Optometrist Salary
Optometrists earn a median $136,570 a year nationally. Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
U.S. median
$136,570
$65.66 per hour
Range
$74,870 – $202,180
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
42,790
across the U.S.
Optometrist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$104,612
per year · effective tax rate 23.4%
$8,718Monthly
$4,359Twice a month
$4,024Every 2 weeks
$50.29Hourly
- Federal income tax$21,511
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,467
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,980
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$104,612
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,870 | $36.00 | $61,501 |
| 25th percentile | $109,400 | $52.60 | $85,793 |
| Median (50th) | $136,570 | $65.66 | $104,612 |
| 75th percentile | $165,120 | $79.38 | $124,126 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $202,180 | $97.20 | $150,533 |
Best cities for optometrists (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $153,980 | $111,784 | $109,000 | 890 |
| 2 | Kansas City, MO | $138,580 | $100,410 | $108,500 | 450 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $158,130 | $113,099 | $106,917 | 470 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $159,790 | $110,772 | $105,676 | 470 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $140,790 | $107,496 | $104,274 | 870 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $142,690 | $102,981 | $102,675 | 610 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $154,970 | $109,659 | $101,287 | 710 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $161,030 | $112,869 | $100,272 | 2,580 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $145,630 | $103,740 | $100,140 | 1,160 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $154,690 | $106,816 | $98,101 | 770 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $124,640 | $96,457 | $97,798 | 1,250 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $128,830 | $93,258 | $93,204 | 450 |
| 13 | San Antonio, TX | $111,780 | $87,467 | $92,347 | 730 |
| 14 | Sacramento, CA | $139,020 | $95,780 | $89,791 | 510 |
| 15 | Riverside, CA | $129,990 | $90,565 | $85,084 | 510 |
| 16 | Miami, FL | $125,530 | $97,066 | $85,030 | 820 |
| 17 | Phoenix, AZ | $115,960 | $87,718 | $84,902 | 860 |
| 18 | San Jose, CA | $135,330 | $93,649 | $84,809 | 580 |
| 19 | San Francisco, CA | $142,580 | $97,836 | $84,623 | 1,180 |
| 20 | Los Angeles, CA | $138,940 | $95,733 | $84,298 | 2,360 |
| 21 | San Diego, CA | $133,280 | $92,465 | $82,641 | 540 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- New York, NY — $161,030
- Minneapolis, MN — $159,790
- Denver, CO — $158,130
- Boston, MA — $154,970
- Washington, DC — $154,690
- Philadelphia, PA — $153,980
- Chicago, IL — $145,630
- Detroit, MI — $142,690
- San Francisco, CA — $142,580
- Dallas, TX — $140,790
- Sacramento, CA — $139,020
- Los Angeles, CA — $138,940
- Kansas City, MO — $138,580
- San Jose, CA — $135,330
- San Diego, CA — $133,280
Optometrist salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $170,310 | $127,673 | $98,530 – $218,180 | 60 |
| Maryland | $165,840 | $116,847 | $50,560 – $215,420 | 780 |
| North Carolina | $161,560 | $115,755 | $94,320 – $215,340 | 1,140 |
| Delaware | $161,270 | $112,191 | $77,980 – $188,490 | 190 |
| New York | $161,140 | $112,938 | $95,460 – $203,040 | 2,390 |
| New Jersey | $159,040 | $112,029 | $104,730 – $232,960 | 1,380 |
