Should I Do Optometry Physio or Radiography?

Ljr2838 on 26/09/2020 - 23:23
Last edited 26/09/2020 - 23:24

Hi all,

I'm based in VIC, and very lost on which healthcare career to choose. I feel as though they all have their positives and negatives but would like some of your opinions on what is best.
Hopefully this might help another person also considering these careers.

Couple of questions I'm thinking about:

  • Which has best job satisfaction?
  • Which is less susceptible to burn out?
  • Which has the most job opportunities?
  • Which has the highest salary?
  • Which has the most opportunities for career growth?

If anyone has any experience or thoughts on any of these fields please share!

Poll Options

  • 5
    Physiotherapy
  • 2
    Optometry
  • 28
    Radiography
  • 2
    None: please comment
Education & Work

Comments

  • Diverse on 26/09/2020 - 23:36

    They're all healthcare but very different from each other.

    What exactly are you looking for?

    • jr2838 on 27/09/2020 - 00:10

      They are haha, just wanting to find out more about each one and what other people think since none of them truly stand out to me.
      The questions above would be my priorities/what I'm looking for, ie. opportunities, job satisfaction, salary etc

  • netjock on 26/09/2020 - 23:56
    +1

    If you can get the marks for Opto you might be wasting your academic abilities doing the other two.

    • jr2838 on 27/09/2020 - 00:08

      Hm do you think so? I was looking at Deakin Uni which says the lowest selection rank is 96.2, including adjustment factors etc.
      Monash Radiography is 97.1 and Physio 96.15

      Although I definitely do feel like Opto would be the most difficult study-wise.

      • POSITIVEVIBESONLY on 27/09/2020 - 01:16

        I think the majority of people looking to do Optom usually want to it at their local uni.

      • netjock on 27/09/2020 - 15:16

        Entrance scores are based on demand from students.

        You can't compare Deakin & Monash scores as different influence (location and prestige) on scores.

        • jr2838 on 28/09/2020 - 00:10

          Oh so would it be more difficult to get into Monash?

    • pjetson on 27/09/2020 - 12:18
      -1

      I asked an ophthalmologist at the Victorian Eye and Ear hospital once why/how they got into that field, and they said it was because they couldn't get into dentistry!

      • jr2838 on 27/09/2020 - 13:02

        Haha wow, yep dent/med seems like the way to go but getting in is another story.
        Wondering what people do if they can't get into either dent/med..

        • netjock on 27/09/2020 - 15:17

          Whatever the next best option is.

      • ChickenDinner123 on 28/09/2020 - 17:10

        Err…you realise that an opthamologist is an actual doctor right. Opthamology is probably the most competitive speciality in all of medicine. Most doctors would sell their first kid to be on the training program.

        Theres a reason why opthamologist make 7 figures.

        • pjetson on 29/09/2020 - 12:01

          I'm just telling you what the opthamologist said when I asked her how/why she got into the field.

        • POSITIVEVIBESONLY on 29/09/2020 - 14:44

          Theres a reason why opthamologist make 7 figures.

          What ophthalmologist makes 7 figures. Holy shit.

          • ChickenDinner123 on 29/09/2020 - 16:45

            @POSITIVEVIBESONLY: Private opthamologist easily make >$500k. The optho's doing cataract surgery day in day out bring in millions of revenue. After deducting business expenses and other overheads they would still be close to 7 figures.

            • POSITIVEVIBESONLY on 29/09/2020 - 16:50

              @ChickenDinner123: I guess it does pay off to study for 10years +.

              • ChickenDinner123 on 29/09/2020 - 16:56

                @POSITIVEVIBESONLY: More like 15+ for optho. But yeah, they only take single digit trainees each year (1000s of doctors apply for it) so they can keep income high and competition low. It also depends on how many funded places the state can afford.

  • funnysht on 27/09/2020 - 00:18

    I heard cardiac sonogprahers good ones are difficult to find but not too sure….

