Salary · NC · SOC 29-1041

Optometrist salary in North Carolina, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for optometrists in North Carolina, 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 North Carolina was $161,560 a year, or $77.67 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $94,320 to $215,340. About 1,140 were employed.

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Optometrist pay in North Carolina vs the US

Optometrist wages in North Carolina and the US, May 2025
Measure	NC annual	NC hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$161,560	$77.67	$136,570
Mean (average)	$161,030	$77.42	$141,550
10th percentile	$94,320	$45.35	$74,870
25th percentile	$123,250	$59.25	$109,400
75th percentile	$193,790	$93.17	$165,120
90th percentile	$215,340	$103.53	$202,180

Employment in North Carolina: 1,140. Location quotient: 0.84 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

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

Optometrist salary by metro area in North Carolina

Optometrist median wage by metro area, North Carolina
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$157,210	$75.58	260
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$163,290	$78.51	240
Wilmington, NC	$163,800	$78.75	120
Winston-Salem, NC	$162,540	$78.14	70
Asheville, NC	$167,980	$80.76	40
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$166,880	$80.23	40
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	$136,920	$65.83	40

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

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Optometrist salary in North Carolina

Median pay: $161,560 a year ($77.67 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $94,320 to $215,340 a year

Employed: 1,140

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 North Carolina</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$161,560</strong> a year ($77.67 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $94,320 to $215,340 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 1,140</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/optometrist/nc" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does an Optometrist make per hour in North Carolina?

The median hourly wage was $77.67 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $45.35 and the 90th was $103.53.

What is the average Optometrist salary in North Carolina?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $161,030 a year and a median of $161,560 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do optometrists in North Carolina earn more than the US median?

The North Carolina median of $161,560 is 18% higher than the US median of $136,570 (BLS, May 2025).

How does North Carolina rank for optometrist pay?

North Carolina ranks 3 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.