Optometrist Salary by State
BLS OEWS May 2025 · BLS occupation: SOC 29-1041 Optometrists
Optometrists earned a median $136,570 a year ($65.66 an hour) in May 2025 (SOC 29-1041 Optometrists).
The middle half earned between $109,400 and $165,120.
BLS counts payroll optometrists only; practice owners and other self-employed ODs are not in these figures.
Annual figures are BLS hourly wages × 2,080 hours. OEWS covers wage-and-salary workers only, so it leaves out the self-employed, workers in private households, overtime pay and most bonuses.
How pay spreads across Optometrists
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $74,870 | $35.99 |
| 25th | $109,400 | $52.59 |
| 50th (median) | $136,570 | $65.66 |
| 75th | $165,120 | $79.39 |
| 90th | $202,180 | $97.20 |
| Mean (average) | $141,550 | $68.05 |
SOC 29-1041 Optometrists: 42,790 wage-and-salary jobs, BLS OEWS May 2025.
Pay by employer setting
| Employer setting (BLS) | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|
| General medical and surgical hospitals | $159,790 | — |
| Health and personal care retailers (includes optical goods stores) | $159,460 | — |
| Offices of physicians (includes ophthalmology practices) | $145,630 | — |
| Offices of optometrists (NAICS 621320) | $129,250 | $62.14 |
Median annual wage for SOC 29-1041 Optometrists by industry, national, BLS OEWS May 2025.
Optometrist Salary by State
Median annual wage for SOC 29-1041 Optometrists in each state, BLS OEWS May 2025, alphabetical. "vs. U.S." compares the state median with the national median of $136,570; it is not adjusted for living costs.
| State | Median | Hourly | 10th–90th | Jobs | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $145,090 | $69.75 | $56,740–$196,600 | 460 | +6% |
| Alaska | $170,310 | $81.88 | $98,530–$218,180 | 60 | +25% |
| Arizona | $122,250 | $58.78 | $99,570–$171,490 | 1,080 | −10% |
| Arkansas | $124,470 | $59.84 | $57,960–$181,520 | 320 | −9% |
| California | $136,300 | $65.53 | $99,890–$213,710 | 6,890 | −0% |
| Colorado | $152,000 | $73.08 | $65,910–$212,120 | 880 | +11% |
| Connecticut | $150,340 | $72.28 | $99,200–$214,040 | 490 | +10% |
| Delaware | $161,270 | $77.54 | $77,980–$188,490 | 190 | +18% |
| District of Columbia | $134,840 | $64.83 | $102,570–$207,570 | 50 | −1% |
| Florida | $151,670 | $72.92 | $62,490–$196,210 | 2,350 | +11% |
| Georgia | $128,830 | $61.94 | $51,030–$189,610 | 870 | −6% |
| Hawaii | $154,620 | $74.34 | $107,090–$205,390 | 230 | +13% |
| Idaho | $103,390 | $49.71 | $52,000–$189,570 | 160 | −24% |
| Illinois | $145,620 | $70.01 | $93,350–$190,620 | 1,540 | +7% |
| Indiana | $135,500 | $65.14 | $76,860–$193,270 | 1,040 | −1% |
| Iowa | $125,380 | $60.28 | $73,660–$175,460 | 450 | −8% |
| Kansas | $138,580 | $66.63 | $85,010–$192,720 | 660 | +1% |
| Kentucky | $128,860 | $61.95 | $82,240–$254,630 | 430 | −6% |
| Louisiana | $118,060 | $56.76 | $45,420–$183,670 | 250 | −14% |
| Maine | $154,110 | $74.09 | $102,600–$241,200 | 180 | +13% |
| Maryland | $165,840 | $79.73 | $50,560–$215,420 | 780 | +21% |
| Massachusetts | $151,730 | $72.95 | $95,780–$196,470 | 950 | +11% |
| Michigan | $135,650 | $65.21 | $98,110–$213,850 | 1,410 | −1% |
| Minnesota | $158,700 | $76.30 | $96,670–$206,960 | 710 | +16% |
| Mississippi | $108,070 | $51.96 | $63,470–$215,640 | 240 | −21% |
| Missouri | $133,810 | $64.33 | $64,610–$175,270 | 630 | −2% |
| Montana | $104,280 | $50.14 | $58,450–$163,030 | 140 | −24% |
| Nebraska | $125,040 | $60.12 | $65,170–$205,450 | 340 | −8% |
| Nevada | $135,650 | $65.22 | $74,530–$181,520 | 430 | −1% |
| New Hampshire | $125,560 | $60.36 | $76,360–$205,560 | 210 | −8% |
| New Jersey | $159,040 | $76.46 | $104,730–$232,960 | 1,380 | +16% |
| New Mexico | $144,660 | $69.55 | $88,160–$202,980 | 130 | +6% |
| New York | $161,140 | $77.47 | $95,460–$203,040 | 2,390 | +18% |
| North Carolina | $161,560 | $77.67 | $94,320–$215,340 | 1,140 | +18% |
