SOC 29-1041 · Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
Optometrists wages by metro
National median annual wage
$136,570
- 10th percentile
- $74,870
- 25th percentile
- $109,400
- Median
- $136,570
- 75th percentile
- $165,120
- 90th percentile
- $202,180
- Mean
- $141,550
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.
National employment in May 2025: 42,790.
That median is 167.9% higher than the all-occupations national median of $50,980.
The metro and state figures below are the same May 2025 release. A blank wage means BLS did not publish it. See when a wage is not published.
Highest published medians
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | 40 | $110,530 | $175,810 | $224,140 |
| Asheville, NC | 40 | $95,220 | $167,980 | $207,200 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 420 | $121,350 | $167,810 | $227,540 |
| Anchorage, AK | 30 | $78,190 | $167,000 | $204,680 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 40 | $100,870 | $166,880 | $217,510 |
| Peoria, IL | 50 | $128,400 | $166,600 | $203,410 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 70 | $62,110 | $165,810 | $209,220 |
| Dover, DE | 30 | $103,000 | $165,660 | $202,850 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 160 | $106,650 | $165,640 | $170,880 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | 80 | $122,310 | $165,360 | $227,770 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 130 | $65,960 | $164,020 | $193,610 |
| Wilmington, NC | 120 | $109,780 | $163,800 | $355,440 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 240 | $100,240 | $163,290 | $213,860 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 80 | $104,210 | $163,240 | $320,350 |
| Birmingham, AL | 110 | $73,750 | $162,890 | $196,600 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | 80 | $96,520 | $162,690 | $215,730 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 70 | $96,100 | $162,540 | $201,130 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | 90 | $107,340 | $161,850 | $197,520 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 150 | $100,340 | $161,560 | $210,490 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 80 | $100,760 | $161,540 | $185,190 |
Where employment is largest
States and territories
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 60 | $98,530 | $170,310 | $218,180 |
| Maryland | 780 | $50,560 | $165,840 | $215,420 |
| North Carolina | 1,140 | $94,320 | $161,560 | $215,340 |
| Delaware | 190 | $77,980 | $161,270 | $188,490 |
| New York | 2,390 | $95,460 | $161,140 | $203,040 |
| New Jersey | 1,380 | $104,730 | $159,040 | $232,960 |
| Minnesota | 710 | $96,670 | $158,700 | $206,960 |
| Washington | 760 | $103,880 | $157,560 | $217,900 |
| Hawaii | 230 | $107,090 | $154,620 | $205,390 |
| Maine | 180 | $102,600 | $154,110 | $241,200 |
| Colorado | 880 | $65,910 | $152,000 | $212,120 |
| Massachusetts | 950 | $95,780 | $151,730 | $196,470 |
| Florida | 2,350 | $62,490 | $151,670 | $196,210 |
| Connecticut | 490 | $99,200 | $150,340 | $214,040 |
| South Carolina | 480 | $51,740 | $145,950 | $172,060 |
| Illinois | 1,540 | $93,350 | $145,620 | $190,620 |
| Alabama | 460 | $56,740 | $145,090 | $196,600 |
| New Mexico | 130 | $88,160 | $144,660 | $202,980 |
| Wisconsin | 790 | $75,390 | $139,720 | $203,670 |
| Kansas | 660 | $85,010 | $138,580 | $192,720 |
| Vermont | 90 | $60,290 | $137,290 | $194,190 |
| California | 6,890 | $99,890 | $136,300 | $213,710 |
| Michigan | 1,410 | $98,110 | $135,650 | $213,850 |
| Nevada | 430 | $74,530 | $135,650 | $181,520 |
| Indiana | 1,040 | $76,860 | $135,500 | $193,270 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,720 | $92,970 | $135,400 | $173,380 |
| Ohio | 1,300 | $63,650 | $134,850 | $190,630 |
| District of Columbia | 50 | $102,570 | $134,840 | $207,570 |
| Rhode Island | 250 | $71,670 | $134,520 | $215,640 |
| Tennessee | 660 | $47,630 | $134,170 | $167,420 |
| Missouri | 630 | $64,610 | $133,810 | $175,270 |
| Puerto Rico | 280 | $44,190 | $132,790 | $300,250 |
| North Dakota | 140 | $74,610 | $132,110 | $178,900 |
| Oregon | 560 | $83,830 | $132,020 | $161,480 |
| Virginia | 1,110 | $62,430 | $131,570 | $235,980 |
| Kentucky | 430 | $82,240 | $128,860 | $254,630 |
| Georgia | 870 | $51,030 | $128,830 | $189,610 |
| Texas | 4,110 | $54,180 | $126,000 | $164,420 |
| New Hampshire | 210 | $76,360 | $125,560 | $205,560 |
| Iowa | 450 | $73,660 | $125,380 | $175,460 |
| Nebraska | 340 | $65,170 | $125,040 | $205,450 |
| Arkansas | 320 | $57,960 | $124,470 | $181,520 |
| Arizona | 1,080 | $99,570 | $122,250 | $171,490 |
| Utah | 380 | $44,470 | $119,070 | $172,480 |
| Louisiana | 250 | $45,420 | $118,060 | $183,670 |
| West Virginia | 150 | $69,830 | $118,010 | $198,570 |
| Wyoming | 90 | $51,580 | $111,400 | $178,860 |
| Mississippi | 240 | $63,470 | $108,070 | $215,640 |
| Montana | 140 | $58,450 | $104,280 | $163,030 |
| Idaho | 160 | $52,000 | $103,390 | $189,570 |
| South Dakota | 190 | $90,560 | $102,320 | $174,920 |
| Oklahoma | 570 | $59,990 | $97,350 | $174,620 |
Other healthcare practitioners and technical occupations
- Registered Nurses
- Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
- Pharmacy Technicians
- Physicians, All Other
- Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
- Nurse Practitioners
- Pharmacists
- Physical Therapists
Questions this page answers
What is the national median wage for Optometrists?
In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, the national median annual wage for Optometrists is $136,570. Employment is 42,790.
How does Optometrists pay compare with all occupations?
The national median for Optometrists is 167.9% higher than the all-occupations median of $50,980.
Which metro has the highest published median for Optometrists?
Among metros with a published annual median in the May 2025 tables, La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN is highest on this page's list at $175,810.