Optometrist Salary in Detroit, MI
Optometrists in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area earn a median $142,690 a year — 4% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $102,981 take-home, or $8,582 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$22,980
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,847
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,069
- Michigan income tax$5,814
- Take-home pay$102,981
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.25% state
Optometrist pay by experience in Detroit, MI
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $117,240 | $56.37 | $86,576 | $7,215 |
| 25th percentile | $131,790 | $63.36 | $95,994 | $8,000 |
| Median (50th) | $142,690 | $68.60 | $102,981 | $8,582 |
| 75th percentile | $166,490 | $80.04 | $118,237 | $9,853 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,850 | $102.81 | $150,290 | $12,524 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Michigan resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $142,690 buys in Detroit, MI
Prices in Detroit, MI are 0.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 5% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median optometrist's $102,981 take-home pay has the buying power of $102,675 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 Detroit, MI as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for optometrists, adjusted for cost of living
Detroit, MI ranks #6 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 Detroit, MI?
The median optometrist salary in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $142,690 a year, or about $68.60 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $131,790 and $166,490.
What is a optometrist’s take-home pay in Detroit, MI?
On the median $142,690 salary, a single filer living in Michigan takes home about $102,981 a year ($8,582 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,814 in Michigan taxes in 2026.
Is Detroit, MI a good place to work as a optometrist?
Pay here is 4% above the national median of $136,570. Local prices are 0.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $102,675 would in a typical U.S. city. Detroit, MI ranks #6 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a optometrist afford rent in Detroit, MI?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Detroit, MI is $1,128 a month ($1,413 for two bedrooms) — 13% of a median optometrist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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