Loading
Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
If you're considering this career, the geography of pay matters. The national median salary for Optometrists in 2026 is $146,650, with entry-level positions averaging $105,588 and senior roles reaching $208,243. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $267,120, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Healthcare within the broader Healthcare industry, Optometrists typically hold OD degree. The employment landscape is shaped by growing, and the day-to-day is clinical. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$162,540 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Optometrist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $267,120 — $162,540 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($104,580). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
The three-tier salary picture for Optometrists in 2026: $105,588 at entry (P10), $146,650 at midpoint, and $208,243 at the senior end (P90). Zoom out to the career trajectory, and the entry-level picture changes. The $102,655 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $66,283 above the national median household income of $80,367.
The pay gap between the top and bottom markets is dramatic: $249,480 (average of the top 3 cities) versus $105,420 (average of the bottom 3). That $144,060 delta is real money — $12,005/month before taxes. But the highest-paying cities tend to be the most expensive. The cost-adjusted comparison below tells the more important story.
A Optometrist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $267,120 — $162,540 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($104,580). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Optometrist is $105,588, while senior-level (P90) earners average $208,243. That $102,655 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Optometrists at $176,999 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $155,610) is $21,389.
At the 90th percentile, Optometrists pull in an average of $208,243. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $105,588 | $146,650 | $208,243 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £54,870 | £76,209 | £108,217 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$84,964 | CA$118,006 | CA$167,568 |
| Australia | 13 | A$98,227 | A$136,426 | A$193,726 |
| Sweden | 24 | 579,866 kr | 805,370 kr | 1,143,625 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $127,439 | $176,999 | $251,339 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $123,153 | $171,045 | $242,884 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $122,472 | $170,100 | $241,542 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $113,400 | $157,500 | $223,650 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $112,039 | $155,610 | $220,966 |
| Washington | 8 | $109,885 | $152,618 | $216,717 |
| New York | 5 | $103,421 | $143,640 | $203,969 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $103,421 | $143,640 | $203,969 |
| Florida | 22 | $102,637 | $142,552 | $202,424 |
| Colorado | 11 | $100,864 | $140,089 | $198,926 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $100,699 | $139,860 | $198,601 |
| Nevada | 5 | $100,518 | $139,608 | $198,243 |
| Arizona | 12 | $100,019 | $138,915 | $197,259 |
| Oregon | 5 | $99,792 | $138,600 | $196,812 |
| Idaho | 3 | $99,490 | $138,180 | $196,216 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $98,703 | $137,088 | $194,665 |
| Utah | 4 | $98,431 | $136,710 | $194,128 |
| Virginia | 7 | $96,811 | $134,460 | $190,933 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $95,558 | $132,720 | $188,462 |
| Alaska | 1 | $95,256 | $132,300 | $187,866 |
| Illinois | 5 | $94,167 | $130,788 | $185,719 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $91,829 | $127,540 | $181,107 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $90,720 | $126,000 | $178,920 |
| Montana | 1 | $90,720 | $126,000 | $178,920 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $90,418 | $125,580 | $178,324 |
| Texas | 40 | $89,972 | $124,961 | $177,444 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $89,813 | $124,740 | $177,131 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $89,359 | $124,110 | $176,236 |
| Georgia | 6 | $89,057 | $123,690 | $175,640 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $88,906 | $123,480 | $175,342 |
| Kansas | 4 | $88,452 | $122,850 | $174,447 |
| Michigan | 6 | $88,150 | $122,430 | $173,851 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $87,092 | $120,960 | $171,764 |
| Maryland | 1 | $87,091 | $120,960 | $171,763 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $86,184 | $119,700 | $169,974 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $86,184 | $119,700 | $169,974 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $83,916 | $116,550 | $165,501 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $83,462 | $115,920 | $164,606 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $82,328 | $114,345 | $162,370 |
| Missouri | 4 | $82,329 | $114,345 | $162,370 |
| Alabama | 5 | $82,011 | $113,904 | $161,744 |
| Indiana | 3 | $80,741 | $112,140 | $159,239 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $80,741 | $112,140 | $159,239 |
| Iowa | 2 | $79,834 | $110,880 | $157,450 |
| Ohio | 6 | $79,683 | $110,670 | $157,152 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $76,205 | $105,840 | $150,293 |
Geography shapes Optometrist pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $176,999 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($267,120 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $126,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $267,120 | 212 | $126,000 | $147,292 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $249,480 | 198 | $126,000 | $139,521 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $231,840 | 184 | $126,000 | $131,394 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $228,060 | 181 | $126,000 | $129,616 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $224,280 | 178 | $126,000 | $127,837 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $223,020 | 177 | $126,000 | $127,244 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $223,020 | 177 | $126,000 | $127,244 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $217,980 | 173 | $126,000 | $124,873 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $217,980 | 173 | $126,000 | $124,873 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $212,940 | 169 | $126,000 | $122,502 |
From a career planning perspective, Optometrist offers a $102,655 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires OD degree. Day-to-day, expect clinical work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Optometrists is $146,650 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $105,588, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $208,243.
The highest-paying city for Optometrists is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $267,120. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($267,120), Santa Clara ($249,480), Irvine ($231,840). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Optometrist salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $104,580. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Optometrists (10th percentile) average $105,588 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $192,326. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Optometrists average $208,243 nationally — $102,655 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Optometrists can earn up to $379,310.
The top-paying states for Optometrists are California ($176,999 median), Massachusetts ($171,045 median), Hawaii ($170,100 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Optometrist involves OD degree. The field is in the Healthcare sector (Healthcare), and the career outlook is growing. Work style is typically clinical.
With a national median of $146,650 and representation across 288 metro areas, Optometrist offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $102,655 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: growing.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.