Optometrist Salary in New York, NY
Optometrists in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area earn a median $161,030 a year — 18% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $112,869 take-home, or $9,406 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median optometrist salary in New York, NY. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$27,381
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,984
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,335
- New York income tax$8,461
- Take-home pay$112,869
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.90% state
Living in New York City? City residents also pay New York City’s city income tax — about $5,807 a year on this salary — which lowers take-home pay to $107,063 ($8,922 a month). Choose “New York City” under City income tax in the calculator. Suburban residents usually don’t pay it.
The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro spans New York, New Jersey. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Optometrist pay by experience in New York, NY
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $104,730 | $50.35 | $77,369 | $6,447 |
| 25th percentile | $130,000 | $62.50 | $93,491 | $7,791 |
| Median (50th) | $161,030 | $77.42 | $112,869 | $9,406 |
| 75th percentile | $179,020 | $86.07 | $124,104 | $10,342 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $203,050 | $97.62 | $140,234 | $11,686 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, New York resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $161,030 buys in New York, NY
Prices in New York, NY are 12.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.49× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median optometrist's $112,869 take-home pay has the buying power of $100,272 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Optometrist jobs are about as common in New York, NY as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.99).
Best-paying cities for optometrists, adjusted for cost of living
New York, NY ranks #1 of 2 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $161,030 | $112,869 | $100,272 |
| 2 | Los Angeles, CA | $138,940 | $95,733 | $84,298 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 2 metros →
About the job: optometrists
Diagnose, manage, and treat conditions and diseases of the human eye and visual system. Examine eyes and visual system, diagnose problems or impairments, prescribe corrective lenses, and provide treatment. May prescribe therapeutic drugs to treat specific eye conditions. Ophthalmologists are included in "Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric" (29-1241).
- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +9.5% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a optometrist make in New York, NY?
The median optometrist salary in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area is $161,030 a year, or about $77.42 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $130,000 and $179,020.
What is a optometrist’s take-home pay in New York, NY?
On the median $161,030 salary, a single filer living in New York takes home about $112,869 a year ($9,406 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,461 in New York taxes in 2026.
Is New York, NY a good place to work as a optometrist?
Pay here is 18% above the national median of $136,570. Local prices are 12.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $100,272 would in a typical U.S. city. New York, NY ranks #1 of 2 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a optometrist afford rent in New York, NY?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in New York, NY is $2,378 a month ($2,697 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median optometrist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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