Optometrists Salary 2025: $139,903 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
$139,903 per year is the national median annual wage for optometrists (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $67/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $121,350 to $227,540. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 29-1041.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $139,903
- Median hourly wage
- $67/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $143,307
- Total US employment
- 27,300
- Top-paying metro
- Seattle, WA, WA ($167,810)
- BLS SOC code
- 29-1041
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Optometrist (SOC 29-1041) is a high-paying U.S. occupation: national median wage of $139,903 across 27,300 reported workers per the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey.
Cross-city wage variation runs moderate — $100,250 to $167,810 median across 68 cities, about 67% above the floor. The spread is large enough to matter for relocation decisions but not large enough to dominate them. Optometrist is in the Healthcare category — wages here reflect a regulated labor market with state-specific licensing and credentialing, which constrains supply more than it does in unregulated fields.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Optometrists salaries range from $100,250 to $167,810 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Optometrists Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $121,350 | $139,934 | $167,810 | $197,675 | $227,540 | $112,323 | 420 |
| Anchorage, AK | $78,190 | $113,714 | $167,000 | $185,840 | $204,680 | $131,496 | 30 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $62,110 | $103,590 | $165,810 | $187,515 | $209,220 | $176,394 | 70 |
| Buffalo, NY | $106,650 | $130,246 | $165,640 | $168,260 | $170,880 | $179,070 | 160 |
| Albany, NY | $65,960 | $105,184 | $164,020 | $178,815 | $193,610 | $162,880 | 130 |
| Raleigh, NC | $100,240 | $125,460 | $163,290 | $188,575 | $213,860 | $163,617 | 240 |
| Birmingham, AL | $73,750 | $109,406 | $162,890 | $179,745 | $196,600 | $180,188 | 110 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $100,340 | $124,828 | $161,560 | $186,025 | $210,490 | $169,884 | 150 |
| New York, NY | $104,730 | $127,250 | $161,030 | $182,040 | $203,050 | $86,020 | 2,580 |
| Orlando, FL | $85,620 | $115,408 | $160,090 | $176,895 | $193,700 | $155,276 | 290 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $95,640 | $121,300 | $159,790 | $178,040 | $196,290 | $150,461 | 470 |
| Rochester, NY | $99,030 | $123,170 | $159,380 | $173,535 | $187,690 | $171,561 | 120 |
| Denver, CO | $79,670 | $111,054 | $158,130 | $186,375 | $214,620 | $140,186 | 470 |
| Tucson, AZ | $97,750 | $121,710 | $157,650 | $163,360 | $169,070 | $165,252 | 80 |
| Charlotte, NC | $39,280 | $86,452 | $157,210 | $183,500 | $209,790 | $162,575 | 260 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $66,760 | $102,852 | $156,990 | $203,250 | $249,510 | $172,138 | 300 |
| Boston, MA | $95,780 | $119,456 | $154,970 | $177,015 | $199,060 | $101,887 | 710 |
| Washington, DC | $54,120 | $94,348 | $154,690 | $189,365 | $224,040 | $101,237 | 770 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $91,580 | $116,540 | $153,980 | $174,815 | $195,650 | $130,051 | 890 |
| Hartford, CT | $99,840 | $120,040 | $150,340 | $154,475 | $158,610 | $133,517 | 190 |
| Greenville, SC | $44,470 | $86,434 | $149,380 | $159,150 | $168,920 | $165,794 | 70 |
| Chicago, IL | $93,350 | $114,262 | $145,630 | $165,940 | $186,250 | $135,722 | 1,160 |
| Baltimore, MD | $49,260 | $87,264 | $144,270 | $158,755 | $173,240 | $126,331 | 330 |
| Nashville, TN | $51,170 | $88,406 | $144,260 | $158,060 | $171,860 | $143,829 | 180 |
| Detroit, MI | $117,240 | $127,420 | $142,690 | $178,270 | $213,850 | $150,042 | 610 |
| San Francisco, CA | $107,780 | $121,700 | $142,580 | $181,965 | $221,350 | $79,388 | 1,180 |
| Reno, NV | $99,540 | $116,216 | $141,230 | $161,375 | $181,520 | $132,610 | 80 |
| Dallas, TX | $73,320 | $100,308 | $140,790 | $153,570 | $166,350 | $135,245 | 870 |
| Providence, RI | $77,210 | $102,290 | $139,910 | $177,775 | $215,640 | $117,178 | 310 |
| Lexington, KY | $78,920 | $102,976 | $139,060 | $207,960 | $276,860 | $152,311 | 40 |
| Sacramento, CA | $105,860 | $119,124 | $139,020 | $179,045 | $219,070 | $111,484 | 510 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $73,540 | $99,700 | $138,940 | $174,235 | $209,530 | $83,699 | 2,360 |
