Optometrists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for optometrists is $136,570, or $65.66 per hour. About 42,790 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $170,310 in Alaska to $97,350 in Oklahoma.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 51 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $170,310 | $81.88 | 60 | 0.67 |
| 2 | Maryland | $165,840 | $79.73 | 780 | 1.02 |
| 3 | North Carolina | $161,560 | $77.67 | 1,140 | 0.84 |
| 4 | Delaware | $161,270 | $77.54 | 190 | 1.39 |
| 5 | New York | $161,140 | $77.47 | 2,390 | 0.90 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $159,040 | $76.46 | 1,380 | 1.17 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $158,700 | $76.30 | 710 | 0.88 |
| 8 | Washington | $157,560 | $75.75 | 760 | 0.78 |
| 9 | Hawaii | $154,620 | $74.34 | 230 | 1.32 |
| 10 | Maine | $154,110 | $74.09 | 180 | 1.02 |
| 11 | Colorado | $152,000 | $73.08 | 880 | 1.12 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $151,730 | $72.95 | 950 | 0.95 |
| 13 | Florida | $151,670 | $72.92 | 2,350 | 0.86 |
| 14 | Connecticut | $150,340 | $72.28 | 490 | 1.06 |
| 15 | South Carolina | $145,950 | $70.17 | 480 | 0.76 |
| 16 | Illinois | $145,620 | $70.01 | 1,540 | 0.92 |
| 17 | Alabama | $145,090 | $69.75 | 460 | 0.78 |
| 18 | New Mexico | $144,660 | $69.55 | 130 | 0.53 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $139,720 | $67.17 | 790 | 0.97 |
| 20 | Kansas | $138,580 | $66.63 | 660 | 1.66 |
| 21 | Vermont | $137,290 | $66.01 | 90 | 1.12 |
| 22 | California | $136,300 | $65.53 | 6,890 | 1.37 |
| 23 | Nevada | $135,650 | $65.22 | 430 | 1.00 |
| 24 | Michigan | $135,650 | $65.21 | 1,410 | 1.16 |
| 25 | Indiana | $135,500 | $65.14 | 1,040 | 1.18 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $135,400 | $65.10 | 1,720 | 1.03 |
| 27 | Ohio | $134,850 | $64.83 | 1,300 | 0.85 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $134,840 | $64.83 | 50 | 0.26 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $134,520 | $64.67 | 250 | 1.82 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $134,170 | $64.51 | 660 | 0.73 |
| 31 | Missouri | $133,810 | $64.33 | 630 | 0.78 |
| 32 | North Dakota | $132,110 | $63.51 | 140 | 1.18 |
| 33 | Oregon | $132,020 | $63.47 | 560 | 1.04 |
| 34 | Virginia | $131,570 | $63.25 | 1,110 | 0.98 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $128,860 | $61.95 | 430 | 0.79 |
| 36 | Georgia | $128,830 | $61.94 | 870 | 0.65 |
| 37 | Texas | $126,000 | $60.58 | 4,110 | 1.06 |
| 38 | New Hampshire | $125,560 | $60.36 | 210 | 1.12 |
| 39 | Iowa | $125,380 | $60.28 | 450 | 1.05 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $125,040 | $60.12 | 340 | 1.20 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $124,470 | $59.84 | 320 | 0.90 |
| 42 | Arizona | $122,250 | $58.78 | 1,080 | 1.21 |
| 43 | Utah | $119,070 | $57.25 | 380 | 0.79 |
| 44 | Louisiana | $118,060 | $56.76 | 250 | 0.47 |
| 45 | West Virginia | $118,010 | $56.74 | 150 | 0.80 |
| 46 | Wyoming | $111,400 | $53.56 | 90 | 1.19 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $108,070 | $51.96 | 240 | 0.74 |
| 48 | Montana | $104,280 | $50.14 | 140 | 1.02 |
| 49 | Idaho | $103,390 | $49.71 | 160 | 0.68 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $102,320 | $49.19 | 190 | 1.50 |
| 51 | Oklahoma | $97,350 | $46.80 | 570 | 1.21 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do optometrists make?
The median annual wage for optometrists in the United States is $136,570, or $65.66 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $74,870, and the top 10% earn $202,180.
How many optometrists are employed in the U.S.?
About 42,790 people work as optometrists nationwide.
Which state pays optometrists the most?
Alaska pays the most at a median of $170,310, followed by Maryland ($165,840) and North Carolina ($161,560).
Which state pays optometrists the least?
Oklahoma has the lowest median at $97,350.
Where are optometrists jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Rhode Island at 1.82×.