Optometrists Salary
BLS May 2025 median wages — with computed take-home after taxes for all 51 reporting states. Tax year 2026.
Quick answer
According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data, the median optometrists in the US earns $136,570 per year (42,790 employed). Gross pay is highest in Alaska ($170,310) and lowest in Oklahoma ($97,350) — but what you keep depends on the state's taxes; see the table.
Optometrists pay by stategross median vs take-home
| State | Median wage | After taxes | Monthly net | Kept | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optometrists in Alaska | $170,310 | $127,673 | $10,639 | 75% | 60 |
| Optometrists in Maryland | $165,840 | $116,847 | $9,737 | 70.5% | 780 |
| Optometrists in North Carolina | $161,560 | $115,755 | $9,646 | 71.6% | 1,140 |
| Optometrists in Delaware | $161,270 | $112,191 | $9,349 | 69.6% | 190 |
| Optometrists in New York | $161,140 | $112,938 | $9,412 | 70.1% | 2,390 |
| Optometrists in New Jersey | $159,040 | $112,027 | $9,336 | 70.4% | 1,380 |
| Optometrists in Minnesota | $158,700 | $110,113 | $9,176 | 69.4% | 710 |
| Optometrists in Washington | $157,560 | $118,958 | $9,913 | 75.5% | 760 |
| Optometrists in Hawaii | $154,620 | $106,656 | $8,888 | 69% | 230 |
| Optometrists in Maine | $154,110 | $107,077 | $8,923 | 69.5% | 180 |
| Optometrists in Colorado | $152,000 | $109,179 | $9,098 | 71.8% | 880 |
| Optometrists in Massachusetts | $151,730 | $107,607 | $8,967 | 70.9% | 950 |
| Optometrists in Florida | $151,670 | $114,933 | $9,578 | 75.8% | 2,350 |
| Optometrists in Connecticut | $150,340 | $107,153 | $8,929 | 71.3% | 490 |
| Optometrists in South Carolina | $145,950 | $103,423 | $8,619 | 70.9% | 480 |
| Optometrists in Illinois | $145,620 | $103,734 | $8,645 | 71.2% | 1,540 |
| Optometrists in Alabama | $145,090 | $103,446 | $8,620 | 71.3% | 460 |
| Optometrists in New Mexico | $144,660 | $104,384 | $8,699 | 72.2% | 130 |
| Optometrists in Wisconsin | $139,720 | $100,740 | $8,395 | 72.1% | 790 |
| Optometrists in Kansas | $138,580 | $99,052 | $8,254 | 71.5% | 660 |
| Optometrists in Vermont | $137,290 | $98,457 | $8,205 | 71.7% | 90 |
| Optometrists in California | $136,300 | $95,981 | $7,998 | 70.4% | 6,890 |
| Optometrists in Michigan | $135,650 | $98,469 | $8,206 | 72.6% | 1,410 |
| Optometrists in Nevada | $135,650 | $103,983 | $8,665 | 76.7% | 430 |
| Optometrists in Indiana | $135,500 | $99,913 | $8,326 | 73.7% | 1,040 |
| Optometrists in Pennsylvania | $135,400 | $99,655 | $8,305 | 73.6% | 1,720 |
| Optometrists in Ohio | $134,850 | $100,510 | $8,376 | 74.5% | 1,300 |
| Optometrists in Washington DC | $134,840 | $94,936 | $7,911 | 70.4% | 50 |
| Optometrists in Rhode Island | $134,520 | $98,423 | $8,202 | 73.2% | 250 |
| Optometrists in Tennessee | $134,170 | $102,971 | $8,581 | 76.7% | 660 |
| Optometrists in Missouri | $133,810 | $97,374 | $8,114 | 72.8% | 630 |
| Optometrists in North Dakota | $132,110 | $100,246 | $8,354 | 75.9% | 140 |
| Optometrists in Oregon | $132,020 | $90,732 | $7,561 | 68.7% | 560 |
| Optometrists in Virginia | $131,570 | $94,443 | $7,870 | 71.8% | 1,110 |
| Optometrists in Kentucky | $128,860 | $94,949 | $7,912 | 73.7% | 430 |
| Optometrists in Georgia | $128,830 | $93,258 | $7,772 | 72.4% | 870 |
| Optometrists in Texas | $126,000 | $97,387 | $8,116 | 77.3% | 4,110 |
| Optometrists in New Hampshire | $125,560 | $97,086 | $8,091 | 77.3% | 210 |
| Optometrists in Iowa | $125,380 | $92,851 | $7,738 | 74.1% | 450 |
| Optometrists in Nebraska | $125,040 | $91,921 | $7,660 | 73.5% | 340 |
| Optometrists in Arkansas | $124,470 | $91,700 | $7,642 | 73.7% | 320 |
| Optometrists in Arizona | $122,250 | $91,977 | $7,665 | 75.2% | 1,080 |
| Optometrists in Utah | $119,070 | $87,238 | $7,270 | 73.3% | 380 |
| Optometrists in Louisiana | $118,060 | $88,730 | $7,394 | 75.2% | 250 |
| Optometrists in West Virginia | $118,010 | $87,097 | $7,258 | 73.8% | 150 |
| Optometrists in Wyoming | $111,400 | $87,200 | $7,267 | 78.3% | 90 |
| Optometrists in Mississippi | $108,070 | $81,267 | $6,772 | 75.2% | 240 |
| Optometrists in Montana | $104,280 | $77,660 | $6,472 | 74.5% | 140 |
| Optometrists in Idaho | $103,390 | $77,194 | $6,433 | 74.7% | 160 |
| Optometrists in South Dakota | $102,320 | $80,812 | $6,734 | 79% | 190 |
| Optometrists in Oklahoma | $97,350 | $73,481 | $6,123 | 75.5% | 570 |
Keep exploring
All occupations · Paycheck calculator · States ranked by take-home pay