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Akicita Federal
Sisseton, South Dakota

Optometrist

OptometristFull-Time

Listed compensation

$176,800 a year

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

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

Posted 19m ago · Verified live

Job Description

Akicita Federal is hiring two Optometrists to deliver comprehensive eye care services to American Indian and Alaska Native patients served by the Woodrow Wilson Keeble Memorial Health Care Center (WWKMHCC) in Sisseton, South Dakota.

These roles support the Indian Health Service's mission to provide the best possible healthcare to approximately 7,000 tribal members living on the Lake Traverse Reservation — a rural community where access to quality specialty care makes a profound difference.

You'll be part of a dedicated clinical team serving patients who may travel significant distances to receive care.

  • Provide complete optometric examinations, diagnose ocular diseases, and prescribe corrective lenses and treatment plans for a diverse patient population
  • Diagnose and manage conditions including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and other anterior and posterior segment disorders
  • Document all patient encounters, clinical findings, and treatment decisions accurately within the facility's electronic health record system
  • Coordinate with on-site medical providers and specialists to deliver integrated, patient-centered care for individuals with complex or chronic health conditions
  • Prescribe and fit eyeglasses, contact lenses, and low-vision aids appropriate to each patient's clinical and lifestyle needs
  • Provide patient education on eye health maintenance, disease management, and preventive care strategies
  • Participate in quality improvement activities and collaborate with facility leadership to support the overall health service delivery mission

$176,800 - $176,800 a year

  • Current, valid Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree from an accredited school or college of optometry
  • Active, unrestricted license to practice optometry (state licensure must be valid; licensure in South Dakota or ability to obtain prior to start preferred)
  • Ability to pass an FBI National Criminal History (fingerprint) background check adjudicated prior to beginning work
  • Must not appear on the HHS Office of Inspector General List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE)
  • Willingness to complete facility security pre-clearance requirements before the start of performance

What Sets Candidates Apart

  • Prior experience providing optometric care in a federally qualified health center, tribal health program, Indian Health Service facility, or other safety-net or rural healthcare setting
  • Familiarity with ocular manifestations of chronic diseases prevalent in Native American communities, such as diabetes-related eye conditions
  • Experience working with underserved or frontier populations where patients face geographic or socioeconomic barriers to specialty care
  • Residency training in ocular disease, primary care optometry, or a related specialty area
  • Comfort working in a multidisciplinary clinical environment with integrated medical and behavioral health teams

About Akicita FederalAkicita Federal is a Native American-owned federal contractor delivering healthcare, clinical, IT, and program-support services across the Indian Health Service, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other federal agencies. We hire the people who do the work — clinicians, analysts, engineers, support staff — and we treat them like the professionals they are.

Equal Opportunity EmployerAkicita Federal is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Akicita Federal complies with the Indian Preference provisions of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (P.L. 93-638) where applicable.

Key Responsibilities

The optometrist will perform comprehensive eye examinations, diagnose ocular diseases, and manage treatment plans for patients at the Woodrow Wilson Keeble Memorial Health Care Center. They will also coordinate with multidisciplinary clinical teams to provide integrated, patient-centered care for individuals with chronic health conditions.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a valid Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree and an active, unrestricted license to practice optometry. Applicants must also be able to pass an FBI National Criminal History background check and meet facility security pre-clearance requirements.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Ocular disease diagnosisPrescribing corrective lensesGlaucoma managementDiabetic retinopathy managementMacular degeneration managementElectronic health recordsClinical documentation

Optometry Career Context

Akicita Federal holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 76/100, 8 active listings.

Of the 50 active Optometry listings this role was benchmarked against, 68% have no call, 46% require no weekends.

Optometry by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed pay$177kOptometry median $110k (middle half $104k–$140k)24 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$200k in purchasing powerSouth Dakota index 88.6 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Optometry listings in South Dakota9 active2,015 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 68% no call · 46% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedUS healthcare professional listings: 32% state a sign-on bonus (median $20k) · 8% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
New Optometry listings593 in the last 30 days401 the 30 days before (+48%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Optometry pay trend+5.0% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Akicita Federalsilver tier, 76/100Top 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.

Location & Logistics

South Dakota has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$177k midpoint, that is roughly $7k–$12k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.

Top Optometrist Jobs

12 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

12 jobs · 10 employers
5
<$170k
2
$170k-190k
3
$190k-210k
1
$222k
1
$230k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

11 jobs · 10 employers
401k / retirement match
91%
CME allowance
36%
Sign-on bonus
27%
Relocation assistance
9%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Optometrist

Fogg Remington EyeCare · Fresno, California

$130k-$230k
#2

Market Managing Optometrist- Westchester and Long Island, NY- LensCrafters brand

Luxottica of America · Scarsdale, New York

$159k–$222k
#3

Optometrist (Dr. Tavel Family Eye Care) - Kokomo, IN

$140k-$200k
#4

Optometrist, Sign On Bonus (Brookside Optometric Group)

$121k-$196k
+ 10 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 1,991 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Sisseton

Median resident rent
$596/mo≈ 4% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
12 min
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

Sources: U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

Ratios use the advertised annual pay range’s lower bound, before taxes. Regional prices are not a personal budget.