Optometrist salary in Wisconsin
Optometrists in Wisconsin earn a median of $139,720 a year ($67.17 an hour), based on BLS data for 790 workers.
Pay ranges from $75,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $203,670 for the top 10%. That is 2% higher than the national median of $136,570. Wisconsin ranks 19th of 51 states for optometrists pay. There are 0.27 optometrists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $142,800, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for optometrists in Wisconsin
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,390 | $36.25 |
| 25th percentile | $113,620 | $54.63 |
| Median | $139,720 | $67.17 |
| 75th percentile | $171,280 | $82.35 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $203,670 | $97.92 |
| Average (mean) | $142,800 | $68.65 |
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 | $11,643.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,821.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,373.85 |
| Weekly | $2,686.92 |
| Hourly | $67.17 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Optometrist salary in cities in Wisconsin
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $175,810 | 40 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $159,790 | 470 |
| Appleton, WI | $150,060 | 60 |
| Green Bay, WI | $144,840 | 40 |
| Wausau, WI | $142,690 | 30 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $132,130 | 210 |
| Madison, WI | $128,220 | 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 Wisconsin
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $95,530 | $45.93 |
| Physicians, All Other | $391,740 | $188.34 |
| Pharmacist | $148,740 | $71.51 |
| Physical Therapist | $101,840 | $48.96 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $131,980 | $63.45 |
| Dental Hygienist | $96,540 | $46.41 |
| Occupational Therapist | $92,390 | $44.42 |
| Physician Assistant | $133,950 | $64.40 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $83,000 | $39.90 |
| Dentists, General | $193,690 | $93.12 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $84,210 | $40.48 |
| Veterinarian | $108,780 | $52.30 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $290,640 | $139.73 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $367,160 | $176.52 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Wisconsin
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 Wisconsin?
The median salary for optometrists in Wisconsin is $139,720 a year, or $67.17 an hour. Pay ranges from $75,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $203,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid optometrists make in Wisconsin?
The top 10% of optometrists in Wisconsin earn at least $203,670 a year. The top 25% earn $171,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for optometrists in Wisconsin?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $75,390 a year, and a quarter of optometrists earn $113,620 or less.
How many optometrists work in Wisconsin?
About 790 optometrists are employed in Wisconsin, not counting the self-employed.