Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$74,870
- 25th Percentile — Junior$109,400
- 50th Percentile — Median$136,570
- 75th Percentile — Senior$165,120
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$202,180
The top 10% of Optometrists earn $202,180 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $74,870, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $165,120 | +16.7% |
| New Jersey | $161,110 | +13.8% |
| North Carolina | $161,030 | +13.8% |
| Maine | $160,730 | +13.5% |
| Washington | $159,380 | +12.6% |
| Virginia | $155,530 | +9.9% |
| New Mexico | $153,180 | +8.2% |
| New York | $153,130 | +8.2% |
| Massachusetts | $152,550 | +7.8% |
| Colorado | $152,460 | +7.7% |
| Minnesota | $151,450 | +7.0% |
| Hawaii | $149,920 | +5.9% |
| Maryland | $148,910 | +5.2% |
| Connecticut | $147,820 | +4.4% |
| California | $147,420 | +4.1% |
| New Hampshire | $146,430 | +3.4% |
| Vermont | $146,240 | +3.3% |
| Rhode Island | $145,800 | +3.0% |
| District of Columbia | $145,590 | +2.9% |
| Michigan | $144,610 | +2.2% |
| Illinois | $143,720 | +1.5% |
| Florida | $143,020 | +1.0% |
| Delaware | $142,820 | +0.9% |
| Wisconsin | $142,800 | +0.9% |
| Kentucky | $142,710 | +0.8% |
| Kansas | $140,510 | -0.7% |
| Pennsylvania | $139,660 | -1.3% |
| Alabama | $137,460 | -2.9% |
| Indiana | $137,020 | -3.2% |
| Nevada | $137,020 | -3.2% |
| Arizona | $135,280 | -4.4% |
| Ohio | $133,960 | -5.4% |
| Missouri | $133,680 | -5.6% |
| Nebraska | $132,660 | -6.3% |
| North Dakota | $132,080 | -6.7% |
| West Virginia | $130,750 | -7.6% |
| South Carolina | $129,570 | -8.5% |
| Georgia | $128,630 | -9.1% |
| Utah | $128,180 | -9.4% |
| Oregon | $127,920 | -9.6% |
| Mississippi | $126,580 | -10.6% |
| Arkansas | $125,460 | -11.4% |
| Texas | $124,760 | -11.9% |
| Iowa | $123,250 | -12.9% |
| Louisiana | $121,000 | -14.5% |
| Tennessee | $120,920 | -14.6% |
| South Dakota | $118,060 | -16.6% |
| Wyoming | $115,500 | -18.4% |
| Oklahoma | $114,710 | -19.0% |
| Idaho | $113,870 | -19.6% |
| Montana | $106,200 | -25.0% |
What Factors Affect Optometrists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Optometrists is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: Alaska pays an average of $165,120, while Montana pays $106,200 — a gap of $58,920 per year.
The middle half of Optometrists earn between $109,400 and $165,120 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $74,870, while the top 10% earn more than $202,180.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Optometrists?
The average salary for Optometrists in the United States is $141,550 per year, with a median of $136,570.
What is the starting salary for Optometrists?
Entry-level Optometrists typically earn between $74,870 and $109,400 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Optometrists the most?
Alaska pays Optometrists the most at $165,120 per year on average, followed by New Jersey ($161,110) and North Carolina ($161,030).
How much do Optometrists make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $141,550, Optometrists earn approximately $68.05 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Optometrists a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 42,790 Optometrists jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $141,550 and a median of $136,570 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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