Optometrists Pay Range in Tennessee
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$47,630
- 25th Percentile — Junior$63,510
- 50th Percentile — Median$134,170
- 75th Percentile — Senior$160,150
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$167,420
Half of Optometrists in Tennessee earn more than $134,170. The top 10% make $167,420 or more, while entry-level workers start around $47,630.
Optometrists in Tennessee: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Tennessee ranks 46th of 51 states for Optometrists pay, at $120,920 per year (14.6% below the U.S. average of $141,550).
- 660 people work as Optometrists in Tennessee — 1.5% of all U.S. Optometrists jobs.
- Location quotient 0.73: Optometrists jobs are less concentrated in Tennessee than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,630; the top 10% earn over $167,420.
- Hourly equivalent: $58.13 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Alaska at $165,120.
- Among healthcare jobs in Tennessee, Surgeons All Other pays the most ($408,230).
Optometrists Job Market in Tennessee
Key factors affecting compensation
Tennessee's key industries are Healthcare, Manufacturing, Tourism, and its job market is rated strong. Optometrists here earn $120,920 on average, placing the state 46th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.88 (U.S. = 1.00), a Tennessee salary of $120,920 is roughly equivalent to $137,409 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Arkansas ($125,460), Texas ($124,760), Iowa ($123,250) 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 Tennessee
Related career salary benchmarks
- Surgeons All Other $408,230/yr Tennessee +237.6% vs this role
- Dermatologists $359,260/yr Tennessee +197.1% vs this role
- Anesthesiologists $323,070/yr Tennessee +167.2% vs this role
- Physicians All Other $312,220/yr Tennessee +158.2% vs this role
- Obstetricians and Gynecologists $296,570/yr Tennessee +145.3% vs this role
- Family Medicine Physicians $284,650/yr Tennessee +135.4% vs this role
- General Internal Medicine Physicians $238,020/yr Tennessee +96.8% vs this role
- Nurse Anesthetists $218,870/yr Tennessee +81.0% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Optometrists salary in Tennessee?
The average Optometrists salary in Tennessee is $120,920 per year (median $134,170), which is 14.6% below the national average of $141,550.
How does Tennessee rank for Optometrists pay?
Tennessee ranks 46th out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is Alaska ($165,120/yr).
How much do entry-level Optometrists make in Tennessee?
The lowest-paid 10% of Optometrists in Tennessee earn about $47,630 per year and the 25th percentile is $63,510.
How much do Optometrists make per hour in Tennessee?
About $58.13 per hour, based on the $120,920 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Optometrists work in Tennessee?
BLS counts 660 Optometrists jobs in Tennessee (OEWS May 2025).
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