Optometrist salary in Rhode Island
Optometrists in Rhode Island earn a median of $134,520 a year ($64.67 an hour), based on BLS data for 250 workers.
Pay ranges from $71,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $215,640 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $136,570. Rhode Island ranks 29th of 51 states for optometrists pay. There are 0.50 optometrists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $145,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for optometrists in Rhode Island
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,670 | $34.46 |
| 25th percentile | $114,090 | $54.85 |
| Median | $134,520 | $64.67 |
| 75th percentile | $167,930 | $80.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $215,640 | $103.67 |
| Average (mean) | $145,800 | $70.10 |
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 | $11,210 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,605 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,173.85 |
| Weekly | $2,586.92 |
| Hourly | $64.67 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Optometrist salary in cities in Rhode Island
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $139,910 | 310 |
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 Rhode Island
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $100,640 | $48.39 |
| Pharmacist | $128,180 | $61.63 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $135,970 | $65.37 |
| Physicians, All Other | $228,590 | $109.90 |
| Physical Therapist | $99,400 | $47.79 |
| Physician Assistant | $139,930 | $67.27 |
| Dental Hygienist | $86,910 | $41.78 |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,040 | $48.10 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $104,000 | $50.00 |
| Veterinarian | $126,570 | $60.85 |
| Dentists, General | $161,560 | $77.67 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $71,300 | $34.28 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $379,490 | $182.45 |
| Emergency Medicine Physician | $512,730 | $246.51 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Rhode Island
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 Rhode Island?
The median salary for optometrists in Rhode Island is $134,520 a year, or $64.67 an hour. Pay ranges from $71,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $215,640 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid optometrists make in Rhode Island?
The top 10% of optometrists in Rhode Island earn at least $215,640 a year. The top 25% earn $167,930 or more.
What is the starting pay for optometrists in Rhode Island?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $71,670 a year, and a quarter of optometrists earn $114,090 or less.
How many optometrists work in Rhode Island?
About 250 optometrists are employed in Rhode Island, not counting the self-employed.