Optometrists Salary
Salary data across 60 metro areas in the US & CanadaUSD & CAD
Search Jobs on IndeedAvg Median Salary
$131,433
Highest Paying City
San Francisco
$183,000
Cities Tracked
60
What Do Optometrists Do?
Optometrists are essential healthcare providers who combine scientific knowledge with patient-centered care. They perform examinations, interpret diagnostic tests, and develop treatment plans to address a wide range of health issues.
Work settings include hospitals, clinics, private practices, and outpatient care centers. Many healthcare professionals work shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays. The work can be physically and emotionally demanding.
Key Skills for Optometrists
Education Requirements
Doctoral or professional degree for physicians; bachelor's or associate's for technicians
Requirements range from associate's degrees for technicians to doctoral degrees for physicians. Most practitioners require professional licensure or certification. Continuing education is mandatory to maintain credentials.
Career Outlook
Employment is projected to grow much faster than average, driven by an aging population, advances in medical technology, and increased access to healthcare services.
How to Increase Your Optometrists Salary
- 1.Pursue board certification in your specialty for higher earning potential
- 2.Stay current with medical research and evidence-based practices
- 3.Develop subspecialty expertise in a high-demand area
- 4.Consider leadership roles in healthcare administration
- 5.Build experience with electronic health records and health informatics
Optometrists Salary by City
| City | Median | Average | Range (10th-90th) | Currency | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $183,000 | $195,000 | $92,000 - $252,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Jose, CA | $182,000 | $193,000 | $91,000 - $250,000 | USD | Apply |
| Seattle, WA | $171,000 | $186,000 | $86,000 - $235,000 | USD | Apply |
| New York, NY | $166,000 | $174,000 | $83,000 - $228,000 | USD | Apply |
| Boston, MA | $166,000 | $179,000 | $83,000 - $228,000 | USD | Apply |
| Washington DC, DC | $158,000 | $168,000 | $79,000 - $217,000 | USD | Apply |
| Los Angeles, CA | $155,000 | $163,000 | $78,000 - $213,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Diego, CA | $148,000 | $162,000 | $81,000 - $198,000 | USD | Apply |
| Denver, CO | $148,000 | $155,000 | $81,000 - $198,000 | USD | Apply |
| Honolulu, HI | $148,000 | $161,000 | $81,000 - $198,000 | USD | Apply |
| Baltimore, MD | $146,000 | $164,000 | $80,000 - $195,000 | USD | Apply |
| Sacramento, CA | $146,000 | $158,000 | $80,000 - $195,000 | USD | Apply |
| Portland, OR | $145,000 | $158,000 | $80,000 - $194,000 | USD | Apply |
| Philadelphia, PA | $143,000 | $152,000 | $79,000 - $191,000 | USD | Apply |
| Austin, TX | $143,000 | $160,000 | $79,000 - $191,000 | USD | Apply |
| Chicago, IL | $141,000 | $154,000 | $78,000 - $189,000 | USD | Apply |
| Anchorage, AK | $141,000 | $146,000 | $78,000 - $189,000 | USD | Apply |
| Minneapolis, MN | $140,000 | $154,000 | $77,000 - $187,000 | USD | Apply |
| Dallas, TX | $138,000 | $150,000 | $76,000 - $185,000 | USD | Apply |
| Houston, TX | $137,000 | $143,000 | $75,000 - $183,000 | USD | Apply |
| Hartford, CT | $137,000 | $152,000 | $75,000 - $183,000 | USD | Apply |
| Raleigh, NC | $135,000 | $139,000 | $74,000 - $181,000 | USD | Apply |
| Atlanta, GA | $134,000 | $149,000 | $74,000 - $179,000 | USD | Apply |
| Charlotte, NC | $132,000 | $142,000 | $73,000 - $177,000 | USD | Apply |
| Milwaukee, WI | $132,000 | $137,000 | $73,000 - $177,000 | USD | Apply |
| Detroit, MI | $131,000 | $135,000 | $72,000 - $175,000 | USD | Apply |
| Nashville, TN | $130,000 | $135,000 | $72,000 - $174,000 | USD | Apply |
| Columbus, OH | $130,000 | $133,000 | $72,000 - $174,000 | USD | Apply |
| Richmond, VA | $130,000 | $141,000 | $72,000 - $174,000 | USD | Apply |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $129,000 | $132,000 | $71,000 - $173,000 | USD | Apply |
| Las Vegas, NV | $128,000 | $137,000 | $70,000 - $171,000 | USD | Apply |
| St. Louis, MO | $128,000 | $142,000 | $70,000 - $171,000 | USD | Apply |
| Phoenix, AZ | $126,000 | $141,000 | $69,000 - $169,000 | USD | Apply |
| Indianapolis, IN | $126,000 | $140,000 | $69,000 - $169,000 | USD | Apply |
| Kansas City, MO | $126,000 | $130,000 | $69,000 - $169,000 | USD | Apply |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $124,000 | $133,000 | $68,000 - $166,000 | USD | Apply |
| Cincinnati, OH | $124,000 | $130,000 | $68,000 - $166,000 | USD | Apply |
| New Orleans, LA | $124,000 | $137,000 | $68,000 - $166,000 | USD | Apply |
| Miami, FL | $123,000 | $128,000 | $68,000 - $165,000 | USD | Apply |
| San Antonio, TX | $123,000 | $134,000 | $68,000 - $165,000 | USD | Apply |
| Buffalo, NY | $123,000 | $129,000 | $68,000 - $165,000 | USD | Apply |
| Birmingham, AL | $122,000 | $128,000 | $67,000 - $163,000 | USD | Apply |
| Cleveland, OH | $121,000 | $134,000 | $67,000 - $162,000 | USD | Apply |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $121,000 | $135,000 | $67,000 - $162,000 | USD | Apply |
| Toronto, ON | $121,000 | $131,000 | $67,000 - $162,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Jacksonville, FL | $120,000 | $123,000 | $66,000 - $160,000 | USD | Apply |
| Louisville, KY | $120,000 | $132,000 | $66,000 - $160,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tucson, AZ | $120,000 | $122,000 | $66,000 - $160,000 | USD | Apply |
| Tampa, FL | $119,000 | $133,000 | $65,000 - $159,000 | USD | Apply |
| Orlando, FL | $118,000 | $125,000 | $65,000 - $158,000 | USD | Apply |
| Vancouver, BC | $118,000 | $131,000 | $65,000 - $158,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Memphis, TN | $117,000 | $126,000 | $64,000 - $156,000 | USD | Apply |
| Calgary, AB | $116,000 | $128,000 | $64,000 - $155,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Ottawa, ON | $112,000 | $124,000 | $62,000 - $150,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Edmonton, AB | $109,000 | $117,000 | $60,000 - $146,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Montreal, QC | $103,000 | $112,000 | $57,000 - $138,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Hamilton, ON | $101,000 | $113,000 | $56,000 - $135,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Winnipeg, MB | $99,000 | $109,000 | $59,000 - $129,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Halifax, NS | $95,000 | $105,000 | $57,000 - $124,000 | CAD | Apply |
| Quebec City, QC | $94,000 | $105,000 | $56,000 - $122,000 | CAD | Apply |