Pay, location & work-life context
Optometrist Salary Map by State (2026)
Median optometrist pay across 32 states from real job listings — switch views to adjust for cost of living or overlay burnout scores. Medians blend permanent salaries with annualized locums/contract rates. National median: $152,360.
Highest median
Oklahoma
$208,000
Best real purchasing power
Oklahoma
$236,786 adjusted
Best lifestyle score
Ohio
7.3/10 avg burnout score
Compare state markets
Choose a metric, then select a state to see its figures and available breakdown.
Tile positions are approximate, not geographic boundaries. Selection adds an outline without changing the metric color. Work-life scores describe listings, not surveyed clinician burnout.
Optometrist pay by state
Sorted by median advertised pay. On smaller screens, scroll the table sideways to compare all metrics.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Take-home, COL-adj. | Work-life score | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $208,000 | $236,786 | $225,539 | 6.6/10 | 6 |
| Alabama | $200,000 | $225,167 | $213,909 | 6.6/10 | 6 |
| