Staff Optometrist-Recruitment/Relocation Incentive-Education Debt Reduction Program
Veterans Health Administration
Posted: January 21, 2026 (7 days ago)
This job was posted recently. Fresh listings typically have less competition.
Military Treatment Facilities under DHA
Department of Defense
Location
Louisiana
Salary
$89,508 - $116,362
per year
Type
Full Time
More Healthcare & Medical jobs →Closes
Base salary range: $62,107 - $80,737
Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-10. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 years graduate study.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
This job involves working as an optometrist at a military hospital in Louisiana, where you'll examine patients' eyes, diagnose and treat vision problems and eye diseases, and provide advice on eye safety for soldiers and staff.
It's a good fit for licensed optometrists with at least one year of hands-on experience treating diverse patients, including kids, seniors, and those needing contact lenses or surgery follow-ups.
The role offers a chance to serve in a federal military setting with potential for salary negotiation if you're new to government work.
About the Position: This position is located at Bayne-Jones Army Community hospital within Fort Polk, LA Non-Federal work experience may be creditable for leave purposes Salary negotiation may be available for those candidates who are new to Federal service This is a Direct Hire Solicitation Who May Apply: US Citizens In order to qualify, you must meet the education/experience requirements described below.
Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social).
You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience; if qualifying based on education, your transcripts will be required as part of your application.
Additional information about transcripts is in this document.
Basic Requirements for Optometrist:Degree: A Doctor of Optometry degree from an educational program that is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) at the time the degree was obtained.
Licensure: Applicants must have received a passing score on the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NEBO) examinations and possess a current, full, and unrestricted license to practice optometry in a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or a territory of the United States.
In addition to meeting the basic requirement above, to qualify for this position you must also meet the qualification requirements listed below: Specialized Experience: One year of professional experience as an Optometrist which includes examining and treating patients with visual disorders and/or diseases.
This definition of specialized experience is typical of work performed at the next lower grade/level position in the federal service (GS-11).
OR Residency: One year completion of a residency program in an institution accredited for such training.
Some federal jobs allow you to substitute your education for the required experience in order to qualify.
For this job, you must meet the qualification requirement using experience alone--no substitution of education for experience is permitted. Major Duties:
Check your resume before applying to catch common mistakes