Orthoptists
Machines can already do 18% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 40%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Orthoptists in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 18% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 2% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2039, and 40% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 28,630 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $115,210 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 94% for contact with people.
- Also called: Clinical Orthoptist (CO), CO (Certified Orthoptist).
- Competency here means how well the best AI model, tool or robot available can do a task, scored out of 100: today using the best available now, and for later years the 311 prediction of what AI and robots will be able to do.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examine patients with problems related to ocular motility, binocular vision, amblyopia, or strabismus | 18% | 3% to 25% | |
| Perform diagnostic tests or measurements, such as motor testing, visual acuity testing, lensometry, retinoscopy, and color vision testing | 15% | 3% to 25% | |
| Evaluate, diagnose, or treat disorders of the visual system with an emphasis on binocular vision or abnormal eye movements | 12% | 3% to 25% | |
| Provide instructions to patients or family members concerning diagnoses or treatment plans | 10% | 36% to 57% | |
| Provide nonsurgical interventions, including corrective lenses, patches, drops, fusion exercises, or stereograms, to treat conditions such as strabismus, heterophoria, and convergence insufficiency | 8% | 3% to 25% | |
| Prepare diagnostic or treatment reports for other medical practitioners or therapists | 7% | 70% to 82% | |
| Develop nonsurgical treatment plans for patients with conditions such as strabismus, nystagmus, and other visual disorders | 5% | 32% to 55% | |
| Interpret clinical or diagnostic test results | 5% | 54% to 76% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills orthoptists use most, most used first.
Human value: what makes people in this job hard to replace
How much orthoptists rely on each one, from 0 to 10. 311 estimates, medium confidence.
- Go-to problem solver7/10
- Trust and reliability7/10
- Know-how about the organisation5/10
- Network and relationships6/10
- Mentoring and developing others3/10
- Culture and morale6/10
- Initiative beyond the role5/10
- Calm in a crisis6/10
- Bridge between teams5/10
- Reputation and influence4/10
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Dentists, General31% of tasks by 2035 · US median $170,950
- Dental Hygienists36% of tasks by 2035 · US median $98,100
- Prosthodontists29% of tasks by 2035 · US median $311,180
- Athletic Trainers39% of tasks by 2035 · US median $62,520
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Orthoptists?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2039. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of orthoptists?
Machines can do 18% of the tasks of orthoptists today and 40% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 29-1299.02 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring, forecast and human value: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit (human value scores are 311 estimates, medium confidence); after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Orthoptists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/orthoptists/