The average salary for an optometrist in District of Columbia is around $134,840 per year.
Avg Salary
Optometrists earn an average yearly salary of $134,840.
Wages typically start from $102,570 and go up to $207,570.
62% above national average Updated in 2025
Optometrist earnings by seniority
Top-level optometrist earnings begin at:
$99.79 per hour
$207,570 per year
Senior-level optometrist earnings begin at:
$78.40 per hour
$163,070 per year
Mid-level optometrist earnings begin at:
$64.83 per hour
$134,840 per year
Junior-level optometrist earnings begin at:
$54.34 per hour
$113,030 per year
Starting level optometrist earnings begin at:
$49.31 per hour
$102,570 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 about the same as related careers in District of Columbia. On average, they make less than health services managers but more than clinical psychologists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Health services manager salary | $155K |
| Veterinarian salary | $135K |
| Nurse practitioner salary | $136K |
| Anesthesiologist assistant salary | $135K |
| Physician assistant salary | $135K |
| Optometrist salary | $135K |
| Pharmacist salary | $153K |
| Informatics nurse specialist salary | $117K |
| Dental hygienist salary | $137K |
| Clinical psychologist salary | $107K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)




