Optometrist Salary.
Across 81 U.S. cities.
$135,000
estimated national base salary
$103,000 to $164,000. Last updated September 2026.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $136,570 for Optometrists (SOC 29-1041) across the United States, based on 42,790 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$74,870
25th percentile
$109,400
Median
$136,570
75th percentile
$165,120
90th percentile
$202,180
Workers surveyed
42,790
What BLS published in each release
May 2024 release
$134,830
May 2025 release
$136,570
These are two separate published estimates, not a time series. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not encourage the use of OEWS data for time-series analysis. Differences between releases reflect changes in occupational classification, survey methodology, and the three-year pooled sample as well as any change in pay, so the two figures should not be read as a rate of wage growth.
BLS publishes wages by occupation code, not by job title, so this figure covers every role mapped to Optometrists (SOC 29-1041) rather than Optometrist specifically. The national range at the top of this page is Orbyt’s role-level estimate, which is a different thing and is labelled as such.
View the BLS source for SOC 29-1041Highest Paying
$188,000
San Francisco, CA
Best Purchasing Power
$141,000
Honolulu, HI
Lowest Paying
$103,000
Charleston, WV
The salary figures on this page are computed estimates, not observed wages. Each one is a national role baseline scaled by a Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parity cost-of-living multiplier (2025 index) and rounded to the nearest $1,000. No published wage percentile is consulted and no wage survey response enters the calculation, so an Orbyt estimate must not be cited as a Bureau of Labor Statistics figure or as measured pay. The published wage data Orbyt holds is Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, and Department of Labor H-1B Labor Condition Application filings, which record a filed minimum visa base wage rather than market pay. Where BLS publishes a wage for the occupation a role maps to, it is shown on that role's page as a separate benchmark, labelled with its occupation code, metro area and the number of employed workers it covers. Last updated September 2026. This role maps to BLS occupation code 29-1041. Full methodology.
Orbyt estimates the average Optometrist salary in the United States at $135,000 in 2026, within a range of $103,000 to $164,000. These figures are Orbyt estimates, computed rather than measured, and must not be cited as Bureau of Labor Statistics figures; the published BLS wage for the occupation this role maps to is shown separately on this page. San Francisco is the highest of the 81 cities at $188,000, while Honolulu offers the best purchasing power after cost-of-living adjustments. Practice ownership versus employment is the largest income differentiator for optometrists.
Optometrist salary by city.
Skills that increase Optometrist pay.
The premiums below are Orbyt's modelled scenarios for Optometrists, not effects measured from job postings: each is a fixed percentage applied to the estimated base. At the top premium that works out to $18,900 a year.
≈ +$18,900 per year
≈ +$17,550 per year
≈ +$16,200 per year
≈ +$14,850 per year
≈ +$14,850 per year
≈ +$13,500 per year
≈ +$13,500 per year
≈ +$12,150 per year
What you should know.
Practice ownership versus employment is the largest income differentiator for optometrists. States with expanded scope allowing therapeutic procedures and medical management increase earning potential. Optometrists specializing in ocular disease management, specialty contact lenses, or pediatric vision earn above those in routine refraction-only settings.
New associate optometrists start at $105,000 to $120,000 on base plus production models. Experienced ODs with strong patient loyalty earn $130,000 to $155,000 after five to seven years. Practice owners or partners in multi-doctor practices can reach $170,000 to $250,000 depending on revenue and overhead management.
Employed optometrists typically receive production bonuses of 15 to 25% above a base salary guarantee. Benefits include vision and health insurance, CE allowances, malpractice coverage, and optical frame discounts. Practice owners retain higher gross income but manage significant overhead.
Total compensation breakdown.
Salary by company size
Remote salary adjustment
Remote Optometrists typically earn $122,000 (10% less than on-site). This reflects location-adjusted pay policies at companies using geographic salary bands. Some companies pay flat national rates regardless of location.
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Common questions about Optometrist pay.
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