Average optometrist salary
What is the average optometrist salary?
Optometrists are eye care professionals who provide eye and vision care. They may work part- or full-time in a variety of healthcare settings. As of May 2022, the average annual salary for a full-time optometrist in the United States was $133,100 as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Wages for optometrists vary in the same manner as most occupations. The percentile wage estimates for optometrists from the May 2022 report are as follows:
10%: (Annual) $62,150
(Hourly) $29.88
25%: (Annual) $96,980
(Hourly) $46.63
50% (Annual) $125,590 (median)
(Hourly) $60.38
75%: (Annual) $156,030
(Hourly) $75.01
90%: (Annual) $191,430
(Hourly) $92.03
Optometrists earned a median salary of $125,590. The top-paid 10% of optometrists made $191,430 or more while the lowest-paid 10% earned $62,150 or less.
What factors affect eye doctor salaries?
As doctors of optometry (OD), optometrists provide care to patients in various capacities and settings. These may include:
Optometry offices
Physician offices
Outpatient care centers
Government facilities
Hospitals
Academia
Salary and other compensation factors for optometrists may differ in each setting. The practice setting may have an impact on the average annual salary an eye doctor may earn. For instance, outpatient centers, ambulatory facilities and physician offices are among the top-paying industries for optometrists. Government facilities and academia tend to be on the lower end of the pay scale for the profession.
An optometrist's salary may also be affected by their education, certifications, experience and geographic location.
Optometrist salary by state
As of May 2022, there were approximately 40,640 optometrists in the United States (excluding self-employed optometrists). Salaries for optometrists vary from state to state and among geographic locations within each state. The volume of available optometry jobs also varies according to these factors.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2022 report indicates the following salary and employment information per state.
Alabama
Average annual salary: $121,300
Average hourly wage: $58.32
Alaska
Alaska is one of the top-paying states for optometrists. It also has one of the highest concentration of optometrist jobs in the country.
Average annual salary: $180,470
Average hourly wage: $86.77
Arizona
Average annual salary: $140,870
Average hourly wage: $67.73
Arkansas
Average annual salary: $129,950
Average hourly wage: $62.48
California
Employment levels for optometrists in California are among the highest in the nation. The state also has one of the highest concentrations of optometrist jobs in the United States.
Average annual salary: $128,160
Average hourly wage: $61.62
Colorado
Average annual salary: $137,290
Average hourly wage: $66.00
Connecticut
Average annual salary: $144,550
Average hourly wage: $69.50
Delaware
Average annual salary: $116,520
Average hourly wage: $56.02
District of Columbia
Average annual salary: $110,700
Average hourly wage: $53.22
Florida
Florida has one of the highest employment levels for optometrists in the nation.
Average annual salary: $108,820
Average hourly wage: $52.32
Georgia
Average annual salary: $138,670
Average hourly wage: $66.67
Hawaii
Hawaii has one of the highest concentrations of optometrists jobs in the United States.
Average annual salary: $139,320
Average hourly wage: $66.98
Idaho
Average annual salary: $105,660
Average hourly wage: $50.80
Illinois
Average annual salary: $132,460
Average hourly wage: $63.69
Indiana
Average annual salary: $113,400
Average hourly wage: $54.52
Iowa
Iowa has one of the highest concentrations of optometrists jobs in the United States.
Average annual salary: $125,340
Average hourly wage: $60.26
Kansas
Average annual salary: $114,870
Average hourly wage: $55.23
Kentucky
Kentucky is among the top-paying states for optometrists.
Average annual salary: $152,100
Average hourly wage: $73.12
Louisiana
Average annual salary: $141,990
Average hourly wage: $68.27
Maine
Average annual salary: $129,480
Average hourly wage: $62.25
Maryland
Average annual salary: $143,690
Average hourly wage: $69.08
Massachusetts
Massachusetts is among the highest-paying states for optometrists.
Average annual salary: $150,500
Average hourly wage: $72.36
Michigan
Average annual salary: $129,230
Average hourly wage: $62.13
Minnesota
Average annual salary: $142,050
Average hourly wage: $68.29
Mississippi
Average annual salary: $125,210
Average hourly wage: $60.20
Missouri
Average annual salary: $139,760
Average hourly wage: $67.19
Montana
Average annual salary: $113,290
Average hourly wage: $54.47
(May 2022 wage details were not released for the state of Montana. The information presented here is based on 2021 Montana Department of Labor & Industry statistics.)