| North Dakota | $132,110 | $63.51 | $74,610–$178,900 | 140 | −3% |
| Ohio | $134,850 | $64.83 | $63,650–$190,630 | 1,300 | −1% |
| Oklahoma | $97,350 | $46.80 | $59,990–$174,620 | 570 | −29% |
| Oregon | $132,020 | $63.47 | $83,830–$161,480 | 560 | −3% |
| Pennsylvania | $135,400 | $65.10 | $92,970–$173,380 | 1,720 | −1% |
| Rhode Island | $134,520 | $64.67 | $71,670–$215,640 | 250 | −2% |
| South Carolina | $145,950 | $70.17 | $51,740–$172,060 | 480 | +7% |
| South Dakota | $102,320 | $49.19 | $90,560–$174,920 | 190 | −25% |
| Tennessee | $134,170 | $64.51 | $47,630–$167,420 | 660 | −2% |
| Texas | $126,000 | $60.58 | $54,180–$164,420 | 4,110 | −8% |
| Utah | $119,070 | $57.25 | $44,470–$172,480 | 380 | −13% |
| Vermont | $137,290 | $66.01 | $60,290–$194,190 | 90 | +1% |
| Virginia | $131,570 | $63.25 | $62,430–$235,980 | 1,110 | −4% |
| Washington | $157,560 | $75.75 | $103,880–$217,900 | 760 | +15% |
| West Virginia | $118,010 | $56.74 | $69,830–$198,570 | 150 | −14% |
| Wisconsin | $139,720 | $67.17 | $75,390–$203,670 | 790 | +2% |
| Wyoming | $111,400 | $53.56 | $51,580–$178,860 | 90 | −18% |
Job outlook
BLS projects optometrist employment to grow from 45,100 to 49,400 jobs from 2025 to 2035 (+9.5%), with about 2,000 openings a year.
Projections count the self-employed (5.0% of optometrists in 2025), so they run higher than the OEWS wage-and-salary job count above.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 (Table 1.2), SOC 29-1041 Optometrists. Projected employment includes the self-employed.
Pay by eye care role
BLS publishes wages by occupation, not job title.
Optometrists, opticians, ophthalmic technicians and optical lab technicians each match a BLS occupation; front desk and billing staff borrow the closest available occupation, shown for offices of optometrists.
Compare figures with the same basis only.
| Role | Median shown | What the number is |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $136,570 | BLS occupation (SOC 29-1041) |
| Optician | $47,260 | BLS occupation (SOC 29-2081) |
| Optical Lab Technician | $39,460 | BLS occupation (SOC 51-9083) |
| Ophthalmic Technician | $45,570 | BLS occupation (SOC 29-2057) |
| Optometry Front Desk | $37,740 | Closest available occupation (SOC 43-4171, offices of optometrists) |
| Optometry Billing Specialist | $45,130 | Closest available occupation (SOC 43-3021, offices of optometrists) |
Optometrist salary questions
01How much do optometrists make a year?
The median annual wage for optometrists (SOC 29-1041) was $136,570 in May 2025 (BLS OEWS). Half earned more and half earned less. The 10th percentile was $74,870 and the 90th percentile $202,180.
02How much do optometrists make an hour?
The median hourly wage for optometrists was $65.66 in May 2025. BLS converts between hourly and annual figures at 2,080 hours a year, so this is the same median per hour, before overtime, per diem or bonuses.
03Which state pays optometrists the most?
Alaska had the highest median in May 2025 at $170,310. Oklahoma had the lowest at $97,350. These are not adjusted for living costs; the state table above lists every state BLS published.
04What is the average optometrist salary?
The mean (average) annual wage for optometrists was $141,550 in May 2025, against a $136,570 median. The median is the better guide to a typical salary, because a smaller number of high earners pull the average up.
05Which employers pay optometrists the most?
Of the industries listed above, general medical and surgical hospitals had the highest median for optometrists in May 2025 at $159,790. Offices of optometrists (NAICS 621320) had the lowest of those listed at $129,250.
06Does this include practice owners?
No. OEWS counts wage-and-salary workers only, so practice owners and other self-employed optometrists, including many sublease ODs, are not in these figures. BLS publishes no income figure for them, and this page does not estimate one.