Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
How Much Do Optometrists Make?
The median optometrist salary is $141,268 per year as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data covering 68 U.S. metro areas. Pay ranges from $100,250 in the lowest-paying metro to $167,810 in the highest, with a national mean of $143,307 across roughly 27,300 workers.
This page answers a common U.S. wage question: How Much Do Optometrists Make?. The answer draws on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — the federal survey that captures wages for over 800 occupations across every U.S. metropolitan area. Why BLS OEWS data is the right anchor: alternative wage sources (Glassdoor, levels.fyi, Payscale) are self-reported and skew toward specific roles, industries, or geographies. BLS OEWS is employer-reported, mandatory for businesses above the survey threshold, and uniformly applied across occupations and metros.
The detailed answer below uses the BLS numbers, explains how to read them, and translates the statistical detail into the worker-relevant interpretation of the question.
50th percentile across U.S. metros, employment-weighted
What This Pay Level Means
The 50th percentile (median) is the wage at which half of workers in this occupation earn more and half earn less. It is the right anchor for the typical worker — five-to-ten years of experience, normal scope and seniority, mid-tier employer. Pay above the median requires above-median experience, scope, or employer; pay below means above-median value left on the table.
For new entrants, the 10th percentile (entry-level) is the right benchmark; for early-career workers with 2–5 years, the 25th. For senior specialists and managers, the 75th and 90th percentiles apply. See the related links below for those bands.
Optometrist Salary Snapshot (2026)
| National Median Salary | $139,903 |
| National Mean Salary | $143,307 |
| Lowest-Paying Metro Median | $100,250 |
| Highest-Paying Metro Median | $167,810 |
| Total U.S. Employment | 27,300 |
| Metro Areas Tracked | 68 |
| SOC Code · Category | 29-1041 · Healthcare |
Top-Paying Metros at This Level
| Metro | National Pay |
|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $167,810 |
| Anchorage, AK | $167,000 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $165,810 |
| Buffalo, NY | $165,640 |
| Albany, NY | $164,020 |
What the Numbers Tell You
Geographic pay variation for Optometrists is meaningful but moderate — top metros pay roughly 1.7× the lowest, a $67,560 spread. Cost of living plus a modest premium for high-demand metros explains most of it.
Optometrist is a smaller occupation, with about 27,300 workers tracked. Individual employers can move the local market noticeably.
Other Pay Levels for Optometrists
Each percentile band targets a distinct experience level — see the dedicated page for your career stage:
- Entry-level optometrist salary →
- Junior optometrist salary →
- Senior optometrist salary →
- Top 10% optometrist salary →
How This Salary Is Calculated
Wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program — an annual survey of about 1.2 million U.S. establishments published by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code and Metropolitan Statistical Area. The figure on this page is employment-weighted across 68 BLS-tracked metros for SOC code 29-1041. The mapping from BLS percentiles to experience bands (entry / junior / mid / senior / top 10%) follows the convention used by the U.S. Department of Labor's prevailing wage system. See full methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do optometrists make on average?
The national median optometrist salary is $139,903 per year as of 2026, with a mean of $143,307. Median pay across 68 BLS-tracked metros ranges from $100,250 to $167,810 depending on location.
What is the salary range for optometrists?
Median optometrist pay spans $100,250 to $167,810 across U.S. metros tracked by BLS — a spread of $67,560. Within any single metro, the 10th-to-90th percentile band typically widens that range further.
Where do optometrists earn the most?
The highest-paying metro for optometrists tracked here is Seattle, WA at a median of $167,810. Top markets are typically high-cost coastal metros with deep talent pools.
How does optometrist pay compare to mean salary?
Optometrists have a median of $139,903 and a mean of $143,307 — a $3,404 difference. When mean exceeds median by more than a few percent, a small group of high earners is pulling the average up.
Where does this optometrist salary data come from?
Every wage figure comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — an annual survey of more than 1 million U.S. employers. The data is public domain and the same source the U.S. Department of Labor uses to set H-1B prevailing wages.
The median optometrist salary is $141,268 per year as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data covering 68 U.S. metro areas. Pay ranges from $100,250 in the lowest-paying metro to $167,810 in the highest, with a national mean of $143,307 across roughly 27,300 workers.