Healthcare5% remote-eligible+2.8% YoY growth

Optometrist Salary
by City (2026)

Examine eyes for vision problems and disease, prescribing corrective lenses and treatment. National median: $138K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$138K

Top 10% earn

$210K

Entry level

$112K

Salary growth

+2.8%/yr

Optometrist salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$157K	$193K	$235K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$151K	$186K	$227K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$149K	$183K	$223K	187	6.85%
Cambridge, MA	$148K	$182K	$222K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$148K	$182K	$222K	185	11%
Oakland, CA	$146K	$179K	$218K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$146K	$179K	$218K	162	5%
Washington, DC	$146K	$179K	$218K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$144K	$177K	$216K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$143K	$176K	$214K	172	9.3%
Los Angeles, CA	$140K	$173K	$210K	163	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$140K	$173K	$210K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$140K	$172K	$210K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$140K	$172K	$210K	165	5.75%
Kirkland, WA	$139K	$171K	$208K	162	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$137K	$169K	$206K	158	6.99%
San Diego, CA	$137K	$168K	$205K	148	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$137K	$168K	$205K	150	None ✓
Newark, NJ	$137K	$168K	$205K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$136K	$167K	$204K	155	11%
Arlington, VA	$134K	$166K	$202K	148	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$134K	$166K	$202K	192	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$134K	$165K	$201K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$133K	$164K	$200K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$133K	$164K	$200K	148	5.75%
Long Beach, CA	$132K	$163K	$198K	155	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$132K	$163K	$198K	120	5%
Baltimore, MD	$132K	$163K	$198K	115	5.75%
Anchorage, AK	$132K	$163K	$198K	128	None ✓
Alexandria, VA	$132K	$162K	$198K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$132K	$162K	$198K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$130K	$160K	$195K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$129K	$159K	$193K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$129K	$159K	$194K	138	9.3%
Philadelphia, PA	$129K	$159K	$193K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$129K	$159K	$193K	130	9.9%
Edison, NJ	$129K	$159K	$194K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$129K	$159K	$194K	138	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$125K	$155K	$188K	107	4.95%
Denver, CO	$125K	$155K	$188K	118	4.55%
Hartford, CT	$125K	$155K	$188K	118	6.99%
Dallas, TX	$123K	$152K	$185K	96	None ✓
Miami, FL	$123K	$152K	$185K	123	None ✓
Tacoma, WA	$123K	$152K	$185K	128	None ✓
Minneapolis, MN	$123K	$152K	$185K	106	6.8%
New Haven, CT	$123K	$151K	$184K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$122K	$150K	$183K	120	None ✓
Houston, TX	$121K	$149K	$181K	91	None ✓
Plano, TX	$121K	$149K	$181K	105	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$121K	$149K	$181K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$121K	$149K	$181K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$121K	$149K	$181K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$121K	$149K	$181K	118	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$121K	$149K	$181K	99	5.75%
Lowell, MA	$121K	$149K	$181K	118	5%
Durham, NC	$121K	$149K	$181K	100	4.75%
Nashville, TN	$121K	$149K	$181K	102	None ✓
St. Paul, MN	$121K	$149K	$181K	104	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$121K	$149K	$181K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$121K	$149K	$181K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$121K	$149K	$181K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$121K	$149K	$181K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$121K	$149K	$181K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$120K	$148K	$180K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$120K	$148K	$180K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$120K	$148K	$180K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$120K	$148K	$180K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$120K	$148K	$180K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$120K	$148K	$180K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$120K	$148K	$180K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$120K	$148K	$180K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$118K	$146K	$178K	112	None ✓
Aurora, CO	$119K	$146K	$178K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$118K	$146K	$178K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$118K	$146K	$178K	112	4.75%
Austin, TX	$118K	$145K	$176K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$118K	$145K	$176K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$118K	$145K	$176K	97	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$118K	$145K	$176K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$118K	$145K	$176K	118	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$118K	$145K	$176K	118	2.5%
Raleigh, NC	$118K	$145K	$176K	102	4.75%
Pittsburgh, PA	$118K	$145K	$176K	90	3.07%
Eugene, OR	$118K	$145K	$176K	110	9.9%
Salt Lake City, UT	$118K	$145K	$176K	105	4.85%
