Optometrist - $50,000 Sign On Bonus - FQHC - Rutland, VT

OptometristFull-Time

Listed compensation

$220k-$350k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations and weekend coverage.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Community Health

Community Health is a nationally recognized primary health care network providing multi-disciplinary care to the communities of central Vermont. Our services cover all primary care specialties and are delivered to multiple sites throughout central Vermont. Community Health structures a team-oriented and collaborative work environment. As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Community Health is committed to caring for every person and every family.

Position Summary

The Optometrist will be responsible for providing comprehensive eye care, diagnosing vision conditions, prescribing corrective lenses, and ensuring patients’ eye health. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills, a passion for patient care, and up-to-date knowledge of optometric practices.

Knowledge, Education & Skill Requirements

  • Conduct thorough eye exams to assess vision and detect ocular diseases or abnormalities.
  • Diagnose and treat common eye conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia.
  • Prescribe corrective lenses (glasses and contact lenses) and offer recommendations on proper use and maintenance.
  • Provide pre- and post-operative care for patients undergoing eye surgery or treatments.
  • Manage and monitor patients with chronic eye conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.
  • Educate patients on eye health, preventive care, and lifestyle choices to maintain optimal vision.
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records using [EMR system].
  • Collaborate with other healthcare professionals, such as ophthalmologists and primary care physicians, to coordinate patient care.
  • Stay informed on new advancements in optometry and implement best practices.
  • Handle patient inquiries regarding insurance and billing for eye exams and vision correction products.

How We Support You

  • Competitive salary - commensurate with experience
  • Production based bonus incentives/ salary potential
  • Comprehensive benefits package
  • Retirement plan with employer match & contribution
  • Generous vacation time
  • Malpractice insurance covered.
  • $50,000 Sign On Bonus
  • Up to $10k in relocation expenses
  • CME 1 week plus $6,000 expense allowance
  • Educational loan repayment

Key Responsibilities

The Optometrist is responsible for conducting comprehensive eye exams, diagnosing vision conditions, and managing chronic eye health issues. They will also prescribe corrective lenses and collaborate with other healthcare professionals to coordinate patient care.

Requirements

The ideal candidate should have up-to-date knowledge of optometric practices and excellent communication skills. They must be capable of performing thorough eye exams and managing patient records within an EMR system.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Vision assessmentOcular disease diagnosisPatient educationChronic eye condition managementPre-operative careElectronic medical recordsInterdisciplinary collaborationGlaucoma managementDiabetic retinopathy monitoringClinical documentationInsurance billing

Optometry Career Context

Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 74/100, 8 active listings.

Of the 44 active Optometry listings this role was benchmarked against, 66% have no call, 50% require no weekends.

Optometry by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$220k–$350kOptometry median $159k (middle half $150k–$174k)242 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$291k in purchasing powerVermont index 98.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Optometry listings in Vermont13 active1,991 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 66% no call · 50% no weekends44 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repayment$50k sign-on · loan repaymentUS healthcare professional listings (all specialties): 32% state a sign-on bonus (median $20k) · 9% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
New Optometry listings480 in the last 30 days468 the 30 days before (+3%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Optometry pay trend+3.1% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Community Health Centers of the Rutland Regionsilver tier, 74/100Top Employers work-life index8 active listings
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, Top Employers work-life index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Optometrist Jobs

7 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

7 jobs
4
<$165k
2
$165k-180k
0
$180k-195k
1
$196k

Annual compensation range

Work-Life Balance Distribution

7 jobs
0
1-2
0
3-4
0
5-6
5
7-8
2
9-10

Higher = better work-life balance

#1

Optometrist, Float

VSP Ventures · San Jose, California

$121k-$196k
#2

Optometrist

Visionworks · Tucson, Arizona

$130k-$170k
#3

Optometrist

$130k-$165k
#4

Optometrist, FT (PC) - Short Pump

$133k-$164k
+ 5 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 2.8this job 1.5
Better work-life than 20% of Optometry listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 2,003 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region logo

About Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region

Health and Human Services
Rutland, Vermont
11-50 employees

Benefits & Perks

Competitive Salary
Production Based Bonus Incentives
Comprehensive Benefits Package
Retirement Plan with Employer Match & Contribution
Generous Vacation Time
Malpractice Insurance Covered
$50,000 Sign On Bonus
Up to $10k Relocation Expenses

Living in Rutland

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$318k≈ 1.4× annual pay
Typical market rent
$1,508/mo≈ 8% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
16 min
State income tax
Up to 8.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.