Optometrist salary in the U.S.
Optometrists in the U.S. earn a median of $136,570 a year ($65.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 42,790 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $202,180 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $141,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for optometrists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,870 | $35.99 |
| 25th percentile | $109,400 | $52.59 |
| Median | $136,570 | $65.66 |
| 75th percentile | $165,120 | $79.39 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $202,180 | $97.20 |
| Average (mean) | $141,550 | $68.05 |
Half of optometrists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,380.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,690.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,252.69 |
| Weekly | $2,626.35 |
| Hourly | $65.66 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Optometrist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $170,310 | 60 |
| Maryland | $165,840 | 780 |
| North Carolina | $161,560 | 1,140 |
| Delaware | $161,270 | 190 |
| New York | $161,140 | 2,390 |
| New Jersey | $159,040 | 1,380 |
| Minnesota | $158,700 | 710 |
| Washington | $157,560 | 760 |
| Hawaii | $154,620 | 230 |
| Maine | $154,110 | 180 |
| Colorado | $152,000 | 880 |
| Massachusetts | $151,730 | 950 |
| Florida | $151,670 | 2,350 |
| Connecticut | $150,340 | 490 |
| South Carolina | $145,950 | 480 |
| Illinois | $145,620 | 1,540 |
| Alabama | $145,090 | 460 |
| New Mexico | $144,660 | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $139,720 | 790 |
| Kansas | $138,580 | 660 |
| Vermont | $137,290 | 90 |
| California | $136,300 | 6,890 |
| Michigan | $135,650 | 1,410 |
| Nevada | $135,650 | 430 |
| Indiana | $135,500 | 1,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $135,400 | 1,720 |
| Ohio | $134,850 | 1,300 |
| District of Columbia | $134,840 | 50 |
| Rhode Island | $134,520 | 250 |
| Tennessee | $134,170 | 660 |
| Missouri | $133,810 | 630 |
| Puerto Rico | $132,790 | 280 |
| North Dakota | $132,110 | 140 |
| Oregon | $132,020 | 560 |
| Virginia | $131,570 | 1,110 |
| Kentucky | $128,860 | 430 |
| Georgia | $128,830 | 870 |
| Texas | $126,000 | 4,110 |
| New Hampshire | $125,560 | 210 |
| Iowa | $125,380 | 450 |
| Nebraska | $125,040 | 340 |
| Arkansas | $124,470 | 320 |
| Arizona | $122,250 | 1,080 |
| Utah | $119,070 | 380 |
| Louisiana | $118,060 | 250 |
| West Virginia | $118,010 | 150 |
| Wyoming | $111,400 | 90 |
| Mississippi | $108,070 | 240 |
| Montana | $104,280 | 140 |
| Idaho | $103,390 | 160 |
| South Dakota | $102,320 | 190 |
| Oklahoma | $97,350 | 570 |
Best-paying metro areas for optometrists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $175,810 | 40 |
| Asheville, NC | $167,980 | 40 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $167,810 | 420 |
| Anchorage, AK | $167,000 | 30 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $166,880 | 40 |
| Peoria, IL | $166,600 | 50 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $165,810 | 70 |
| Dover, DE | $165,660 | 30 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $165,640 | 160 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $165,360 | 80 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $164,020 | 130 |
| Wilmington, NC | $163,800 | 120 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $163,290 | 240 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $163,240 | 80 |
| Birmingham, AL | $162,890 | 110 |
Metro areas with the most optometrists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 2,580 | $161,030 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 2,360 | $138,940 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 1,250 | $124,640 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 1,180 | $142,580 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,160 | $145,630 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 890 | $153,980 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 870 | $140,790 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 860 | $115,960 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 820 | $125,530 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 770 | $154,690 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 730 | $111,780 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 710 | $154,970 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 610 | $142,690 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 580 | $135,330 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 540 | $133,280 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $97,550 | $46.90 |
| Physicians, All Other | $265,930 | $127.85 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $132,300 | $63.61 |
| Pharmacist | $140,910 | $67.75 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,760 | $49.40 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,100 | $47.16 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $97,870 | $47.05 |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,330 | $48.24 |
| Physician Assistant | $135,880 | $65.33 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $82,280 | $39.56 |
| Dentists, General | $170,950 | $82.19 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $244,180 | $117.39 |
| Veterinarian | $130,100 | $62.55 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $76,400 | $36.73 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a optometrist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for optometrists in the U.S. is $136,570 a year, or $65.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $74,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $202,180 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid optometrists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of optometrists in the U.S. earn at least $202,180 a year. The top 25% earn $165,120 or more.
What is the starting pay for optometrists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,870 a year, and a quarter of optometrists earn $109,400 or less.
How many optometrists work in the U.S.?
About 42,790 optometrists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.