Salary · IL · SOC 29-1041

Optometrist salary in Illinois, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for optometrists in Illinois, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

The median pay for optometrists in Illinois was $145,620 a year, or $70.01 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $93,350 to $190,620. About 1,540 were employed.

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Optometrist pay in Illinois vs the US

Optometrist wages in Illinois and the US, May 2025
Measure	IL annual	IL hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$145,620	$70.01	$136,570
Mean (average)	$143,720	$69.10	$141,550
10th percentile	$93,350	$44.88	$74,870
25th percentile	$129,310	$62.17	$109,400
75th percentile	$162,650	$78.20	$165,120
90th percentile	$190,620	$91.64	$202,180

Employment in Illinois: 1,540. Location quotient: 0.92 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Optometrist salary by metro area in Illinois

Optometrist median wage by metro area, Illinois
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$145,630	$70.01	1,160
Peoria, IL	$166,600	$80.10	50
Bloomington, IL	$132,740	$63.82	40
St. Louis, MO-IL	$135,090	$64.95	340
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	$128,890	$61.97	40

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Optometrist salary in Illinois

Median pay: $145,620 a year ($70.01 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $93,350 to $190,620 a year

Employed: 1,540

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

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<div style="font:14px/1.45 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#222;border:1px solid #E6E6EE;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:360px;background:#fff"><div style="font-weight:600;font-size:15px;margin-bottom:6px">Optometrist salary in Illinois</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$145,620</strong> a year ($70.01 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $93,350 to $190,620 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 1,540</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/optometrist/il" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does an Optometrist make per hour in Illinois?

The median hourly wage was $70.01 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $44.88 and the 90th was $91.64.

What is the average Optometrist salary in Illinois?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $143,720 a year and a median of $145,620 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do optometrists in Illinois earn more than the US median?

The Illinois median of $145,620 is 7% higher than the US median of $136,570 (BLS, May 2025).

How does Illinois rank for optometrist pay?

Illinois ranks 16 of 51 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for optometrists (BLS, May 2025).

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.