Optometrist Salary in Atlanta, GA
Optometrists in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $128,830 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $93,258 take-home, or $7,771 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$19,653
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,987
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,868
- Georgia income tax$6,063
- Take-home pay$93,258
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.19% state
Optometrist pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,030 | $24.53 | $41,157 | $3,430 |
| 25th percentile | $97,630 | $46.94 | $73,069 | $6,089 |
| Median (50th) | $128,830 | $61.94 | $93,258 | $7,771 |
| 75th percentile | $161,320 | $77.56 | $113,779 | $9,482 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $189,610 | $91.16 | $131,963 | $10,997 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $128,830 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median optometrist's $93,258 take-home pay has the buying power of $93,204 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 less concentrated in Atlanta, GA than nationally (location quotient 0.57), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for optometrists, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #12 of 21 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia, PA | $153,980 | $111,784 | $109,000 |
| 2 | Kansas City, MO | $138,580 | $100,410 | $108,500 |
| 3 | Denver, CO | $158,130 | $113,099 | $106,917 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $159,790 | $110,772 | $105,676 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $140,790 | $107,496 | $104,274 |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | $142,690 | $102,981 | $102,675 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $154,970 | $109,659 | $101,287 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $161,030 | $112,869 | $100,272 |
| 12 | Atlanta, GA | $128,830 | $93,258 | $93,204 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 21 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a optometrist make in Atlanta, GA?
The median optometrist salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $128,830 a year, or about $61.94 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $97,630 and $161,320.
What is a optometrist’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $128,830 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $93,258 a year ($7,771 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $6,063 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a optometrist?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $136,570. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $93,204 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #12 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a optometrist afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 21% of a median optometrist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Atlanta, GA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Family Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Cardiologist — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,060
- Anesthesiologist — $226,830
- Dentists, General — $222,690
- Pharmacist — $139,870
- Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other — $133,060
- Nurse Practitioner — $132,500
- Veterinarian — $128,980
- Physician Assistant — $111,810
- Occupational Therapist — $106,160