Optometrist Salary in Houston, TX
Optometrists in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median $124,640 a year — 9% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $96,457 take-home, or $8,038 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
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- Federal income tax$18,648
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,728
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,807
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$96,457
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 0.00% state
Optometrist pay by experience in Houston, TX
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $96,020 | $46.16 | $76,380 | $6,365 |
| 25th percentile | $103,720 | $49.87 | $81,797 | $6,816 |
| Median (50th) | $124,640 | $59.92 | $96,457 | $8,038 |
| 75th percentile | $146,950 | $70.65 | $111,706 | $9,309 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $162,010 | $77.89 | $122,000 | $10,167 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Texas resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $124,640 buys in Houston, TX
Prices in Houston, TX are 1.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median optometrist's $96,457 take-home pay has the buying power of $97,798 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Houston, TX has 1.4× the national concentration of optometrist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for optometrists, adjusted for cost of living
Houston, TX ranks #11 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 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $124,640 | $96,457 | $97,798 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 21 metros →
Optometrist salaries elsewhere in Texas
- Dallas, TX — $140,790
- San Antonio, TX — $111,780
Frequently asked questions
How much does a optometrist make in Houston, TX?
The median optometrist salary in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $124,640 a year, or about $59.92 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $103,720 and $146,950.
What is a optometrist’s take-home pay in Houston, TX?
On the median $124,640 salary, a single filer living in Texas takes home about $96,457 a year ($8,038 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a optometrist?
Pay here is 9% below the national median of $136,570. Local prices are 1.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $97,798 would in a typical U.S. city. Houston, TX ranks #11 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a optometrist afford rent in Houston, TX?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Houston, TX is $1,316 a month ($1,558 for two bedrooms) — 16% of a median optometrist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Houston, TX
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- General Internal Medicine Physician — $239,200+
- Anesthesiologist — $210,230
- Cardiologist — $187,550
- Pharmacist — $140,470
- Physician Assistant — $137,240
- Nurse Practitioner — $134,560
- Veterinarian — $132,280
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