nation’s most established eye care recruitment services. We’ve been helping ophthalmologists and optometrists find great jobs and partnership positions with practices nationwide for 17 years. We’d love to help you too!

Join a well loved private ophthalmology practice in downtown Washington, D.C. This is a medical optometry role with a very happy team!

03/28/2026

How to Find the Right Optometry Job (Not Just Any Job). AKA “Cheez-Its & Choices.” - OjO Recruitment Agency

If you’re an optometry student—or just beginning to navigate your early career as an OD—I want to start with something encouraging: You are in high demand.

Over the last several years, we’ve seen a surge in OD recruitment. In many parts of the country, there are far more patient chairs than there are doctors to fill them. Between private practices, corporate settings, and MD/OD clinics, the opportunities are endless.

In this climate, finding a job isn’t the challenge. But finding the right optometry position? That requires a different kind of clinical focus. It takes intention, and frankly, it’s worth the extra chair time to get it right.

The “Cheez-It” Problem: Navigating a Sea of Job Options

While many college graduates are facing a tough market, the challenge for new grad optometrists is often the opposite: Options Overload.

I recently had an experience in San Diego during an ophthalmology conference that illustrated this perfectly. I popped into a supermarket for snacks and found myself staring at a wall of Cheez-Its. There were 30 different types. Original, White Cheddar, Extra Toasty… I stood there, paralyzed by the volume of options. This sea of endless options did not make my choice easier!

That is exactly what I hear from the young doctors I talk to. With so many optometry job boards and recruiters reaching out, the search becomes a blur. You start asking yourself the same question you ask your patients: “Which is better… One or Two? One… or Two?” But unlike a refraction, a job search doesn’t have a single “right” answer. Something can look 20/20 at first glance until you slow down and look closer at the practice culture.

Why You Chose the Doctor of Optometry Path

In my 17 years of optometry career coaching, I’ve found that most doctors enter this field for three reasons:

Patient-Centered Care: A desire for meaningful work.
Impact: Making a tangible difference in vision and health.
Work-Life Balance: A profession that allows for a full life outside the clinic.
Here is the “professorial” truth: Those outcomes aren’t guaranteed by your degree. They are a product of the practice environment you choose.

How to Evaluate Optometry Job Opportunities

When comparing private practice vs. corporate optometry or looking at different OD salary structures, it’s easy to focus on the numbers. But a great fit is about alignment. As you look at optometrist openings, ask these grounding questions:

Mentorship: Will I be supported by an experienced OD, or am I on an island?
Patient Flow: Is the schedule managed to allow for quality care, or is it high-volume only?
Clinical Scope: Does this practice allow me to use my full training (medical, specialty lens, etc.)?
Transparency: Is the compensation structure (base salary vs. production) clear and realistic?
Solving the Professional Rubik’s Cube

We don’t just choose jobs; we choose lives. Whether you realize it or not, you are trying to solve a professional Rubik’s cube involving:

Belonging: Do I fit in with this team?
Meaning: Does this practice value the same “currency” I do (like that patient who says, “You’re the first doctor who truly listened”).
Agency: Do I have the clinical autonomy to practice the way I was trained?
Security: Does this offer provide the benefits and stability I need to build my future?
Partnering with an Optometry Recruitment Agency

At OjO Recruitment, our goal isn’t just to “fill a hole” in a practice. We believe your job search process should be clear, not confusing. We focus on the whole person, helping you ask the right questions and find a path that fits who you are becoming as a doctor.

No Pressure. Just a Conversation. Even if you aren’t actively looking, it’s never too early to start a dialogue. We offer free, confidential career perspective for students and residents.

Let’s find your “One.”

Questions about jobs or the current market? Send us a note: [email protected]

Navigating the optometry job market as a new grad? Learn how to move past “choice abundance” and find a practice that aligns with your clinical goals.

03/17/2026

https://ojorecruitment.com/job/5450/

Lynchburg, Virginia -Ophthalmology Partnership – Private Practice + ASC Shares. Join a collegial, well regarded 7 doctor group in Central Virginia.

Partnership.
We will consider comprehensive ophthalmologists, glaucoma, cornea, oculoplastic and LASIK/refractive surgeons. The most important thing to us is that we find a talented, relational surgeon with great skills and a caring demeanor.

