Optometrist Salary in Boston, MA
Optometrists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median $154,970 a year — 13% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $109,659 take-home, or $9,138 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median optometrist salary in Boston, MA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$25,927
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,608
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,247
- Massachusetts income tax$7,529
- Take-home pay$109,659
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 5.00% state
The Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro spans Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Optometrist pay by experience in Boston, MA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $95,780 | $46.05 | $71,642 | $5,970 |
| 25th percentile | $126,540 | $60.84 | $91,649 | $7,637 |
| Median (50th) | $154,970 | $74.50 | $109,659 | $9,138 |
| 75th percentile | $166,920 | $80.25 | $117,230 | $9,769 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $199,060 | $95.70 | $138,493 | $11,541 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Massachusetts resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $154,970 buys in Boston, MA
Prices in Boston, MA are 8.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.48× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median optometrist's $109,659 take-home pay has the buying power of $101,287 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 Boston, MA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.96).
Best-paying cities for optometrists, adjusted for cost of living
Boston, MA ranks #7 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 |
*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 Boston, MA?
The median optometrist salary in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $154,970 a year, or about $74.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $126,540 and $166,920.
What is a optometrist’s take-home pay in Boston, MA?
On the median $154,970 salary, a single filer living in Massachusetts takes home about $109,659 a year ($9,138 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,529 in Massachusetts taxes in 2026.
Is Boston, MA a good place to work as a optometrist?
Pay here is 13% above the national median of $136,570. Local prices are 8.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $101,287 would in a typical U.S. city. Boston, MA ranks #7 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a optometrist afford rent in Boston, MA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Boston, MA is $2,276 a month ($2,762 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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