Optometrists Salary 2025: $139,903 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
- Official U.S. BLS OEWS data (May 2025)
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- Not self-reported estimates
$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.
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The national median wage for optometrists (BLS SOC 29-1041) is $139,903 per year — about $67/hour — across 27,300 workers in 68 U.S. metros in the BLS OEWS May 2025 release. The mean wage of $143,307 sits above the median, which means a minority of high earners pulls the average up — the median is the more honest benchmark for a typical offer.
Experience drives the range as much as anything: the 10th percentile earns $85,792 while the 90th earns $195,901 — a 2.3× gap from entry-level to the top of the field. Most optometrists land in the $107,982–$168,584 band (25th–75th percentile), which is the right anchor when you size up an offer.
Location matters too. Seattle, WA, WA posts the highest median at $167,810, versus $100,250 in Tulsa, OK, OK — a 67% gap. But adjusted for cost of living, Birmingham, AL delivers the strongest real purchasing power ($180,188 in national-average dollars), which can flip the nominal ranking for anyone weighing a move.
In Healthcare, optometrist wages reflect a regulated labor market: state licensing and credentialing constrain supply, so pay holds up more evenly across regions than in unregulated fields. The figures here are base wage and exclude shift differentials and overtime.
Optometrists Salary by Experience Level (2025)
BLS OEWS doesn’t publish wages by years of experience, but its national percentile bands map cleanly to career stages. Here’s what optometrists earn from entry-level to the top of the field.
| Career stage | Typical experience | BLS percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level | 0–2 years | 10th | $85,792 |
| Junior / early-career | 2–5 years | 25th | $107,982 |
| Mid-career | 5–10 years | 50th (median) | $141,268 |
| Senior | 10–15 years | 75th | $168,584 |
| Top earners | 15+ years | 90th | $195,901 |
Experience bands are SalaryTruth’s interpretation of BLS OEWS percentiles, not a separate BLS series. Actual pay varies by employer, specialization, and region.
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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Optometrist & H-1B Prevailing Wage
Sponsoring or filing an H-1B, PERM, or E-3 case? See the DOL prevailing-wage levels (1–4) for Optometrist, including the 2026 proposed increase.
Optometrist prevailing wage in Seattle, WA →Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Optometrist is $139,903 as of 2025 (BLS OEWS). The national mean (average) is $143,307. Salaries range from $100,250 to $167,810 median depending on city and cost of living.
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) earn about $85,792 per year nationally. Pay rises with experience to a median of $139,903, $168,584 at the 75th percentile, and $195,901 for the top 10% of earners.
The median optometrist earns about $67/hour, based on the $139,903 annual median over a standard 2,080-hour work year (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Seattle, WA, WA posts the highest median for Optometrist at $167,810, well above the national median of $139,903. Cost of living matters, though — see the COL-adjusted column in the city table above, which can reorder the rankings.
There are approximately 27,300 Optometrist positions in the US across 68 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey.
The 90th percentile optometrist earns $195,901 — about 2.3× the $85,792 entry-level wage. A spread that wide signals real income growth potential with experience, specialization, and location.
No. BLS OEWS reports base wages only — bonuses, commissions, overtime, and equity are excluded. For roles where variable pay is common, total compensation runs above the figures shown here.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.