The average salary for an optometrist in the United States is around $136,570 per year.
Avg Salary
Optometrists earn an average yearly salary of $136,570.
Wages typically start from $74,870 and go up to $202,180.
106% above national average Updated in 2025
Optometrist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level optometrist earnings begin at:
$97.20 per hour
$202,180 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level optometrist earnings begin at:
$79.39 per hour
$165,120 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level optometrist earnings begin at:
$65.66 per hour
$136,570 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level optometrist earnings begin at:
$52.59 per hour
$109,400 per year
10th percentile
Starting level optometrist earnings begin at:
$35.99 per hour
$74,870 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Optometrist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $97,350 |
| Puerto Rico | $42,760 |
| Alaska | $170,310 |
| Maryland | $165,840 |
| North Carolina | $161,560 |
| Delaware | $161,270 |
| New York | $161,140 |
| New Jersey | $159,040 |
| Minnesota | $158,700 |
| Washington | $157,560 |
| Hawaii | $154,620 |
| Maine | $154,110 |
| Colorado | $152,000 |
| Massachusetts | $151,730 |
| Florida | $151,670 |
| Connecticut | $150,340 |
| South Carolina | $145,950 |
| Illinois | $145,620 |
| Alabama | $145,090 |
| New Mexico | $144,660 |
| Wisconsin | $139,720 |
| Kansas | $138,580 |
| Vermont | $137,290 |
| California | $136,300 |
| Michigan | $135,650 |
| Nevada | $135,650 |
| Indiana | $135,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $135,400 |
| Ohio | $134,850 |
| District of Columbia | $134,840 |
| Rhode Island | $134,520 |
| Tennessee | $134,170 |
| Missouri | $133,810 |
| North Dakota | $132,110 |
| Oregon | $132,020 |
| Virginia | $131,570 |
| Kentucky | $128,860 |
| Georgia | $128,830 |
| Texas | $126,000 |
| New Hampshire | $125,560 |
| Iowa | $125,380 |
| Nebraska | $125,040 |
| Arkansas | $124,470 |
| Arizona | $122,250 |
| Utah | $119,070 |
| Louisiana | $118,060 |
| West Virginia | $118,010 |
| Wyoming | $111,400 |
| Mississippi | $108,070 |
| Montana | $104,280 |
| Idaho | $103,390 |
| South Dakota | $102,320 |
How do optometrist salaries compare to similar careers?
Optometrists earn 12% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than nurse anesthetists but more than health services managers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Nurse anesthetist salary | $237K |
| Dentist salary | $171K |
| Veterinarian salary | $130K |
| Optometrist salary | $137K |
| Physician assistant salary | $136K |
| Anesthesiologist assistant salary | $136K |
| Healthcare administrator salary | $124K |
| Health services manager salary | $124K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)