  • funnysht on 27/09/2020 - 00:20

    i think physio would prob be the most open in terms of jobs- can work in hospital, private, rehab centres etc, can open up a small clinic /room yourself etc

    Optometry- has to be private usually like in a shopping centre etc

    radiographer- private clinic/hospital

    • jr2838 on 27/09/2020 - 13:02

      This is true, I think physio would have the most places of work

  • Nalar on 27/09/2020 - 00:27
    +5

    Which role is least likely to be replaced by machines?

  • POSITIVEVIBESONLY on 27/09/2020 - 01:14
    +2

    I did Optom at UNSW, I would say it's one of the hardest courses at the uni. Hours are long, exams are tough, content is harsh. If you do manage to tough it out in 5 years, job security is pretty good, everyone gets a job, one of the highest starting salaries across all industries.

    However not sure if everyone is satisfied working in a store seeing patients, pretty repetitive causing burnout, not much career growth but around the same as the others.

    • jr2838 on 27/09/2020 - 13:04

      Damn, congrats on finishing optom! Was everyone able to get a job in metro or did some go regionally/interstate?
      And for experienced workers, does salary outweigh all other allied health?

      • POSITIVEVIBESONLY on 27/09/2020 - 23:32

        Most got a job in metro but a lot choose to go regionally/rural for higher salaries and more interesting work.
        Starting salary is the highest but if you want to have the highest earning potential I would definitely look elsewhere.

    • ChickenDinner123 on 28/09/2020 - 17:11

      What does the salary go to? No point having a high starting salary only to have your max salary cap off at $25k more.

      • POSITIVEVIBESONLY on 28/09/2020 - 17:51

        caps off usually around low 6 figures.

        • ChickenDinner123 on 28/09/2020 - 18:45

          Do you mean around $150k? Is that what most Opto's with more than 5Y are getting?

  • kawinuyo on 27/09/2020 - 01:18
    +1

    I'd say if you are feeling about the same for all of them do radiography. Have friends doing all of them and the one that feels best about their jobs are the radiographers. Less competition because less radiographers around, also means a bit more choice in style / type of work. (private, public, easier to move the chain if you're good at your job too)

    Edit: nsw

    • jr2838 on 27/09/2020 - 13:05

      I like this comment. Definitely a plus to hear from people who feel best about their jobs in general.
      Although I am wondering how you would be able to move up, earn more in the long run etc. if you find you don't want to be a radiographer anymore.

      • kawinuyo on 27/09/2020 - 16:56

        Usual move into manager roles both at hospital and private practices (I have a head of department radiographer friend at a hospital and a practice manager radiographer friend at private practice) both get to do a variety of work not just the clinical stuff.

        • jr2838 on 28/09/2020 - 01:17

          Wowow did they need to work for a long time before getting these positions? They seem like great jobs to have

          Havent looked into orthoptics! I will try to find out more

      • kawinuyo on 27/09/2020 - 17:07

        Miggt I suggest you look into orthoptics? Day to day I believe will be more interesting than optometry but I am biased lol.

  • trustnoone on 27/09/2020 - 02:14

    Do you like working with people a lot or do you prefer to be more specialised in an area, and less people orientated?

    • jr2838 on 27/09/2020 - 13:07

      Not sure.. I would say I am definitely introverted.
      I wouldn't like to just be working all by myself, but I also get drained from busy environments.
      Would like a good mix if that exists haha. Definitely need my down time, but also want to be around like-minded people.

      • trustnoone on 28/09/2020 - 15:54

        Personally I think radiology looks like a good fit, you work with people still, but also its not as full on as physiotherapy where you're pretty much always around people. You can specalise in an area and still feel like you're helping people out.

        Then again I'm not sure if thats just because it would be my preference. All the best in finding a place that works best for you.

  • screensaver on 27/09/2020 - 02:46
    -1

    do you like sports and fitness? If so you would like physio. I just did a massage course, I also just did a market research on breast cancer sceening and found out there are a lot of false positives because of density and may need follow up of ultrasound or MRI. I said why not just get better cameras. So try to study where they invest in new technology

    • Love a bargain on 27/09/2020 - 12:59

      it's not about better camera, but using the most appropriate tool(s) for the situation

      • screensaver on 27/09/2020 - 16:33

        also finding better tools

        • flocculus on 29/09/2020 - 14:46

          Better tools/cameras are hard to make and may be very expensive for the operator and patient. Their improved accuracy must also outweigh negatives like ionising radiation dose. Having said that, new tools are constantly being implemented such as DR in general xray and faster CT scanners. One of the reasons I'm in radiography is the new technology.

