Optometrists Pay Range in Kentucky
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$82,240
- 25th Percentile — Junior$97,290
- 50th Percentile — Median$128,860
- 75th Percentile — Senior$168,030
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$254,630
Half of Optometrists in Kentucky earn more than $128,860. The top 10% make $254,630 or more, while entry-level workers start around $82,240.
Optometrists in Kentucky: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Kentucky ranks 25th of 51 states for Optometrists pay, at $142,710 per year (0.8% above the U.S. average of $141,550).
- 430 people work as Optometrists in Kentucky — 1.0% of all U.S. Optometrists jobs.
- Location quotient 0.79: Optometrists jobs are less concentrated in Kentucky than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $82,240; the top 10% earn over $254,630.
- Hourly equivalent: $68.61 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Alaska at $165,120.
- Among healthcare jobs in Kentucky, Radiologists pays the most ($338,210).
Optometrists Job Market in Kentucky
Key factors affecting compensation
Kentucky's key industries are Manufacturing, Healthcare, Agriculture, and its job market is rated moderate. Optometrists here earn $142,710 on average, placing the state 25th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.83 (U.S. = 1.00), a Kentucky salary of $142,710 is roughly equivalent to $171,940 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Illinois ($143,720), Florida ($143,020), Delaware ($142,820) are the closest alternatives for Optometrists weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Healthcare Jobs in Kentucky
Related career salary benchmarks
- Radiologists $338,210/yr Kentucky +137.0% vs this role
- Physicians All Other $331,860/yr Kentucky +132.5% vs this role
- Anesthesiologists $310,560/yr Kentucky +117.6% vs this role
- Surgeons All Other $271,370/yr Kentucky +90.2% vs this role
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists $268,360/yr Kentucky +88.0% vs this role
- Family Medicine Physicians $254,740/yr Kentucky +78.5% vs this role
- General Internal Medicine Physicians $250,140/yr Kentucky +75.3% vs this role
- Dermatologists $249,200/yr Kentucky +74.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Optometrists salary in Kentucky?
The average Optometrists salary in Kentucky is $142,710 per year (median $128,860), which is 0.8% above the national average of $141,550.
How does Kentucky rank for Optometrists pay?
Kentucky ranks 25th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Alaska ($165,120/yr).
How much do entry-level Optometrists make in Kentucky?
The lowest-paid 10% of Optometrists in Kentucky earn about $82,240 per year and the 25th percentile is $97,290.
How much do Optometrists make per hour in Kentucky?
About $68.61 per hour, based on the $142,710 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Optometrists work in Kentucky?
BLS counts 430 Optometrists jobs in Kentucky (OEWS May 2025).
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