Optometrist salary in Delaware
Optometrists in Delaware earn a median of $161,270 a year ($77.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 190 workers.
Pay ranges from $77,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $188,490 for the top 10%. That is 18% higher than the national median of $136,570. Delaware ranks 4th of 51 states for optometrists pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.38 optometrists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $142,820, close to the median.
Pay range for optometrists in Delaware
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,980 | $37.49 |
| 25th percentile | $107,880 | $51.87 |
| Median | $161,270 | $77.54 |
| 75th percentile | $175,750 | $84.49 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $188,490 | $90.62 |
| Average (mean) | $142,820 | $68.66 |
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 | $13,439.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,719.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,202.69 |
| Weekly | $3,101.35 |
| Hourly | $77.54 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Optometrist salary in cities in Delaware
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | $165,660 | 30 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $153,980 | 890 |
Highest-paying states for optometrists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $170,310 |
| Maryland | $165,840 |
| North Carolina | $161,560 |
| Delaware | $161,270 |
| New York | $161,140 |
| New Jersey | $159,040 |
| Minnesota | $158,700 |
| Washington | $157,560 |
| Hawaii | $154,620 |
| Maine | $154,110 |
Related jobs in Delaware
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $99,520 | $47.85 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $131,040 | $63.00 |
| Physicians, All Other | $297,470 | $143.01 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,050 | $49.06 |
| Physician Assistant | $139,350 | $67.00 |
| Pharmacist | $152,880 | $73.50 |
| Dental Hygienist | $98,910 | $47.55 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $102,760 | $49.40 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $228,000 | $109.62 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $91,080 | $43.79 |
| Occupational Therapist | $102,130 | $49.10 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $78,060 | $37.53 |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $324,080 | $155.81 |
| Pediatricians, General | $219,190 | $105.38 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Delaware
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 Delaware?
The median salary for optometrists in Delaware is $161,270 a year, or $77.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $77,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $188,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid optometrists make in Delaware?
The top 10% of optometrists in Delaware earn at least $188,490 a year. The top 25% earn $175,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for optometrists in Delaware?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $77,980 a year, and a quarter of optometrists earn $107,880 or less.
How many optometrists work in Delaware?
About 190 optometrists are employed in Delaware, not counting the self-employed.