          • screensaver on 29/09/2020 - 14:51
            -1

            @flocculus: they said that false positives were/are a big problem. It would be worth paying more to help overcome this

  • Moneyinthebank on 27/09/2020 - 04:57
    -2

    Try only fans

  • AustriaBargain on 27/09/2020 - 06:55
    +1

    Which one can't be replaced with an AI in 20 years time, with any old idiot able to perform the test on a client under the guidance of the AI.

    • Maglia Nera on 27/09/2020 - 07:29

      this

      In order, I'd choose Physio then Opto then Radiographer

  • [Deactivated] on 27/09/2020 - 08:31
    +1

    If you have the academic abilities for any of them you'd probably do fine in medicine. If you don't quite have the grades for undergrad med then do post grad. Eg, do radiography, then medicine, then radiology or radiation oncology. I know many docs who were physio or pharmacy in particular prior to med. Know a few optom and radiographers. It's a good way to go for med, because if you don't get in, you aren't stuck with a near useless biomed science degree, and instead already have a good career path. Not sure if that will fit well with your desired work life balance, adding another 10 or so years of training.

    • jr2838 on 27/09/2020 - 13:16

      I definitely think I can't go wrong with med, but not banking on this path as it seems way too competitive to get in :(
      Looking for the 'next best' career option haha.

      Is there a reason why there are more docs who used to be physios/pharms rather than optoms/radiographers?

      • [Deactivated] on 27/09/2020 - 21:40

        I don't know what the stats are, but I'd say its likely mostly that there's more of them. Also pharmacy tends to have very high entry requirements, and the study it involves sets you up well to for medicine and at the end of it, pharmacy employment and pay isn't great these days. You can earn pretty well in the hospitals but those jobs are extremely competitive and community I don't believe offers great income for a career that requires a 4 year degree plus 1 year internship and has very high entry requirements. So I think it's fairly natural for people to jump ship to medicine if they've got the GAMSAT scores for it.

        • jr2838 on 28/09/2020 - 01:04

          Ohh this makes sense.

  • TimOfEastBNE on 27/09/2020 - 08:52

    Too many people doing physio means not enough jobs and not always such amazing pay on offer, not bad at all, just not amazing. His experience is that the more interesting jobs are the hardest to get without a Masters (which he has, and still has trouble). As an aside, has worked in UK for several years, and interestingly the pay in the UK for permanent hospital physio staff is surprisingly low (circa $80k).

    • jr2838 on 27/09/2020 - 13:16

      mm have heard of low pay but not sure how it compares to other health careers in aus

  • poboy on 27/09/2020 - 08:52
    +2

    Physio - in private practice you are only paid when you have patients. It's quite physical, and you can't continue into your 50s. I would avoid.

    Optometrist: I imagine there are different specialties here. But the lion share of work would be under corporates that are interested in volume and cutting costs. Unsure, but likely avoid.

    Radiographers: I have only heard good things. Easy hours, good pay.

    The above is only my life experience when talking to people. Your passion should also guide you.

    • jr2838 on 27/09/2020 - 13:18

      Yep definitely heard of those negatives with physio and optometry.

      With radiography I hear pay isn't great unless you do shiftwork? And that you'd deal with lots of sick people and have to do a lot of manual lifting.

  • shaybisc on 27/09/2020 - 12:45
    +1

    Optometry looks boring to me. Start on day 1 in the job, keep on doing that same job for 35 years, retire.

    I am of course entirely ignorant on the subject, so correct me if I'm wrong, but that's the impression I get as a patient.

    • jr2838 on 27/09/2020 - 13:19

      Yep haha I like that it seems pretty cruisy but it scares me since there's only 1 major place of work which is a retail store.

  • [Deactivated] on 27/09/2020 - 13:06

    Thoughts, limited experience:

    • Which has best job satisfaction?

