Contents
Optometrist Salary
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| Hourly Wage | $25.28 | $36.11 | $47.03 | $61.77 | $88.72 |
| Annual Wage | $52,600 | $75,100 | $97,800 | $128,500 | $184,500 |
How much do optometrists make? Optometrists are charged with examining patients’ eyes in order to diagnose and treat vision problems, eye diseases and other eye disorders. They may prescribe eyeglasses or contact lenses if needed. Optometrists work in a variety of settings, including independent offices, retail stores and clinics.
Someone interested in becoming an optometrist must first complete three years of undergraduate work. It is then necessary to successfully complete a Doctor of Optometry program in order to obtain a license to practice optometry. A breakdown of the full process of becoming an Optometrist can be found here.
Salary
The median annual optometrist salary, which is the amount where the same number of optometrists earn less than that amount and the same number earn more, is $97,820. The top 10% of optometrists earn $184,530; the lowest 10% earn less than $52,590.
Hours and Work Environment
Optometrists generally maintain normal business hours during the week. It may be necessary for an optometrist to work outside normal business hours in order to meet the emergency needs of patients who suffered an eye injury.
Factors Impacting Salary
Factors that impact salary include years of experience in the field, choice of setting in which to practice, and specialized areas of practice.
Setting
In general, optometrists who work in a salaried position earn more than those just entering into private practice. Optometrists with a number of years of experience who are in private practice have the opportunity to increase their earnings yearly by increasing the number of patients they treat.
Specialized Training
Optometrists may decide to obtain advanced clinical training in a specialized area of optometry. These areas include pediatric optometry, geriatric optometry and low vision care. Specializing in one specific area of optometry may increase one’s ability to earn a higher income.
Job Outlook
Job opportunities for optometrists are expected to increase by 24% between 2012 and 2022. This is due in part to the expectation of an increased need for vision care for an aging population. This increase would lead to at least 8,100 jobs.
Salary Data
Top Paying Industries
| Industry | Employment | % of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean salary |
| Offices of Physicians | 6,250 | 0.26 | $64.22 | $133,580 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 250 | <.005 | $61.82 | $128,580 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 780 | 0.12 | $57.37 | $119,340 |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 18,760 | 2.53 | $52.15 | $108,460 |
| Department Stores | 60 | <.005 | $50.65 | $105,350 |
Salary By State
| State | 10% | 25% | Median | 75% | 90% | Jobs (2010) | Jobs (2020) | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $35,400 | $61,200 | $82,900 | $104,100 | $146,000 | 550 | 720 | +30% |
| Alaska | $60,800 | $101,400 | $159,800 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 30 | 40 | +37% |
| Arizona | $58,300 | $80,400 | $91,500 | $118,200 | $173,000 | 630 | 790 | +26% |
| Arkansas | $44,400 | $59,200 | $75,900 | $113,500 | $180,000 | 540 | 570 | +6% |
| California | $52,000 | $71,800 | $92,600 | $123,600 | $150,300 | 4,100 | 4,800 | +17% |
| Colorado | $51,500 | $73,900 | $89,000 | $106,400 | $136,600 | 1,010 | 1,260 | +25% |
| Connecticut | $59,900 | $94,900 | $129,900 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 390 | 450 | +16% |
