Optometrist salary in New Jersey
Optometrists in New Jersey earn a median of $159,040 a year ($76.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,380 workers.
Pay ranges from $104,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $232,960 for the top 10%. That is 16% higher than the national median of $136,570. New Jersey ranks 6th of 51 states for optometrists pay. There are 0.32 optometrists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $161,110, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for optometrists in New Jersey
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $104,730 | $50.35 |
| 25th percentile | $134,560 | $64.69 |
| Median | $159,040 | $76.46 |
| 75th percentile | $165,960 | $79.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $232,960 | $112.00 |
| Average (mean) | $161,110 | $77.46 |
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 | $13,253.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,626.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,116.92 |
| Weekly | $3,058.46 |
| Hourly | $76.46 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Optometrist salary in cities in New Jersey
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $161,030 | 2,580 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $155,960 | 70 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $153,980 | 890 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $150,640 | 100 |
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 New Jersey
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $106,500 | $51.20 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $159,310 | $76.59 |
| Physical Therapist | $112,140 | $53.91 |
| Physicians, All Other | $285,010 | $137.02 |
| Pharmacist | $137,620 | $66.16 |
| Dental Hygienist | $107,040 | $51.46 |
| Therapists, All Other | $100,250 | $48.20 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $101,560 | $48.83 |
| Occupational Therapist | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Physician Assistant | $165,690 | $79.66 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $100,810 | $48.47 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $292,170 | $140.47 |
| Dentists, General | $171,330 | $82.37 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $89,990 | $43.26 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in New Jersey
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 New Jersey?
The median salary for optometrists in New Jersey is $159,040 a year, or $76.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $104,730 for the lowest-paid 10% to $232,960 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid optometrists make in New Jersey?
The top 10% of optometrists in New Jersey earn at least $232,960 a year. The top 25% earn $165,960 or more.
What is the starting pay for optometrists in New Jersey?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $104,730 a year, and a quarter of optometrists earn $134,560 or less.
How many optometrists work in New Jersey?
About 1,380 optometrists are employed in New Jersey, not counting the self-employed.