    Subjective but I'd go with physio, I loved seeing my physio and having a chat with him. Optometrist and radiographers, I don't remember anyone I've ever seen.

    • Which is less susceptible to burn out?

    Depends on if you like doing the same thing over and over again. Physio is quite physically demanding so you might burn out from that but the job seems different enough to keep it interesting. Same with radiography as you do different scans and stuff but work-related injuries are probably higher in physios and radiographers than optometrists

    • Which has the most job opportunities?

    In terms of geographical location, I'd say they're pretty similar. Physio and radiographer, you can work in hospitals and stuff but physio still wins overall

    • Which has the highest salary?

    You might be able to open your own clinic with physio and earn quite a bit. Either way, I think they're all pretty similar so you should just do what you want, pursuing money seldom leads to happiness.

    • Which has the most opportunities for career growth?

    Depends where you work

    If I were choosing, I'd go physio. You get to know the patients more, see them get better overtime, assign exercise, work with gym equipment and identify problems and solutions. I feel the other two can get a bit repetitive, especially optometry and radiography seem like it's just scanning what the doctor ordered all day but you do report it so there's that.

    • jr2838 on 27/09/2020 - 18:44

      Ooo thanks so much for addressing all points and giving me your opinion.
      The thing with physio I find is that patients might not be as grateful if it's not an instant fix. But hopefully that is just the exception rather than the norm.

      • [Deactivated] on 27/09/2020 - 19:58

        There will be some patients you can't fix, it's just something you have to accept. It's still better than not trying. The satisfaction comes from you, not from them, never chase satisfaction from someone else.

        I've been reading some of your comments. If you considered med, maybe consider nursing. 3 years and you're out, there's so many specialties you can get into, transitioning into med is not uncommon, loads of opportunities and can make decent coin. My sister is a nurse and has tried different fields. She's interested in so much she can't choose. She's in haemodialysis now, shifts are 6:30-2:30, 1:30-9:30 and 2:30-12 but she's done with work generally 2 hours early and comes home 1-1.5 hours early all the time. As a grad, she's probably making 60, pushing 70k on 4 days a week. She hardly picks up shifts either.

        Other interesting nursing fields include mental health, surgical, ED, cardiovascular etc which can avoid shift work. You can become a unit manager at a hospital or nurse practitioner if you want to progress.

        But yeah, if you really can't do shift work, maybe physio or optometry for money which I get, not getting shift work was very important for me. It can really (profanity) you.

        • jr2838 on 28/09/2020 - 01:00

          Gets to come home early what!! Haha
          I guess I didn't really consider nursing because I don't want to be super involved in the patients journey. It seems like a stressful gig having to deal patients who are very sick constantly - at least just for typical bedside nursing.
          Also yes! Not sure how I feel about the shift work.. do you work in healthcare?

          • [Deactivated] on 28/09/2020 - 09:28

            @jr2838: Yeah I'm super jealous tbh haha. I get that, seeing sick patients all the time problem isn't for everyone but you might be surprised at how normal a good amount of the patients are. In Haemo, you wouldn't be able to tell they were sick. You just hook them up to the machine and take them off, like physio I guess. But like I said, there's so many fields that isn't bedside, postop is another one that wouldn't involve too much shift work or dealing with patients. You just wait until they're well enough to send them to a ward.

            Nope, I just have a lot of family and friends who are in it. Like someone said above, radiography can be tough getting a job at first.

  • GourmetFoodie on 27/09/2020 - 14:05

    I feel like physio is the least likely to be automated by robots anytime soon so max job security plus if you specialise and have your own practice, you can make a packet.

  • narbe on 27/09/2020 - 14:13
    +1

    I think its highly unlikely for someone to accurately compare them all. As likely one is bias in their own career.

    I am a radiographer going 10 years.

    I think job satisfaction is hard to quantify. But most radiographers do it because they were unsure what they wanted at least the ones I've met.

    I went into it as 3 year program with 1 year PDY which is paid. Now it is 4 years uni.

    Jobs are easy to get in the sense you won't be out of a job but location is dependent on your experience. Expect to go rural early in your career.

    In terms of AI. If you work in the field you know that this will never happen. People are dumb. (Robots can't deal with stupid)
    When people talk about radiologist it is very different from radiographers. One is a physically demanding job and one is a medical doctor doing diagnostic reports. This is important distinction when people talk about AI.

    Now onto the money side of things. When I graduated 25$ hr . 2010.

    Now I would expect the range to be 32$ - 75$ hr depending on role experience and speciality. Expect this to be in a bell curve format where 75$ or more are managers , modality heads or highly skilled sonographers or locuming.

    Occasionally you will hear 200k+ but these jobs are exceptional and rare and usually circumstancial ie. Rural .

    Ask me whatever you want. Expect the answers to be bias. As I only know what I know.

    • jr2838 on 27/09/2020 - 18:39

      Yay someone who is a radiographer! Do you/your colleagues seem satisfied with the job?
      In the public system, do all allied health earn the same amount? Also wasn't aware you could locum as a radiographer :o

      Have you been able to manage the shift work/labourous nature of it?
      Where do older radiographers go if they want to avoid those two?

      • narbe on 29/09/2020 - 19:27

        Satisfaction is very subject. I would say on the whole it depends on the environment rather than the work.
        For me personally I have worked at very low work load area ie. 2 patients a day but hated it because it was a toxic environment.

        At my work now I do 15-20 a day sometimes more and I enjoy my workplace alot more. To me it's all about interaction with my colleagues. I am proficient in x-ray.bmd.ct.mri , so it's less about career advancement for me.

        Definitely possible to locum but it depends on location and area. Before covid lots of young people go to UK for a year or two and travel , one of the reasons they do radiography.

        I use to work at public hospital when I started not for me there is excitement initially ie. Emergency dept and theatre but it's just too political for me. You need to be friend's with nurses , orderlies and dr to be able to do your job. It's very different to private.

        Public system is on HP system that is Public accessible. Pay scale hp3 and hp4 is what you get. Hp4 is more sonographers or chief rad.

        I am in private because the money is good and it's not attached to hospital. There is alot less bureaucracy as well as it is solo practise for now which I am an initial member.

        Private can have shift if they are attached to hospitals. But much less likely to be 24 hr and more on-call system.

        I hate on-call , use to love it when I graduated 8 hours pay for 10minute work. What is there not to love?

        But I am 33 now, difference financial goals.

  • netjock on 27/09/2020 - 15:20

    Also possible is to not do any and be an entrepreneur apparently it is a profession. You output is to start businesses success or fail just keep starting them and then if you talk well enough you go on the speaking circuit because that is where the money is, not business.

  • bobbified on 27/09/2020 - 18:00

    Should I Do Optometry Physio or Radiography?

    Dude, you're getting it easy!

    My parents said "Brain Surgery or you're out…".

    • jr2838 on 27/09/2020 - 18:41

      Lolll mine too, but they're slowly just going to have to accept that I'm not the child they wanted..
      And something I have to slowly accept to..
      A part of me feels like a failure, but trying to do the 'next best' thing for me

      • bobbified on 27/09/2020 - 19:49

        I should also tell you that I live alone now, so don't listen to anything I say! 🤣😂🤣😂

        • jr2838 on 28/09/2020 - 00:26

          Lol!! Will be me too :P
          What did you end up choosing as your career?

          • bobbified on 28/09/2020 - 11:01

            @jr2838:

            Lol!! Will be me too :P

            I was kidding! haha! My parents talk big, but they would never kick me out! 😊 :p

            I got away with not even going to uni and took whatever job I could get at the time. I fell into the financial services industry and have been there ever since.

  • screensaver on 27/09/2020 - 22:33

    Massage pays well 100 per hour so you can get good work home life balance

  • edumacation on 27/09/2020 - 22:50

    Radiographer is getting to a point of saturation, Deakin recently opened a course and their students are only now getting to the point of finishing the course. The other 2 unis (RMIT and Monash) have also increased intake through the years so each year there's ~300 interns looking for jobs. Eventually everyone gets a spot though (from what I've seen) however you might have to move down the ladder of choices. Job growth depends on which modalities you want to specialise in. Most money tends to be sonpgrahy, but also hardest to get a training position (grade 2 instantly while training and grade 3 when you're done).