Young and experienced ophthalmologists interested in a partnership opportunity will feel right at home with our practice. We are a team of seven busy physicians who genuinely enjoy supporting one another, and we are happy to share patient volume to help a new colleague ramp up quickly. It’s truly in everyone’s best interest for you to build the practice and schedule that you want, and we are committed to helping you do just that.

Our partnership track is clearly defined, and we approach the process with openness and transparency from the start. Just as importantly, our culture is one of genuine collegiality and mutual respect. We work closely together, support one another’s growth, and value the relationships we’ve built with our staff and patients.

We are excited to welcome another outstanding ophthalmologist to our team — someone who will thrive alongside our partners, contribute to our supportive environment, and help us continue providing excellent care to our community.

Highlights

· Private practice

· Partnership – Clearly defined

· ASC shares

· Ample support staff (minimum of 1 scribe and 2 techs)

· Busy role

· Very low physician turnover

· Research opportunities too

· Down to earth doctors

· Family friendly community

· Four seasons location

· Blue Ridge Mountains area

· Great mentoring from seasoned surgeons

· Missions – Local and International

Our thriving practice benefits from a strong, long-standing referral network, an exceptional reputation in the community, and a state-of-the-art facility equipped with advanced ophthalmic technology. Physicians also have the opportunity to participate in clinical research and international mission outreach, for those seeking a broader professional impact.

Contact
Reach out to Drew Caldwell of OjO Recruitment Agency (formerly OjO, Ophthalmology jobs Online) to learn more. [email protected].

All inquiries are confidential and there is no cost for ophthalmologists and optometrists who are searching for positions.

OjO is one of the nation’s most established eye care recruitment services. We’ve been helping ophthalmologists and optometrists find great jobs and partnership positions with practices nationwide for 17 years. We’d love to help you too!

Lynchburg, VA Ophthalmologist Partnership with Private Practice. Wonderful, down to earth group of surgeons. Busy surgical opportunity. ASC shares available.

03/09/2026

Internationally Trained Ophthalmologists welcome to apply.

Acclaimed university / teaching hospital has a wonderful Glaucoma surgeon opening.

[email protected]

OjO Recruitment Agency

All inquiries confidential.

https://ojorecruitment.com/job/1834/

Temple, TX - Glaucoma / Cataract Surgeon Opening. Join Well-Known University Teaching Hospital in Texas! Great team of doctors and wonderful family friendly town.

02/18/2026

$200K Base + $50K Sign On | Optometrist Job - Hickory, NC

Private MD/OD Group. RANKED 60 BEST PLACES TO LIVE!

Hickory, NC Ranked Top 60 Places to Live in the U.S. | Optometrist Job in Hickory, NC. | Join a private, doctor owned ophthalmology practice. | Large, Growing Group. | Patients love this practice and so will you! – NEW GRADS INVITED TO INQUIRE!

“I joined this practice because of the talented surgeons and the reviews my patients gave after visiting this team for surgical care. Patients always raved about how kind the staff were to them and how they felt listened to. I wanted to work for a company whose number one focus was patient care and one who worked well with local O.D.s. Working for this group has been such a great pleasure and has allowed me to grow even more as an OD. The team we have is top notch and I always feel heard and appreciated by the leadership team. I just wish I had found this opportunity sooner!” – Optometrist on staff.

Hickory, North Carolina ranks among the best places to live in the state and the most affordable metros in America, according to a new report released by U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News analyzed the 150 most populous metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) to find the best places to live. To make the top of the list, a place had to have good value, be a desirable place to live, have a strong job market, and provide a high quality of life. With a low cost of living, the Hickory MSA ranked No. 4 in “Most Affordable Places to Live” in the United States. This ranking is based on the median gross rent and annual housing costs for mortgage-paying homeowners of each metro area. In addition to ranking among the most affordable places to live, Hickory ranked No. 5 in Best Places to Live in North Carolina and No. 52 overall in Best Places to Live in the United States.

About the Practice:

Our successful, private, large Ophthalmology / Optometry group, located in Hickory, NC, is a quality focused practice searching for a collaborative, skilled Optometrist. Since 1969, we have been serving multiple communities by achieving exemplary clinical outcomes and providing unparalleled experiences for patients, employees, and families.