| Minnesota | $158,700 | $110,113 | $96,670 – $206,960 | 710 |
| Washington | $157,560 | $118,958 | $103,880 – $217,900 | 760 |
| Hawaii | $154,620 | $106,656 | $107,090 – $205,390 | 230 |
| Maine | $154,110 | $107,077 | $102,600 – $239,200+ | 180 |
| Colorado | $152,000 | $109,178 | $65,910 – $212,120 | 880 |
| Massachusetts | $151,730 | $107,607 | $95,780 – $196,470 | 950 |
| Florida | $151,670 | $114,932 | $62,490 – $196,210 | 2,350 |
| Connecticut | $150,340 | $107,153 | $99,200 – $214,040 | 490 |
| South Carolina | $145,950 | $103,423 | $51,740 – $172,060 | 480 |
| Illinois | $145,620 | $103,734 | $93,350 – $190,620 | 1,540 |
| Alabama | $145,090 | $103,446 | $56,740 – $196,600 | 460 |
| New Mexico | $144,660 | $104,384 | $88,160 – $202,980 | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $139,720 | $100,740 | $75,390 – $203,670 | 790 |
| Kansas | $138,580 | $99,052 | $85,010 – $192,720 | 660 |
| Vermont | $137,290 | $98,456 | $60,290 – $194,190 | 90 |
| California | $136,300 | $94,209 | $99,890 – $213,710 | 6,890 |
| Michigan | $135,650 | $98,468 | $98,110 – $213,850 | 1,410 |
| Nevada | $135,650 | $103,983 | $74,530 – $181,520 | 430 |
| Indiana | $135,500 | $99,913 | $76,860 – $193,270 | 1,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $135,400 | $99,655 | $92,970 – $173,380 | 1,720 |
| Ohio | $134,850 | $100,510 | $63,650 – $190,630 | 1,300 |
| District of Columbia | $134,840 | $94,936 | $102,570 – $207,570 | 50 |
| Rhode Island | $134,520 | $98,423 | $71,670 – $215,640 | 250 |
| Tennessee | $134,170 | $102,971 | $47,630 – $167,420 | 660 |
| Missouri | $133,810 | $97,373 | $64,610 – $175,270 | 630 |
| North Dakota | $132,110 | $100,246 | $74,610 – $178,900 | 140 |
| Oregon | $132,020 | $90,732 | $83,830 – $161,480 | 560 |
| Virginia | $131,570 | $94,443 | $62,430 – $235,980 | 1,110 |
| Kentucky | $128,860 | $94,949 | $82,240 – $239,200+ | 430 |
| Georgia | $128,830 | $93,258 | $51,030 – $189,610 | 870 |
| Texas | $126,000 | $97,387 | $54,180 – $164,420 | 4,110 |
| New Hampshire | $125,560 | $97,086 | $76,360 – $205,560 | 210 |
| Iowa | $125,380 | $92,851 | $73,660 – $175,460 | 450 |
| Nebraska | $125,040 | $91,921 | $65,170 – $205,450 | 340 |
| Arkansas | $124,470 | $91,700 | $57,960 – $181,520 | 320 |
| Arizona | $122,250 | $91,976 | $99,570 – $171,490 | 1,080 |
| Utah | $119,070 | $88,204 | $44,470 – $172,480 | 380 |
| Louisiana | $118,060 | $88,730 | $45,420 – $183,670 | 250 |
| West Virginia | $118,010 | $87,097 | $69,830 – $198,570 | 150 |
| Wyoming | $111,400 | $87,200 | $51,580 – $178,860 | 90 |
| Mississippi | $108,070 | $81,266 | $63,470 – $215,640 | 240 |
| Montana | $104,280 | $77,660 | $58,450 – $163,030 | 140 |
| Idaho | $103,390 | $77,193 | $52,000 – $189,570 | 160 |
| South Dakota | $102,320 | $80,812 | $90,560 – $174,920 | 190 |
| Oklahoma | $97,350 | $73,480 | $59,990 – $174,620 | 570 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a optometrist make?
The national median salary for optometrists is $136,570 a year ($65.66 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $74,870 and the top 10% earn over $202,180. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays optometrists the most?
Alaska has the highest median pay at $170,310. After taxes and local prices, Philadelphia, PA offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many optometrists are there in the U.S.?
About 42,790 people work as optometrists nationwide.