| Kansas City, MO | $93,640 | $111,616 | $138,580 | $157,305 | $176,030 | $145,262 | 450 |
| Tampa, FL | $83,660 | $105,448 | $138,130 | $172,540 | $206,950 | $138,685 | 350 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $71,100 | $97,696 | $137,590 | $176,440 | $215,290 | $152,708 | 340 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $50,040 | $84,924 | $137,250 | $154,725 | $172,200 | $135,355 | 150 |
| Fresno, CA | $100,760 | $115,148 | $136,730 | $174,625 | $212,520 | $129,602 | 100 |
| Portland, OR | $89,700 | $108,320 | $136,250 | $151,560 | $166,870 | $104,727 | 350 |
| New Orleans, LA | $51,140 | $85,164 | $136,200 | $167,605 | $199,010 | $142,023 | 50 |
| Louisville, KY | $96,370 | $112,110 | $135,720 | $166,525 | $197,330 | $150,466 | 230 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $74,290 | $98,758 | $135,460 | $156,100 | $176,740 | $124,275 | 310 |
| San Jose, CA | $134,370 | $134,754 | $135,330 | $171,525 | $207,720 | $69,116 | 580 |
| St. Louis, MO | $71,500 | $96,936 | $135,090 | $164,260 | $193,430 | $150,100 | 340 |
| Columbus, OH | $67,350 | $93,758 | $133,370 | $172,675 | $211,980 | $143,255 | 260 |
| San Diego, CA | $102,250 | $114,662 | $133,280 | $170,730 | $208,180 | $83,196 | 540 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $75,030 | $97,870 | $132,130 | $169,590 | $207,050 | $135,657 | 210 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $64,680 | $91,600 | $131,980 | $163,680 | $195,380 | $126,297 | 100 |
| Richmond, VA | $64,000 | $90,832 | $131,080 | $161,425 | $191,770 | $128,384 | 180 |
| Austin, TX | $56,310 | $85,970 | $130,460 | $156,435 | $182,410 | $126,660 | 350 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $104,170 | $114,498 | $129,990 | $168,160 | $206,330 | $106,201 | 510 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $94,760 | $108,816 | $129,900 | $147,275 | $164,650 | $140,737 | 340 |
| Des Moines, IA | $67,930 | $92,670 | $129,780 | $154,050 | $178,320 | $139,100 | 110 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $99,980 | $111,736 | $129,370 | $163,185 | $197,000 | $128,598 | 100 |
| Memphis, TN | $48,650 | $80,822 | $129,080 | $148,715 | $168,350 | $153,667 | 110 |
| Atlanta, GA | $51,030 | $82,150 | $128,830 | $159,220 | $189,610 | $129,869 | 450 |
| Madison, WI | $102,200 | $112,608 | $128,220 | $162,450 | $196,680 | $123,526 | 100 |
| Omaha, NE | $62,090 | $88,098 | $127,110 | $167,055 | $207,000 | $138,464 | 140 |
| Spokane, WA | $88,180 | $103,380 | $126,180 | $144,180 | $162,180 | $129,548 | 60 |
| Miami, FL | $58,410 | $85,258 | $125,530 | $160,115 | $194,700 | $101,974 | 820 |
| Knoxville, TN | $47,830 | $78,734 | $125,090 | $145,010 | $164,930 | $138,527 | 80 |
| Houston, TX | $96,020 | $107,468 | $124,640 | $143,325 | $162,010 | $129,161 | 1,250 |
| Wichita, KS | $82,630 | $99,154 | $123,940 | $158,640 | $193,340 | $147,548 | 120 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $99,570 | $106,126 | $115,960 | $144,060 | $172,160 | $115,154 | 860 |
| Little Rock, AR | $68,770 | $87,006 | $114,360 | $144,135 | $173,910 | $129,660 | 70 |
| San Antonio, TX | $45,190 | $71,826 | $111,780 | $134,900 | $158,020 | $122,164 | 730 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $74,580 | $86,696 | $104,870 | $137,095 | $169,320 | $121,237 | 170 |
| Boise, ID | $62,000 | $78,756 | $103,890 | $146,730 | $189,570 | $101,753 | 60 |
| Tulsa, OK | $76,630 | $86,078 | $100,250 | $140,445 | $180,640 | $115,495 | 190 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Optometrist is $139,903 as of 2025. The national mean (average) is $143,307. Salaries range from $100,250 to $167,810 depending on city and cost of living.
Optometrist salaries vary significantly by metro area. The highest-paying cities offer median salaries well above the national average of $139,903, though cost of living should be factored in. Check the city breakdown table above for COL-adjusted figures.
There are approximately 27,300 Optometrist positions in the US across 68 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Optometrist positions at the 90th percentile earn significantly more than the median, suggesting strong income growth potential with experience and specialization. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile indicates the impact that skills, location, and seniority have on compensation.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.