Salary · SOC 29-1041
Optometrist salary and hourly pay
BLS data for May 2025: median, mean, and percentile pay, per year and per hour, for every state and the largest metro areas.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page
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Optometrist pay in the US
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Median (50th percentile) | $136,570 | $65.66 |
| Mean (average) | $141,550 | $68.05 |
| 10th percentile | $74,870 | $35.99 |
| 25th percentile | $109,400 | $52.59 |
| 75th percentile | $165,120 | $79.39 |
| 90th percentile | $202,180 | $97.20 |
Employment: 42,790.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page
Optometrist salary by state
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $170,310 | $81.88 | 60 |
| Maryland | $165,840 | $79.73 | 780 |
| North Carolina | $161,560 | $77.67 | 1,140 |
| Delaware | $161,270 | $77.54 | 190 |
| New York | $161,140 | $77.47 | 2,390 |
| New Jersey | $159,040 | $76.46 | 1,380 |
| Minnesota | $158,700 | $76.30 | 710 |
| Washington | $157,560 | $75.75 | 760 |
| Hawaii | $154,620 | $74.34 | 230 |
| Maine | $154,110 | $74.09 | 180 |
| Colorado | $152,000 | $73.08 | 880 |
| Massachusetts | $151,730 | $72.95 | 950 |
| Florida | $151,670 | $72.92 | 2,350 |
| Connecticut | $150,340 | $72.28 | 490 |
| South Carolina | $145,950 | $70.17 | 480 |
| Illinois | $145,620 | $70.01 | 1,540 |
| Alabama | $145,090 | $69.75 | 460 |
| New Mexico | $144,660 | $69.55 | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $139,720 | $67.17 | 790 |
| Kansas | $138,580 | $66.63 | 660 |
| Vermont | $137,290 | $66.01 | 90 |
| California | $136,300 | $65.53 | 6,890 |
| Michigan | $135,650 | $65.21 | 1,410 |
| Nevada | $135,650 | $65.22 | 430 |
| Indiana | $135,500 | $65.14 | 1,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $135,400 | $65.10 | 1,720 |
| Ohio | $134,850 | $64.83 | 1,300 |
| District of Columbia | $134,840 | $64.83 | 50 |
| Rhode Island | $134,520 | $64.67 | 250 |
| Tennessee | $134,170 | $64.51 | 660 |
| Missouri | $133,810 | $64.33 | 630 |
| North Dakota | $132,110 | $63.51 | 140 |
| Oregon | $132,020 | $63.47 | 560 |
| Virginia | $131,570 | $63.25 | 1,110 |
| Kentucky | $128,860 | $61.95 | 430 |
| Georgia | $128,830 | $61.94 | 870 |
| Texas | $126,000 | $60.58 | 4,110 |
| New Hampshire | $125,560 | $60.36 | 210 |
| Iowa | $125,380 | $60.28 | 450 |
| Nebraska | $125,040 | $60.12 | 340 |
| Arkansas | $124,470 | $59.84 | 320 |
| Arizona | $122,250 | $58.78 | 1,080 |
| Utah | $119,070 | $57.25 | 380 |
| Louisiana | $118,060 | $56.76 | 250 |
| West Virginia | $118,010 | $56.74 | 150 |
| Wyoming | $111,400 | $53.56 | 90 |
| Mississippi | $108,070 | $51.96 | 240 |
| Montana | $104,280 | $50.14 | 140 |
| Idaho | $103,390 | $49.71 | 160 |
| South Dakota | $102,320 | $49.19 | 190 |
| Oklahoma | $97,350 | $46.80 | 570 |
Download the state table (CSV)
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page
Optometrist salary in the largest metro areas
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page
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Questions
How much does an Optometrist make per hour in the US?
The median hourly wage was $65.66 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $35.99 and the 90th was $97.20.
What is the average Optometrist salary in the US?
BLS reports a mean (average) of $141,550 a year and a median of $136,570 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.
Which state pays optometrists the most?
Alaska has the highest median, $170,310 a year, and Oklahoma the lowest, $97,350 (BLS, May 2025, states with a published median).
Where do these numbers come from?
The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 29-1041. Figures BLS did not publish are left out.