How Much Do Optometrists Make?

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that optometrists make a median annual income of $124,300 or $60 per hour. The lowest 10% of optometrists earned less than $61,590 and the highest 10% earned more than $192,390.

Do Optometrists Get Paid Well?

Optometrists are paid well—they earn more than the average worker in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary for optometrists is $124,300 per year. This is 196 percent more than the average salary for all occupations, which is $45,760.

How Much Do Optometrists Make Starting Out?

The BLS does not provide average compensation data for entry-level positions for optometrists just starting out, but the bottom 25% of optometrists earn $96,230 each year according to the BLS.

How Many Optometrists Are There In The United States?

In 2021, there were 43,300 optometrists in the United States. The BLS predicts the number of optometrists will increase by 9 percent, approximately 3,900 jobs, by 2030.

Where Can Optometrists Earn The Most?

Optometrists' salaries depend on location and work setting. According to the BLS, optometrists earn the most in the following industries: offices of other health practitioners, offices of physicians and health and personal care stores. The metropolitan areas with the highest pay for optometrists are:

1. Wilmington, NC - $198,370
2. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT - $172,190
3. Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI - $169,140

How Much Do Optometrists Earn In Each State?

The table below compares optometrist salaries across states and U.S. territories (Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wages May 2020). You can also find data for the number of optometrists in each state as well as the number of optometrists per 1,000 jobs—a figure that can help you determine the job's popularity in a given location. Not all locations have employment statistics.