How much does an optometrist make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $65.66 an hour or $11,380 a month.
- Hourly
- $65.66
- Average (mean)
- $141,600
- Jobs
- 42,790
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $74,870 | $36.00 | |
| 25th | $109,400 | $52.60 | |
| Median | $136,600 | $65.66 | |
| 75th | $165,100 | $79.38 | |
| 90th | $202,200 | $97.20 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Alaska | $170,300 |
| Maryland | $165,800 |
| North Carolina | $161,600 |
| Delaware | $161,300 |
| New York | $161,100 |
| New Jersey | $159,000 |
| Minnesota | $158,700 |
| Washington | $157,600 |
| Hawaii | $154,600 |
| Maine | $154,100 |
| Colorado | $152,000 |
| Massachusetts | $151,700 |
| Florida | $151,700 |
| Connecticut | $150,300 |
| South Carolina | $146,000 |
| Illinois | $145,600 |
| Alabama | $145,100 |
| New Mexico | $144,700 |
| Wisconsin | $139,700 |
| Kansas | $138,600 |
| Vermont | $137,300 |
| California | $136,300 |
| Michigan | $135,700 |
| Nevada | $135,700 |
| Indiana | $135,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $135,400 |
| Ohio | $134,900 |
| District of Columbia | $134,800 |
| Rhode Island | $134,500 |
| Tennessee | $134,200 |
| Missouri | $133,800 |
| North Dakota | $132,100 |
| Oregon | $132,000 |
| Virginia | $131,600 |
| Kentucky | $128,900 |
| Georgia | $128,800 |
| Texas | $126,000 |
| New Hampshire | $125,600 |
| Iowa | $125,400 |
| Nebraska | $125,000 |
| Arkansas | $124,500 |
| Arizona | $122,300 |
| Utah | $119,100 |
| Louisiana | $118,100 |
| West Virginia | $118,000 |
| Wyoming | $111,400 |
| Mississippi | $108,100 |
| Montana | $104,300 |
| Idaho | $103,400 |
| South Dakota | $102,300 |
| Oklahoma | $97,350 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| La Crosse, WI | $175,800 |
| Asheville, NC | $168,000 |
| Seattle, WA | $167,800 |
| Anchorage, AK | $167,000 |
| Durham, NC | $166,900 |
| Peoria, IL | $166,600 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $165,800 |
| Dover, DE | $165,700 |
| Buffalo, NY | $165,600 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $165,400 |
| Albany, NY | $164,000 |
| Wilmington, NC | $163,800 |
| Raleigh, NC | $163,300 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $163,200 |
| Birmingham, AL | $162,900 |
In other countries
Optometrist belongs to the international group "Optometrists and ophthalmic opticians".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Chiropractor$79,200
- Dentist$171,000
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon$352,200
- Orthodontist$289,100
- Prosthodontist$311,200
- Dentist$225,000
- Dietitian and Nutritionist$76,400
- Pharmacist$140,900
- Physician Assistant$135,900
- Podiatrist$160,300
Frequently asked questions
How much does an optometrist make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $65.66 ($136,600 a year).
How much does an optometrist make a month?
About $11,380 a month before tax, based on a median of $136,600 a year.
How much does an optometrist make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $74,870 or less a year ($36.00 an hour); the top 10% make $202,200 or more.
Which state pays optometrists the most?
Alaska, with a median of $170,300 a year, followed by Maryland ($165,800) and North Carolina ($161,600).
Which city pays optometrists the most?
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN, with a median of $175,800 a year.
How many optometrists are there in the United States?
About 42,790 people work as optometrists.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.