Average Optometrists Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Optometrists is $134,830 per year. The middle 50% earn between $103,310 and $163,710, with 41,890 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2024 estimates . Data covers 51 states and 181 metro areas.
Wage range
Pay distribution
Here is how Optometrists pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $70,060
- 25th
- $103,310
- Median
- $134,830
- 75th
- $163,710
- 90th
- $203,210
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
Optometrists are among the highest-paid occupations tracked by BLS, well into the top decile of US wages.
The spread between entry-level and top-end pay is typical for US occupations. Experience and specialization matter, but the range is not unusually wide.
BLS projections
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for optometrists from 2024 to 2034. Optometrists are projected to grow much faster than average, more than double the roughly 4% growth rate for all US occupations. Demand is strong and outpacing most of the labor market.
- Projected growth
- +8.0%
- 3,800 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 2,400
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave.
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
Entry into this field typically requires a doctoral or professional degree, which helps explain the high wage level and relatively narrow candidate pool.
Where Optometrists earn the most
Location matters for pay. The top-paying state is noticeably above the national median, so relocating to a higher-paying market can meaningfully boost earnings. Right now, the top-paying state is Alaska at $165,830, about 23.0% above the national median. At the metro level, La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN leads with a median of $176,930.
By state
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $165,830 | 70 |
| New York | $163,040 | 2,500 |
| Maryland | $157,830 | 870 |
| Washington | $157,650 | 930 |
| New Jersey | $156,000 | 950 |
| Vermont | $156,000 | 100 |
| New Mexico | $154,630 | 140 |
| District of Columbia | $154,300 | 60 |
By metro
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $176,930 | 40 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $165,870 | 80 |
| Reno, NV | $165,060 | 80 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $165,050 | 70 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $164,560 | 40 |
| Syracuse, NY | $163,400 | 120 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $163,320 | 720 |
| Anchorage, AK | $162,980 | 40 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see optometrists pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2019 and 2024, the national median salary for Optometrists rose from $115,250 to $134,830, a gain of +17.0% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +22.7%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2019 median of $115,250 would need to be worth $141,411 in 2024 dollars.
The actual 2024 median of $134,830 is −$6,581 below that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of -4.7% in purchasing power.
Adjusted for inflation, pay has lost ground. Nominal growth of 17.0% has not kept up with rising prices.
- Nominal change
- +17.0%
- 2019–2024
- Cumulative inflation
- +22.7%
- US CPI, 2019–2024
- Real change
- -4.7%
- After adjusting for inflation
Annual history
Median salary over time
Optometrists median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2019
- $115,250
- 2020
- $118,050
- 2021
- $124,300
- 2022
- $125,590
- 2023
- $131,860
- 2024
- $134,830
Similar jobs
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Physician Assistants
- $133,260
- Pharmacists
- $137,480
- Podiatrists
- $152,800
- Dentists, General
- $172,790
- Chiropractors
- $79,000
- Dietitians And Nutritionists
- $73,850
- Dentists, All Other Specialists
- $225,770
Common salary questions for Optometrists
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Optometrists workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.