Optometrist.
Tampa.
$126,000
median salary, 7% below the national average
$96,000 to $153,000. Last updated August 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Optometrist pay in Tampa ranges from $96,000 to $153,000 in 2026. The median is $126,000, 7% below the national average. Tampa's economy combines a strong financial services sector with growing tech, healthcare, and defense industries. Every dollar in that range is negotiable if you come prepared. 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.
Salary range.
Where do you fall?
Orbyt estimate for Optometrist in Tampa, modelled from national occupation wages adjusted for local cost of living. The published government benchmark for this occupation is below.
Government benchmark for this occupation
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $138,130 for Optometrists (SOC 29-1041) in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metropolitan area, based on 350 employed workers (May 2025 release).
10th percentile
$83,660
25th percentile
$123,920
Median
$138,130
75th percentile
$164,220
90th percentile
$206,950
Workers surveyed
350
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 Tamparange 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 29-1041Salary by experience.
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $113,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$82,000
to $101,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$107,000
to $132,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$139,000
to $164,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$158,000
to $195,000
Total compensation.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $28,000 to the total package.
Base
$126,000
Equity
$15,000
Bonus
$10,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $154,000
How Tampa compares.
Tampa, FL
$126,000
Cost of living: 4% below average
National Average
$135,000
Tampa is $9,000 below
Optometrist salary by city.
Salary by role in Tampa.
What you should know.
Before you negotiate an Optometrist offer in Tampa, understand the terrain. Tampa's economy combines a strong financial services sector with growing tech, healthcare, and defense industries. The city has attracted remote workers and corporate relocations seeking Florida's tax advantages. Tampa offers a favorable salary to cost of living ratio, with compensation levels that have risen significantly as the metro continues to grow. 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. In Tampa, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. 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. And on the tax side: florida has no state income tax, which is Tampa's biggest compensation advantage. There are no local income taxes either. Property taxes and insurance costs are the main financial considerations. When someone quotes you $126,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Frame your salary expectations against the no income tax benefit. Tampa employers know candidates are factoring in the tax savings, so be explicit about how it shapes your number. The range for Optometrists in Tampa runs from $96,000 to $153,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: BLS OES, H-1B LCA (DOL). COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified July 1, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
Optometrist salary in other cities.
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