Optometrist salary in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
Optometrists in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median of $159,790 a year ($76.82 an hour), based on BLS data for 470 workers.
Pay ranges from $95,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $196,290 for the top 10%. That is 17% higher than the national median of $136,570. Pay here is 1% higher than the Minnesota statewide median of $158,700. There are 0.24 optometrists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $153,240, close to the median.
Pay range for optometrists in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $95,640 | $45.98 |
| 25th percentile | $131,000 | $62.98 |
| Median | $159,790 | $76.82 |
| 75th percentile | $174,370 | $83.83 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $196,290 | $94.37 |
| Average (mean) | $153,240 | $73.67 |
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 | $13,315.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,657.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,145.77 |
| Weekly | $3,072.88 |
| Hourly | $76.82 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Optometrist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $175,810 | 40 |
| Appleton, WI | $150,060 | 60 |
| Green Bay, WI | $144,840 | 40 |
| Wausau, WI | $142,690 | 30 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $132,690 | 40 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $132,130 | 210 |
| St. Cloud, MN | $131,960 | 30 |
| Madison, WI | $128,220 | 100 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $124,470 | 70 |
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 |
See Optometrist pay in every state or the Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $103,040 | $49.54 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $133,370 | $64.12 |
| Pharmacist | $160,990 | $77.40 |
| Physicians, All Other | $378,730 | $182.08 |
| Physical Therapist | $102,450 | $49.26 |
| Dental Hygienist | $112,630 | $54.15 |
| Occupational Therapist | $93,600 | $45.00 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $93,370 | $44.89 |
| Physician Assistant | $145,030 | $69.73 |
| Dentists, General | $219,980 | $105.76 |
| Veterinarian | $158,200 | $76.06 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $330,200 | $158.75 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $258,570 | $124.31 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $283,060 | $136.09 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The median salary for optometrists in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $159,790 a year, or $76.82 an hour. Pay ranges from $95,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $196,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid optometrists make in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The top 10% of optometrists in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn at least $196,290 a year. The top 25% earn $174,370 or more.
What is the starting pay for optometrists in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $95,640 a year, and a quarter of optometrists earn $131,000 or less.
How many optometrists work in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
About 470 optometrists are employed in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.