Salary · NJ · SOC 29-1041

Optometrist salary in New Jersey, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for optometrists in New Jersey, 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 New Jersey was $159,040 a year, or $76.46 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $104,730 to $232,960. About 1,380 were employed.

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Optometrist pay in New Jersey vs the US

Optometrist wages in New Jersey and the US, May 2025
Measure	NJ annual	NJ hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$159,040	$76.46	$136,570
Mean (average)	$161,110	$77.46	$141,550
10th percentile	$104,730	$50.35	$74,870
25th percentile	$134,560	$64.69	$109,400
75th percentile	$165,960	$79.79	$165,120
90th percentile	$232,960	$112.00	$202,180

Employment in New Jersey: 1,380. Location quotient: 1.17 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

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

Optometrist salary by metro area in New Jersey

Optometrist median wage by metro area, New Jersey
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Trenton-Princeton, NJ	$155,960	$74.98	70
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$161,030	$77.42	2,580
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$153,980	$74.03	890
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	$150,640	$72.42	100

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

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Optometrist salary in New Jersey

Median pay: $159,040 a year ($76.46 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $104,730 to $232,960 a year

Employed: 1,380

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 New Jersey</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$159,040</strong> a year ($76.46 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $104,730 to $232,960 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 1,380</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/optometrist/nj" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does an Optometrist make per hour in New Jersey?

The median hourly wage was $76.46 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $50.35 and the 90th was $112.00.

What is the average Optometrist salary in New Jersey?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $161,110 a year and a median of $159,040 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do optometrists in New Jersey earn more than the US median?

The New Jersey median of $159,040 is 16% higher than the US median of $136,570 (BLS, May 2025).

How does New Jersey rank for optometrist pay?

New Jersey ranks 6 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.