Side-by-Side Comparison
Optometrists leads 5–0| Metric | Nurse Practitioners | Optometrists |
|---|---|---|
| Risk Score | 27.3% | 21.5% |
| Risk Tier | Medium Risk | Low Risk |
| Risk Percentile | 26th | 10th |
| Tasks at Risk (>50%) | 4 / 15 | 1 / 10 |
| Median Salary | $129,210 | $134,830 |
| Employment | 307K | 42K |
Skill Comparison
|
Sorted by largest difference
Therapy and Counseling
Sociology and Anthropology
Assisting and Caring for Others
Psychology
Interacting With Computers
Control Precision
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
Developing and Building Teams
Coaching and Developing Others
Economics and Accounting
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
Protective Factors
Higher values indicate stronger protection against AI displacement
Nurse Practitioners
38%
total discount
Optometrists
35%
total discount
Task Risk Comparison
Tasks sorted by AI automation risk — higher means more automatable
Nurse Practitioners
4 of 15 at risk86%Maintain complete and detailed records of patients' health care plans and prognoses.
52%Prescribe medications based on efficacy, safety, and cost as legally authorized.
51%Analyze and interpret patients' histories, symptoms, physical findings, or diagnostic information to develop appropriate diagnoses.
51%Develop treatment plans, based on scientific rationale, standards of care, and professional practice guidelines.
49%Prescribe medication dosages, routes, and frequencies, based on such patient characteristics as age and gender.
Optometrists
1 of 10 at risk53%Analyze test results and develop a treatment plan.
39%Examine eyes, using observation, instruments and pharmaceutical agents, to determine visual acuity and perception, focus and coordination and to diagnose diseases and other abnormalities such as glaucoma or color blindness.
39%Prescribe medications to treat eye diseases if state laws permit.
39%Prescribe therapeutic procedures to correct or conserve vision.
39%Educate and counsel patients on contact lens care, visual hygiene, lighting arrangements and safety factors.
Wage Comparison
Optometrists earns +$5,620(+4%) vs Nurse Practitioners
Nurse PractitionersOptometrists
10th
$97,960$70,060
25th
$109,940$103,310
Median
$129,210$134,830
75th
$149,570$163,710
90th
$169,950$203,210
Premium Head-to-Head Analysis
Displacement Timeline Comparison
Nurse Practitioners2028–2035
Optometrists2028–2035
20242030203520402045
Optometrists has a longer runway before significant displacement, projected 0 years later than Nurse Practitioners.
Risk-Adjusted Salary
Salary weighted by displacement risk: salary × (1 − risk%)
Nurse Practitioners
$93,936
from $129,210
Optometrists
$105,909
from $134,830
After adjusting for AI risk, Optometrists offers $11,973 more in risk-adjusted pay.
Transition Feasibility
1%
Skill Overlap
Low overlap — significant retraining needed for transition
0
Unique to Nurse
0
Unique to Optometrists
Combined Protection Strategy
Regardless of which path you choose, focus on these protective factors
Social Intelligence
Creativity
Fine Manipulation
Decision Complexity
Nurse PractitionersOptometrists