Nebraska
Average annual salary: $126,500
Average hourly wage: $60.82
Nevada
Average annual salary: $120,420
Average hourly wage: $57.90
New Hampshire
Average annual salary: $136,220
Average hourly wage: $65.49
New Jersey
Average annual salary: $143,460
Average hourly wage: $68.97
New Mexico
Average annual salary: $109,180
Average hourly wage: $52.49
(May 2022 wage details were not released for the state of New Mexico. The information presented here is based on the May 2021 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report.)
New York
Employment levels for optometrists are among the highest in the United States.
Average annual salary: $140,720
Average hourly wage: $67.65
North Carolina
Optometrists in North Carolina are among the highest-paid in the nation.
Average annual salary: $156,110
Average hourly wage: $75.05
North Dakota
North Dakota has one of the highest concentrations of optometrist jobs in the country.
Average annual salary: $135,000
Average hourly wage: $64.90
Ohio
Employment levels for optometrists are some of the highest in the United States.
Average annual salary: $121,040
Average hourly wage: $58.19
Oklahoma
Average annual salary: $94,620
Average hourly wage: $45.49
Oregon
Average annual salary: $120,690
Average hourly wage: $58.03
Pennsylvania
Average annual salary: $136,220
Average hourly wage: $65.49
Rhode Island
Average annual salary: $134,660
Average hourly wage: $67.74
(May 2022 wage details were not released for the state of Rhode Island. The information presented here is based on the 2022 Rhode Island Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics file.)
South Carolina
Average annual salary: $101,480
Average hourly wage: $48.79
South Dakota
Average annual salary: $108,280
Average hourly wage: $52.06
Tennessee
Average annual salary: $110,830
Average hourly wage: $53.29
Texas
Optometrists in Texas are among the highest-paid in the United States. Employment levels for eye doctors in Texas are also among the highest in the nation.
Average annual salary: $145,610
Average hourly wage: $70.01
Utah
Average annual salary: $107,830
Average hourly wage: $51.84
Vermont
Average annual salary: $131,070
Average hourly wage: $63.01
Virginia
Average annual salary: $123,340
Average hourly wage: $59.30
(May 2022 wage details were not released for Virginia. The information presented here is based on the May 2021 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report.)
Washington
Average annual salary: $125,760
Average hourly wage: $60.46
West Virginia
Average annual salary: $111,560
Average hourly wage: $53.64
Wisconsin
Average annual salary: $134,830
Average hourly wage: $64.82
Wyoming
Average annual salary: $136,950
Average hourly wage: $65.84
Highest optometrist salary
Optometrists make the most money in the Piedmont (middle) region of North Carolina.
Average annual salary: $245.10
Average hourly wage: $117.85
The top-paying metropolitan area for optometrists is in Wilmington, NC.
Average annual salary: $216,180
Average hourly wage: $103.93
Lowest optometrist salary
Optometrists make the least amount of money in Oklahoma, South Carolina and Idaho.
The lowest-paying area for optometrists in the United States is northeastern Oklahoma as of May 2022.
Average annual salary: $81,350
Average hourly wage: $39.11
What is the job outlook for optometry?
The job outlook for eye doctors is highly favorable. The projected growth rate for optometrists from 2022 to 2032 is 9%, higher than the 3% average growth rate for all occupations combined. Optometry employment levels are forecasted to increase by an average of 1,700 jobs year over year during this period of time. READ NEXT: Optometrist vs. ophthalmologist: How to choose an eye doctor
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Career Pathways. American Optometric Association. Accessed September 2023.
Average Optometrist Salary and Calculator. Eyes on Eyecare. January 2022.
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics Query System. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed September 2023.
Montana Informational Wage Rates by Occupation 2021. Montana Department of Labor and Industry. April 2022.
May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates New Mexico. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. March 2022.
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). State of Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. June 2022.
May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates Virginia. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. March 2022.
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Page published on Monday, October 30, 2023
Page updated on Tuesday, November 7, 2023