Optometrist Salary in Chicago, IL
Optometrists in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $145,630 a year — 7% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $103,740 take-home, or $8,645 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median optometrist salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$23,685
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,029
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,112
- Illinois income tax$7,064
- Take-home pay$103,740
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Optometrist pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $93,350 | $44.88 | $70,026 | $5,835 |
| 25th percentile | $132,090 | $63.50 | $95,156 | $7,930 |
| Median (50th) | $145,630 | $70.01 | $103,740 | $8,645 |
| 75th percentile | $162,590 | $78.17 | $114,493 | $9,541 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $186,250 | $89.54 | $129,602 | $10,800 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $145,630 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median optometrist's $103,740 take-home pay has the buying power of $100,140 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 Chicago, IL as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for optometrists, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $145,630 | $103,740 | $100,140 |
*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 Chicago, IL?
The median optometrist salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $145,630 a year, or about $70.01 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $132,090 and $162,590.
What is a optometrist’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $145,630 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $103,740 a year ($8,645 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,064 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a optometrist?
Pay here is 7% above the national median of $136,570. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $100,140 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #9 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a optometrist afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 18% of a median optometrist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric — $239,200+
- Nurse Anesthetist — $239,200+
- Psychiatrist — $239,200+
- Emergency Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- General Internal Medicine Physician — $226,060
- Family Medicine Physician — $225,080
- Obstetrician and Gynecologist — $208,000
- Pediatricians, General — $188,340
- Dentists, General — $156,100
- Veterinarian — $148,730
- Pharmacist — $140,880
- Nurse Practitioner — $131,740