Round Rock, TX	$117K	$144K	$175K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$117K	$144K	$175K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$117K	$144K	$175K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$117K	$144K	$175K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$117K	$144K	$175K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$117K	$144K	$175K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$116K	$142K	$173K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$116K	$142K	$173K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$116K	$142K	$173K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$116K	$142K	$173K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$116K	$142K	$173K	105	5.8%
San Antonio, TX	$114K	$141K	$171K	87	None ✓
Arlington, TX	$114K	$141K	$171K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$114K	$141K	$171K	91	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$114K	$141K	$172K	102	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$114K	$141K	$171K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$114K	$141K	$171K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$114K	$141K	$171K	100	4.75%
Missoula, MT	$114K	$141K	$172K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$114K	$140K	$170K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$114K	$140K	$170K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$114K	$140K	$170K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$114K	$140K	$170K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$114K	$140K	$170K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$114K	$140K	$170K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$114K	$140K	$170K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$114K	$140K	$170K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$113K	$139K	$169K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$113K	$139K	$169K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$113K	$139K	$169K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$113K	$139K	$169K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$113K	$139K	$169K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$113K	$139K	$169K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$113K	$139K	$169K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$113K	$139K	$169K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$113K	$139K	$169K	98	7.15%
Orlando, FL	$112K	$138K	$168K	100	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$112K	$138K	$168K	105	2.5%
Richmond, VA	$112K	$138K	$168K	98	5.75%
Madison, WI	$112K	$138K	$168K	102	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$112K	$138K	$168K	102	None ✓
Reno, NV	$112K	$138K	$168K	108	None ✓
Provo, UT	$112K	$138K	$168K	100	4.85%
Bakersfield, CA	$112K	$137K	$167K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$112K	$137K	$167K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$112K	$137K	$167K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$112K	$137K	$167K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$112K	$137K	$167K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$112K	$137K	$167K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$112K	$137K	$167K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$110K	$136K	$165K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$110K	$136K	$165K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$110K	$136K	$165K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$110K	$136K	$165K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$110K	$136K	$165K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$110K	$135K	$164K	90	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$110K	$135K	$165K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$110K	$135K	$165K	90	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$110K	$135K	$165K	93	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$110K	$135K	$165K	105	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$110K	$135K	$164K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$110K	$135K	$164K	90	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$110K	$135K	$165K	98	2.5%
Virginia Beach, VA	$110K	$135K	$165K	98	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$110K	$135K	$165K	90	3.99%
Sterling Heights, MI	$110K	$135K	$164K	90	4.25%
Milwaukee, WI	$110K	$135K	$165K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$110K	$135K	$164K	90	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$110K	$135K	$165K	105	6.5%
Fargo, ND	$110K	$135K	$164K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$109K	$134K	$163K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$109K	$134K	$163K	88	None ✓
Syracuse, NY	$109K	$134K	$163K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$109K	$134K	$163K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$109K	$134K	$163K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$109K	$134K	$163K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$109K	$134K	$163K	88	5.3%
Lexington, KY	$109K	$134K	$163K	88	5%
Great Falls, MT	$109K	$134K	$163K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$109K	$134K	$163K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$109K	$134K	$163K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$109K	$134K	$163K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$109K	$134K	$163K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$108K	$132K	$161K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$108K	$132K	$161K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$108K	$132K	$161K	85	None ✓
Spokane, WA	$108K	$132K	$161K	95	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$108K	$132K	$161K	102	4.55%
Winston-Salem, NC	$108K	$132K	$161K	85	4.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$108K	$132K	$161K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$108K	$132K	$161K	82	4.25%
