Salary · TN · SOC 29-1041

Optometrist salary in Tennessee, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for optometrists in Tennessee, 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 Tennessee was $134,170 a year, or $64.51 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $47,630 to $167,420. About 660 were employed.

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Optometrist pay in Tennessee vs the US

Optometrist wages in Tennessee and the US, May 2025
Measure	TN annual	TN hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$134,170	$64.51	$136,570
Mean (average)	$120,920	$58.14	$141,550
10th percentile	$47,630	$22.90	$74,870
25th percentile	$63,510	$30.53	$109,400
75th percentile	$160,150	$77.00	$165,120
90th percentile	$167,420	$80.49	$202,180

Employment in Tennessee: 660. Location quotient: 0.73 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

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

Optometrist salary by metro area in Tennessee

Optometrist median wage by metro area, Tennessee
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$144,260	$69.36	180
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	$129,080	$62.06	110
Knoxville, TN	$125,090	$60.14	80
Chattanooga, TN-GA	$126,600	$60.87	60
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	$150,420	$72.32	50
Clarksville, TN-KY	$132,200	$63.56	30
Johnson City, TN	$115,210	$55.39	30

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

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Optometrist salary in Tennessee

Median pay: $134,170 a year ($64.51 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $47,630 to $167,420 a year

Employed: 660

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 Tennessee</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$134,170</strong> a year ($64.51 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $47,630 to $167,420 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 660</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/optometrist/tn" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does an Optometrist make per hour in Tennessee?

The median hourly wage was $64.51 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $22.90 and the 90th was $80.49.

What is the average Optometrist salary in Tennessee?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $120,920 a year and a median of $134,170 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do optometrists in Tennessee earn more than the US median?

The Tennessee median of $134,170 is 2% lower than the US median of $136,570 (BLS, May 2025).

How does Tennessee rank for optometrist pay?

Tennessee ranks 30 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.