The incoming optometrist will have the opportunity to be mentored by seasoned surgeons who provide world-class care in their community. Our highly trained team of 13 board certified ophthalmologists includes 7 fellowship trained sub-specialists along with several Optometrists. Services and specialties include comprehensive eye care, cataracts, glaucoma, refractive procedures (iLASIK), corneal disorders, retinal disorders, pediatric vision disorders, oculo-facial plastics (functional and aesthetic services) and optical. Our main office in Hickory includes a 3 OR Surgery Center within our 92,000 square foot office.

Highlights Include:

Guaranteed Base Salary of $200K
Sign On Bonus of up to $50K
Loan Repayment Option
Stipend Option
Young ODs in training can work as a Super-tech until you pass the North Carolina boards
4 and 5 Day Work Week Options and Flexible Schedules for Part-time Doctors too.
Medical and Primary Care Optometry Role
Collegial, Collaborative Team
Great Mentoring – 13 Ophthalmologists with 7 fellowship trained sub-specialists
Very Lucrative Optical Bonus Too!
Wonderful Staff to Help You; 2 Techs and a Scribe
Generous benefits:

Vacation Pay
Holiday pay
CME Days
Medical insurance
Dental insurance
401k + Profit Sharing
Life insurance
Disability insurance
Hickory, NC is nestled in a beautiful location, providing an excellent quality of life and relatively low cost of living. Western North Carolina offers tremendous diversity all within driving distance, including the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains with several ski resorts, gorgeous hiking trails and views, both NC and SC beaches, and large metropolitan cities such as Charlotte, Winston-Salem, and Asheville.

Education And Experience

Doctor of optometry (O.D.) degree or in progress
North Carolina Optometry Board license or planning to take it
New Grads Encouraged to Apply
Essentials Skills And Abilities – NOTE: NEW GRAD ODs ARE INVITED TO APPLY!

Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.
In-depth knowledge and skills of optometry essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to this position. Demonstrated ability to perform moderately complex optometric examinations including visual acuity, pupillary examination, confrontation visual fields, tonometry, evaluation of muscle balance, stereopsis, phorias, vergences, retinoscopy, slit lam examination, lensometry, indirect ophthalmoscopy, fundus photography and other relevant examination components.
Demonstrated ability to perform subjective refractions for ophthalmology patients.
Skilled at providing directions, instructions, information, and guidance to less experienced staff members.
Ability to work in a highly collaborative manner with staff, physicians, and members of our healthcare community.
Customer service oriented with excellent analytical skills.
Responsibilities

Perform thorough routine eye exams.
Perform pre- and post-operative checks.
Identify patients’ visual acuity, field of vision, and hand-eye coordination.
Diagnose sight problems, such as nearsightedness and color blindness.
Prescribe corrective lenses and medications.
Refer patients with ocular pathology and/or surgical needs to ophthalmologists as indicated
Maintain accurate medical files for all patients.
Promote eye health by teaching patients proper eye care techniques.
Identify and assess eye defects and diseases commensurate with skills and scope of practice.
Record all diagnosis and treatment plans, including referrals and therapeutic prescriptions.
Perform some administrative duties as required.

CONTACT

Reach out to Drew Caldwell of OjO Recruitment Agency (formerly OjO, Ophthalmology jobs Online) to learn more. [email protected].

All inquiries are confidential and there is no cost for ophthalmologists and optometrists who are searching for positions.

OjO is one of the nation’s most established eye care recruitment services. We’ve been helping ophthalmologists and optometrists find great jobs and partnership positions with practices nationwide for 17 years. We’d love to help you too!

02/03/2026

Colorado Springs – Medical OD job. Join a well-established private OD/MD group in this beautiful area. Busy opportunity with wonderful providers.
[email protected]



All inquiries are confidential and there is no cost for ophthalmologists and optometrists who are searching for positions.

OjO is one of the nation’s most established eye care recruitment services. We’ve been helping ophthalmologists and optometrists find great jobs and partnership positions with practices nationwide for 17 years. We’d love to help you too!

Colorado Springs Medical Optometrist Job with Well Known Private OD/MD Group. Wonderful opportunity in a beautiful community.