Warren, MI	$108K	$132K	$161K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$108K	$132K	$161K	85	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$108K	$132K	$161K	90	5.3%
St. Louis, MO	$108K	$132K	$161K	86	5.3%
Independence, MO	$108K	$132K	$161K	85	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$108K	$132K	$161K	88	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$108K	$132K	$161K	85	5%
Lafayette, LA	$108K	$132K	$161K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$108K	$132K	$161K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$108K	$132K	$161K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$108K	$132K	$161K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$108K	$132K	$161K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$108K	$132K	$161K	85	4.9%
Corpus Christi, TX	$106K	$131K	$160K	84	None ✓
Amarillo, TX	$106K	$131K	$159K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$106K	$131K	$159K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$106K	$131K	$160K	88	6.85%
Pueblo, CO	$106K	$131K	$159K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$106K	$131K	$159K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$106K	$131K	$159K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$106K	$131K	$159K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$106K	$131K	$159K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$106K	$131K	$160K	82	3.99%
South Bend, IN	$106K	$131K	$159K	82	3.23%
Huntsville, AL	$106K	$131K	$160K	88	5%
Mobile, AL	$106K	$131K	$159K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$106K	$131K	$159K	82	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$106K	$131K	$160K	92	6%
Des Moines, IA	$106K	$131K	$160K	88	4.82%
Davenport, IA	$106K	$131K	$159K	82	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$106K	$131K	$160K	88	5.84%
Killeen, TX	$106K	$130K	$158K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$106K	$130K	$158K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$106K	$130K	$158K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$106K	$130K	$158K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$106K	$130K	$158K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$106K	$130K	$158K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$106K	$130K	$158K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$106K	$130K	$158K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$106K	$130K	$158K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$106K	$130K	$158K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$106K	$130K	$158K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$106K	$130K	$158K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$106K	$130K	$158K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$105K	$129K	$157K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$105K	$129K	$157K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$105K	$129K	$157K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$105K	$129K	$157K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$105K	$129K	$157K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$105K	$129K	$157K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$103K	$128K	$155K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$103K	$128K	$155K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$103K	$128K	$155K	75	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$103K	$127K	$155K	82	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$103K	$127K	$155K	90	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$103K	$127K	$155K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$103K	$127K	$155K	82	None ✓
Grand Rapids, MI	$103K	$127K	$155K	90	4.25%
Birmingham, AL	$103K	$127K	$155K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$103K	$127K	$155K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$103K	$127K	$155K	82	4.75%
Baton Rouge, LA	$103K	$127K	$155K	88	6%
Albuquerque, NM	$103K	$127K	$155K	88	5.9%
Lubbock, TX	$101K	$124K	$151K	78	None ✓
Knoxville, TN	$101K	$124K	$151K	85	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$101K	$124K	$151K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$101K	$124K	$151K	82	5.7%
Laredo, TX	$99K	$121K	$148K	76	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$99K	$121K	$148K	82	4.9%

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $138K Optometrist salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Optometrist Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Optometrist is $138,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $112,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $168,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Optometrists nationally earn $210,000+.

Education and requirements

Doctor of Optometry (OD); state licensure. This role is 5% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Optometrist compensation is growing at 2.8% annually, near the national average wage growth rate.

Optometrist salary FAQ

How much does a Optometrist make?

The median Optometrist salary in the US is $138,000 per year — about $66/hour. Most earn between $112,000 (25th percentile) and $168,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Optometrist?

Entry-level Optometrist positions typically start around $112,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Optometrists earn?

The top 10% of Optometrists earn $210,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Optometrists the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Optometrist salary at $193K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Optometrist salaries going up?

Yes — Optometrist pay is growing about 2.8% year over year, near the US average wage-growth rate.

Optometrist Salaryby City (2026)