How much does an optometrist make? Optometrist salary and hourly pay
An optometrist in the US earns a median of $136,570 a year, about $65.66 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $74,870 and the top 10% earn over $202,180. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Alaska, has a median of $170,310.
Optometrist pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does an optometrist make an hour?
The median optometrist earns $65.66 an hour. Hourly pay ranges from about $35.99 for the lowest-paid 10% to $97.20 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $74,870 | $35.99 |
| Lower 25% | $109,400 | $52.59 |
| Median (typical) | $136,570 | $65.66 |
| Upper 25% | $165,120 | $79.39 |
| Top 10% | $202,180 | $97.20 |
Optometrist salary by state
Median annual pay for optometrists in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $145,090 | $69.75 |
| Alaska | $170,310 | $81.88 |
| Arizona | $122,250 | $58.77 |
| Arkansas | $124,470 | $59.84 |
| California | $136,300 | $65.53 |
| Colorado | $152,000 | $73.08 |
| Connecticut | $150,340 | $72.28 |
| Delaware | $161,270 | $77.53 |
| District of Columbia | $134,840 | $64.83 |
| Florida | $151,670 | $72.92 |
| Georgia | $128,830 | $61.94 |
| Hawaii | $154,620 | $74.34 |
| Idaho | $103,390 | $49.71 |
| Illinois | $145,620 | $70.01 |
| Indiana | $135,500 | $65.14 |
| Iowa | $125,380 | $60.28 |
| Kansas | $138,580 | $66.62 |
| Kentucky | $128,860 | $61.95 |
| Louisiana | $118,060 | $56.76 |
| Maine | $154,110 | $74.09 |
| Maryland | $165,840 | $79.73 |
| Massachusetts | $151,730 | $72.95 |
| Michigan | $135,650 | $65.22 |
| Minnesota | $158,700 | $76.30 |
| Mississippi | $108,070 | $51.96 |
| Missouri | $133,810 | $64.33 |
| Montana | $104,280 | $50.13 |
| Nebraska | $125,040 | $60.12 |
| Nevada | $135,650 | $65.22 |
| New Hampshire | $125,560 | $60.37 |
| New Jersey | $159,040 | $76.46 |
| New Mexico | $144,660 | $69.55 |
| New York | $161,140 | $77.47 |
| North Carolina | $161,560 | $77.67 |
| North Dakota | $132,110 | $63.51 |
| Ohio | $134,850 | $64.83 |
| Oklahoma | $97,350 | $46.80 |
| Oregon | $132,020 | $63.47 |
| Pennsylvania | $135,400 | $65.10 |
| Rhode Island | $134,520 | $64.67 |
| South Carolina | $145,950 | $70.17 |
| South Dakota | $102,320 | $49.19 |
| Tennessee | $134,170 | $64.50 |
| Texas | $126,000 | $60.58 |
| Utah | $119,070 | $57.25 |
| Vermont | $137,290 | $66.00 |
| Virginia | $131,570 | $63.25 |
| Washington | $157,560 | $75.75 |
| West Virginia | $118,010 | $56.74 |
| Wisconsin | $139,720 | $67.17 |
| Wyoming | $111,400 | $53.56 |
Highest-paying states for optometrists
- Alaska: $170,310 median
- Maryland: $165,840 median
- North Carolina: $161,560 median
- Delaware: $161,270 median
- New York: $161,140 median
The lowest medians are in Oklahoma ($97,350), South Dakota ($102,320), Idaho ($103,390), Montana ($104,280), Mississippi ($108,070). The most optometrist jobs are in California (6,890 jobs), Texas (4,110 jobs), New York (2,390 jobs), Florida (2,350 jobs), Pennsylvania (1,720 jobs).
How much does an optometrist make a month?
At the median salary of $136,570, an optometrist earns about $11,381 a month, $5,253 every two weeks or $2,626 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced optometrist pay
New optometrists typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $74,870 a year and the lowest 25% under $109,400. The top 25% earn over $165,120 and the top 10% over $202,180. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Optometrist salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Optometrist | $136,570 |
| Anesthesiologist | $391,490 |
| Veterinarian | $130,100 |
| Chiropractor | $79,200 |
| Psychiatrist | $281,870 |
| Psychologist | $100,580 |
| Vet tech | $47,380 |
Common questions
How much does an optometrist make?
The US median is $136,570 a year ($65.66 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does an optometrist make an hour?
The median is about $65.66 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $35.99 and the top 10% about $97.20 an hour.
Which state pays optometrists the most?
Alaska has the highest median at $170,310, followed by Maryland ($165,840) and North Carolina ($161,560).
How much does an optometrist make a month?
At the US median of $136,570 a year, about $11,381 a month or $5,253 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level optometrist make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $74,870 a year and the lowest 25% under $109,400, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of optometrists make?
The top 10% earn over $202,180 a year; the top 25% earn over $165,120.
How much does an optometrist make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $136,300 in California, $126,000 in Texas, $151,670 in Florida, $161,140 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 29-1041, “Optometrists”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. Note: BLS counts only employees, not self-employed optometrists or business owners, whose income can be quite different. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.