    I've got friends in the other fields but can't go into as much detail but optom like many have said a lot of working in shopping centres doing the same thing over and over without much variety.

    Physio depends where you work.

    • jr2838 on 28/09/2020 - 01:03

      Ah, seems like everything is getting saturated these days..
      Also the grades.. I've been trying to read the allied health professionals public award rates but have no idea what they mean.
      Do all allied health professionals in the public health system earn the same amount and does it just increase a tiny bit every year?

      • edumacation on 28/09/2020 - 07:27

        Everyone (same occupation) in public gets paid same rate based on years of experience and level (position)

        Start off 1.1, higher grade you are more responsibilities you get. EG. Grade 2 you are expected to run shifts or train students/interns. You get a higher grade based off merit or applying for positions and each year it goes up automatically on your anniversary date.

        These are all based off union contract negotiations.

        • jr2838 on 28/09/2020 - 09:15

          Ohh do nurses, ot's, speech pathologists, physios, radiographers all earn the same amount?

          • edumacation on 28/09/2020 - 10:23

            @jr2838: Nah, it's all in a giant document but they all have different salaries under allied health. You can Google it pretty easily by looking up allied health salary western health or something

            • jr2838 on 28/09/2020 - 11:23

              @edumacation: Ohh tbh the increments for each added year of experienxe seem to be really little .. You'll only reach 80k after 7 years?

              • edumacation on 28/09/2020 - 12:34

                @jr2838: That's if you don't go up for a better position. A lot of the pay you get from shift/penalties. Usually add 20-30k depending on how many shifts you are rostered/picked up.

                I've had co-workers who made 100k 2 years out but they worked hard for it

                Pretty easy to get to a grade 2 as well but 3 onwards is a bit harder and limited in positions

                Locum work as someone has said earlier provides more pay ($50/hour+) but you don't get any benefits

  • itchyscratchy on 28/09/2020 - 00:03

    Don’t do optom. I’ve got many optom friends, none of them are happy. They complain a lot - a lot of “annoying patients” etc I know a uni lecturer and he said he won’t encourage his children to do optom.

    • jr2838 on 28/09/2020 - 00:55

      Oh damn, thats no good. Def feel for people who are unhappy with their jobs. I'm praying I won't be haha
      But I assume there'd be annoying patients in all health care careers?

      • screensaver on 28/09/2020 - 01:10

        I did massage at home for awhile, I memorised the 1 hour massage, put an ad i local paper and it was easy money, but had to stop because home by myself and all male clients.

  • this is us on 29/09/2020 - 15:01

    You seem a bit lost, and you might be disappointed if you choose your career based on OzBargainers` opinions. I'd recommend you read more about your options and talk to professionals to understand how their routines are and what they do. If possible, you could observe and shadow different professionals for a brief period to have a better idea.

    I don't know much about subspecialties in optometry, but the other two have a lot of possibilities if you enjoy what you are doing. That's the main point. Money helps if you are happy and doing what you like, but if you are unhappy money is useless.

    • jr2838 on 29/09/2020 - 15:16

      I am haha. And yes, I was hoping to shadow, got turned down at a couple clinics but hoping it would open up some time soon.
      Thank you for the advice.

      Guess I'm not really certain if I'll ever really 100% enjoy doing one job. I guess more motivating factors of actually even going to work would be being needed/able to help, and then being able to take care of family and enjoy other stuff outside of work.

      • spicynoodles on 29/09/2020 - 21:01

        If I may, how did you ask to shadow in clinics? Most sites (usually just hospitals) mention shadowing in context of internship given while studying in medicine/ allied health, not really for anyone else (except perhaps year 10 work experience).

        • jr2838 on 05/10/2020 - 15:25

          I've emailed a bunch of places! Usually private clinics, yet to try hospitals

  • SelfMade on 30/09/2020 - 15:01

    Radiology.

  • sharpandcreamy on 05/12/2024 - 10:18

    Do you still want advice for this or is it too late now? :')

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