| Delaware | $76,300 | $84,200 | $98,100 | $129,800 | $154,000 | 110 | 140 | +24% |
| District of Columbia | $82,700 | $92,800 | $108,400 | $156,100 | $187,200+ | 90 | 110 | +23% |
| Florida | $37,200 | $66,900 | $99,000 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 1,610 | 1,930 | +20% |
| Georgia | $57,200 | $74,800 | $90,100 | $132,400 | $187,200+ | 370 | 430 | +15% |
| Hawaii | $57,300 | $80,100 | $118,100 | $136,900 | $147,300 | 360 | 430 | +19% |
| Idaho | $50,000 | $60,200 | $70,900 | $88,200 | $112,800 | 190 | 250 | +28% |
| Illinois | $65,600 | $85,200 | $106,000 | $129,700 | $148,500 | 2,320 | 2,530 | +9% |
| Iowa | $52,200 | $74,300 | $98,600 | $132,900 | $179,400 | 530 | 700 | +32% |
| Kansas | $47,000 | $84,300 | $102,500 | $125,900 | $168,200 | 510 | 680 | +34% |
| Kentucky | $45,000 | $64,500 | $83,500 | $98,200 | $145,200 | 500 | 660 | +32% |
| Louisiana | $29,400 | $53,000 | $77,600 | $129,600 | $187,200+ | 320 | 390 | +20% |
| Maine | $73,500 | $98,600 | $111,100 | $130,600 | $187,200+ | 150 | 160 | +3% |
| Maryland | $34,800 | $65,900 | $110,100 | $140,500 | $174,300 | 580 | 700 | +20% |
| Massachusetts | $56,200 | $84,200 | $103,100 | $117,700 | $143,100 | 730 | 850 | +16% |
| Michigan | $52,600 | $63,900 | $97,400 | $119,400 | $162,100 | 880 | 1,030 | +18% |
| Minnesota | $53,100 | $59,300 | $90,200 | $112,800 | $144,900 | 790 | 1,030 | +31% |
| Mississippi | $29,300 | $56,300 | $90,700 | $130,800 | $150,400 | 390 | 450 | +14% |
| Missouri | $60,500 | $69,800 | $94,900 | $148,100 | $187,200+ | 820 | 870 | +6% |
| Montana | $37,600 | $48,500 | $79,100 | $110,700 | $154,200 | 150 | 180 | +23% |
| Nebraska | $62,700 | $79,600 | $97,500 | $147,500 | $187,200+ | 380 | 450 | +19% |
| Nevada | $51,200 | $56,700 | $81,200 | $109,100 | $167,900 | 170 | 190 | +15% |
| New Hampshire | $75,700 | $100,500 | $116,100 | $143,300 | $187,200+ | 140 | 180 | +27% |
| New Jersey | $77,900 | $88,000 | $102,600 | $115,800 | $133,900 | 540 | 680 | +25% |
| New Mexico | $46,200 | $68,100 | $87,500 | $111,600 | $137,400 | 190 | 230 | +21% |
| New York | $69,800 | $87,200 | $107,000 | $129,100 | $186,600 | 2,130 | 2,480 | +17% |
| North Carolina | $83,600 | $97,700 | $119,100 | $170,900 | $187,200+ | 960 | 1,120 | +17% |
| North Dakota | $54,600 | $70,200 | $105,200 | $157,100 | $187,200+ | 140 | 160 | +19% |
| Ohio | $73,900 | $89,300 | $109,700 | $139,300 | $187,200+ | 820 | 980 | +19% |
| Oklahoma | $30,100 | $64,900 | $92,700 | $134,900 | $181,900 | 640 | 780 | +22% |
| Oregon | $74,400 | $85,100 | $100,600 | $117,100 | $143,900 | 370 | 470 | 0% |
| Pennsylvania | $45,900 | $74,900 | $99,900 | $119,500 | $150,700 | 1,540 | 1,710 | +11% |
| Rhode Island | $81,700 | $87,300 | $96,700 | $113,000 | $136,400 | 130 | 150 | +17% |
| South Carolina | $51,800 | $64,800 | $89,500 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 450 | 600 | +34% |
| South Dakota | $69,600 | $82,500 | $97,400 | $187,200+ | $187,200+ | 240 | 280 | +19% |
| Tennessee | $54,000 | $85,500 | $107,100 | $134,400 | $168,800 | 530 | 650 | +24% |
| Texas | $56,200 | $67,000 | $80,300 | $100,500 | $162,800 | 2,440 | 3,100 | +27% |
| Utah | $54,100 | $81,100 | $93,500 | $109,100 | $121,300 | 230 | 310 | +37% |
| Vermont | $70,400 | $91,200 | $108,100 | $122,000 | $141,800 | 80 | 90 | +16% |
| Virginia | $65,200 | $89,400 | $112,700 | $143,700 | $187,200+ | 850 | 1,150 | +36% |
| Washington | $56,000 | $85,400 | $108,800 | $146,900 | $187,200+ | 510 | 670 | +32% |
| West Virginia | $38,900 | $56,100 | $89,500 | $130,900 | $164,600 | 90 | 100 | +11% |
| Wisconsin | $46,400 | $77,100 | $97,900 | $117,200 | $165,600 | 760 | 850 | +12% |
| Wyoming | $46,900 | $55,700 | $77,500 | $97,400 | $138,800 | 80 | 100 | +29% |
