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 2024, the average annual salary for a full-time optometrist in the United States was $140,940 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 2024 report are as follows:
10%: (Annual) $70,060
(Hourly) $33.68
25%: (Annual) $103,310
(Hourly) $49.67
50% (Annual) $134,830 (median)
(Hourly) $64.82
75%: (Annual) $163,710
(Hourly) $78.71
90%: (Annual) $203,210
(Hourly) $97.70
Optometrists earned a median salary of $134,830. The top-paid 10% of optometrists made $203,210 or more while the lowest-paid 10% earned $70,060 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 2024, there were approximately 41,890 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 2024 report indicates the following salary and employment information per state.
Alabama
Average annual salary: $125,860
Average hourly wage: $60.51
Alaska
Average annual salary: $154,110
Average hourly wage: $74.09
Arizona
Average annual salary: $139,300
Average hourly wage: $66.97
Arkansas
Average annual salary: $124,990
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: $142,850
Average hourly wage: $68.68
Colorado
Average annual salary: $144,980
Average hourly wage: $69.70
Connecticut
Average annual salary: $154,780
Average hourly wage: $74.41
Delaware
Average annual salary: $134,830
Average hourly wage: $64.82
District of Columbia
Average annual salary: $157,130
Average hourly wage: $75.54
Florida
Florida has one of the highest employment levels for optometrists in the nation.
Average annual salary: $132,350
Average hourly wage: $63.63
Georgia
Average annual salary: $132,250
Average hourly wage: $63.58
Hawaii
Hawaii has one of the highest concentrations of optometrists jobs in the United States.
Average annual salary: $145,060
Average hourly wage: $69.74
Idaho
Average annual salary: $88,350
Average hourly wage: $42.48
Illinois
Average annual salary: $134,250
Average hourly wage: $64.54
Indiana
Average annual salary: $133,060
Average hourly wage: $63.97
Iowa
Average annual salary: $125,530
Average hourly wage: $60.35
Kansas
Average annual salary: $142,400
Average hourly wage: $68.46
Kentucky
Average annual salary: $154,120
Average hourly wage: $74.10
Louisiana
Average annual salary: $127,470
Average hourly wage: $61.28
Maine
Average annual salary: $158,880
Average hourly wage: $76.39
Maryland
Average annual salary: $142,060
Average hourly wage: $68.30
Massachusetts
Average annual salary: $150,070
Average hourly wage: $72.15
Michigan
Average annual salary: $133,610
Average hourly wage: $64.24
Minnesota
Average annual salary: $143,450
Average hourly wage: $68.97
Mississippi
Average annual salary: $127,920
Average hourly wage: $61.50
Missouri
Average annual salary: $121,680
Average hourly wage: $58.50
Montana
Average annual salary: $114,630
Average hourly wage: $55.11
Nebraska
Average annual salary: $136,810
Average hourly wage: $65.77
Nevada
Average annual salary: $138,650
Average hourly wage: $66.66
New Hampshire
Average annual salary: $167,100
Average hourly wage: $80.34
New Jersey
Average annual salary: $145,500
Average hourly wage: $69.95
New Mexico
Average annual salary: $156,800
Average hourly wage: $75.39
New York
Employment levels for optometrists are among the highest in the United States.
Average annual salary: $158,600
Average hourly wage: $76.25
North Carolina
Optometrists in North Carolina are among the highest-paid in the nation.
Average annual salary: $159,420
Average hourly wage: $76.64
North Dakota
North Dakota has one of the highest concentrations of optometrist jobs in the country.
Average annual salary: $130,840
Average hourly wage: $62.91
Ohio
Employment levels for optometrists are some of the highest in the United States.
Average annual salary: $131,550
Average hourly wage: $63.25
Oklahoma
Average annual salary: $105,920
Average hourly wage: $50.92
Oregon
Average annual salary: $122,340
Average hourly wage: $58.82
Pennsylvania
Average annual salary: $135,880
Average hourly wage: $65.33
Rhode Island
Average annual salary: $144,670
Average hourly wage: $69.55
South Carolina
Average annual salary: $123,900
Average hourly wage: $59.57
South Dakota
Average annual salary: $119,420
Average hourly wage: $57.41
Tennessee
Average annual salary: $125,970
Average hourly wage: $60.56
Texas
Employment levels for eye doctors in Texas are also among the highest in the nation.
Average annual salary: $132,370
Average hourly wage: $63.64
Utah
Average annual salary: $140,770
Average hourly wage: $67.68
Vermont
Average annual salary: $146,710
Average hourly wage: $70.53
Virginia
Average annual salary: $123,340
Average hourly wage: $59.30
(May 2024 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: $159,450
Average hourly wage: $76.66
West Virginia
Average annual salary: $136,210
Average hourly wage: $65.49
Wisconsin
Average annual salary: $141,570
Average hourly wage: $68.06
Wyoming
Average annual salary: $120,880
Average hourly wage: $58.12
Highest optometrist salary
Based on data from 2024, optometrists make the most money in Syracuse, NY.
Average annual salary: $196,660
Average hourly wage: $94.52
Lowest optometrist salary
Optometrists make the least amount of money in Oklahoma, Montana and Idaho.
The lowest-paying area for optometrists in the United States is northeastern Oklahoma as of May 2024.
Average annual salary: $87,230
Average hourly wage: $41.94
What is the job outlook for optometry?
The job outlook for eye doctors is highly favorable. The projected growth rate for optometrists from 2024 to 2034 is 8%, higher than the average growth rate for all occupations combined. Optometry employment levels are forecasted to increase by an average of 2,400 jobs year over year during this period of time.
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