- Job Seeker Resources
- |
- Last Updated: February 08, 2023

How much do optometrists make? It’s a rather simple question, but the answer hinges on a number of different factors. Optometrist pay is dictated by the job market in your area, as well as your individual experience, skills, and career levels. It’s unfortunate, but when someone asks, “how much does an optometrist make in a year?” the only honest answer is “it depends.”
Optometrist Pay
When trying to find out how much eye doctors make, the best place to start is with the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Here’s the BLS’s breakdown of optometrist salary and job outlook, which was updated in 2016:
As mentioned above, answering the question “how much do optometrists make” requires a bit more than just a general overview, so let’s dive a bit deeper to find out what an optometrist salary looks like for different scenarios.
Find your next great opportunity. Register with iHire.
Optometrist Salary by State
Optometrists in Alaska, Massachusetts, and Maine may perform similar functions as those elsewhere in the US, but they are compensated at a much higher rate than their peers in Utah, West Virginia, and Washington, DC. Here’s a look at the top 5 and bottom 5 states for optometrist pay:
Optometrist Salary by Experience Level
According to the BLS, the lowest optometrist starting salary is $53,740 (still much higher than the median salary across all occupations, which is $37,040). Professionals in this category constitute the bottom tenth percentile for eye doctor salary. Moving up the career ladder, junior to mid-level optometrists can expect to earn at least $83,460 per year while senior optometrist pay can exceed $136,270. The most successful optometrists in the US can command salaries of $190,000+.
With robust earning power, healthy job prospects, and strong indicators of continuous growth, the role of optometrist is a great career path to pursue. In fact, US News and World Report placed it at #18 in their list of Best Health Care Jobs and CNN ranked optometrist at #12 on their Best Jobs in America list. If you have a passion for eye care, the first step to launching your career is completing your optometrist education. Then you can find out for yourself how much eye doctors make and begin earning your optometrist salary with one of the hundreds of job openings found on iHireOptometry!

Originally Published: April 05, 2018
Sign In or Register to access all articles and insider tips for help in your job search.
Search for iHire Jobs
RELATED JOBS
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve...
Sales Associate OpticalAmerica's Best is part of National Vision, one of the largest optical retailers in the United...
Licensed Optician - The Shops on Lane AvenueNew Store Opening Job Status: Full-Time Warby Parker is searching for skilled and enthusiastic...
Optometric Technician - Medical AssistantCompany Description America's Best is part of National Vision, one of the largest optical...
Optometric Technician- Training Provided!EyeCare Partners is the nations leading provider of clinically integrated eye care. Our national...
RELATED RESOURCES
Find the Right Job Faster
- Get personalized job matches sent to your inbox every day
- Connect directly with employers before your competition
- Advance your career with expert advice on interviewing, salary negotiation, and more
We value your privacy