Outpaid

Optometrists salary

The BLS estimates 42,790 Optometrists jobs in the U.S. with a median base pay of $136,570 (May 2025, SOC 29-1041). Across 40 metros with published figures, medians range from $111,780 in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX to $167,810 in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA.

OPTOMETRISTS · UNITED STATES · BLS
BLS · UNITED STATES · ALL EMPLOYERS, ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS
P10$74,870P25$109,400MEDIAN$136,570P75$165,120P90$202,180
30 SECONDS · NO SIGNUP · ON-DEVICE

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HIGHEST-PAYING METROS

  1. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$167,810 · 420 jobs
  2. Raleigh-Cary, NC$163,290 · 240 jobs
  3. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$161,030 · 2,580 jobs
  4. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL$160,090 · 290 jobs
  5. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$159,790 · 470 jobs
  6. Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$158,130 · 470 jobs
  7. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$157,210 · 260 jobs
  8. Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$156,990 · 300 jobs
  9. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$154,970 · 710 jobs
  10. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$154,690 · 770 jobs

LARGEST METROS

  1. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$161,030 · 2,580 jobs
  2. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$138,940 · 2,360 jobs
  3. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$124,640 · 1,250 jobs
  4. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$142,580 · 1,180 jobs
  5. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$145,630 · 1,160 jobs
  6. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$153,980 · 890 jobs
  7. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$140,790 · 870 jobs
  8. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$115,960 · 860 jobs
  9. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$125,530 · 820 jobs
  10. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$154,690 · 770 jobs

EMPLOYERS WITH THE MOST VISA-SPONSORED FILINGS FOR THIS JOB

ALL METROS (A–Z)

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN · Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ · San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

Questions

What is the median Optometrists salary in the U.S.?

$136,570 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half earn $109,400–$165,120.

Where do Optometrists earn the most?

Highest metro medians: Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($167,810), Raleigh-Cary, NC ($163,290), New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ($161,030). Cost of living differs, so compare offers locally.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025 (metro, state and national estimates). Employer filing counts: U.S. DOL OFLC LCA disclosure data FY2026 Q3, visa-sponsored positions only.