Dr. Mena in his office. Dr. Mena says it’s important to consider both the average salary of ODs in the location where you are considering practicing, along with the average cost of living.
Optometrist salary comparison
By Vittorio Mena, OD, MS
August 28, 2024
As healthcare professionals, we go through the grind of higher education. In light of that extra effort and expense, we should ask ourselves: what are the fruits of our labor across the country?
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistic (USBLS), in May of 2023 optometrists averaged roughly $143,000 nationwide with 41,390 currently employed.
From January 2024 through July 2024, the inflation rate in those seven months averaged 3.2 percent. The next inflation rate report, for the month of August, comes out on September 11.
As of July 2024, the average optometrist nationwide brings in about $147,576, which is about $71 an hour.
By comparison, the average American brings in $59,384. For July of 2024, that would be roughly $61,284, which is about $29.50 an hour and a difference of $86,292 per year, or $41.50 per hour, between an optometrist and average American.
Americans in Washington D.C. are taking in the highest salary and Americans in Mississippi are on the lowest end.
Here is how each state is averaging, as of July 2024, in salary for optometrists, according to the USBLS and/or ZipRecruiter.
Since ZipRecruiter usually gives lower average salary amounts than Indeed, Salary.com, Glassdoor and Talent.com, I thought this information could provide an accurate baseline for optometrists to compare to their own earnings.
Editor’s note: Income information specifically about eyecare providers is available in Jobson Optical Research’s 2024 ECP Income Study.
- Alabama: ~ $121,300
- Alaska: ~ $180,470
- Arizona: ~ $140,870
- Arkansas: ~ $129,950
- California: ~ $141,724
- Colorado: ~ $137,290
- Connecticut: ~ $144,550
- Delaware: ~ $146,007
- D.C.: ~ $181,322
- Florida: ~ $135,140
- Georgia: ~ $138,670
- Hawaii: ~ $148,577
- Idaho: ~ $106,433
- Illinois: ~ $132,460
- Indiana: ~ $146,512
- Iowa: ~ $125,340
- Kansas: ~ $114,870
- Kentucky: ~ $166,461
- Louisiana: ~ $141,990
- Maine: ~ $139,216
- Maryland: ~ $172,106
- Massachusetts: ~ $150,500
- Michigan: ~ $129,230
- Minnesota: ~ $142,050
- Mississippi: ~ $125,210
- Missouri: ~ $139,760
- *Montana: ~ $121,577
- Nebraska: ~ $128,513
- Nevada: ~ $148,638
- New Hampshire: ~ $166,182
- New Jersey: ~ $148,267
- New Mexico: ~ $122,670
- New York: ~ $157,328
- North Carolina: ~ $176,647
- North Dakota: ~ $145,119
- Ohio: ~$133,128
- Oklahoma: ~ $106,210
- Oregon: ~ $126,244
- Pennsylvania: ~ $136,220
- *Puerto Rico: ~ $132,938
- *Rhode Island: ~ $116,933
- South Carolina: ~ $107,295
- South Dakota: ~ $118,979
- Tennessee: ~ $113,461
- Texas: ~ $156,925
- Utah: ~ $112,878
- Vermont: ~ $158,453
- *Virginia: ~ $114,041
- Washington: ~ $128,535
- West Virginia: ~ $111,560
- Wisconsin: ~ $134,830
- Wyoming: ~ $136,950
After looking at all 50 states, along with Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, it seems that Washington D.C., Alaska and North Carolina hold the top three spots when it comes to average salaries for optometrists.
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On the opposite end of the spectrum are Oklahoma, Idaho and South Carolina, which take the bottom three spots in salary for ODs.
It is interesting to see that for both optometrists and average Americans, the average difference between the highest and lowest earners is only $19,322, and this most likely represents many of the government jobs that are around that area.
Whereas, for an optometrist living in the state of Mississippi, the difference between them and the average American is $78,210! The average American man makes $63,804 per year and an average American female makes $53,404 for an average of $58,604.
Overall, optometrists average $88,972 more per year nationwide than the average American.
Hopefully, this article gives people a better understanding of where to potentially live or work in the future, and can be used as a reference guide.
Don’t forget to look at the housing market or rent in those areas that you plan to work since it all adds up in the end, impacting how much money you are able to save and do with as you like.
Remember, it’s not about how much money you make, but how much you keep and how efficient you are with your money!
Vittorio Mena OD, MS, is the sports vision director with Optical Academy. Dr. Mena is also an Optometric Financial Planner, with Series 6 and 63 investment licenses and Series 2-14 life and variable annuity licenses. To contact him: menavitt@gmail.com
This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
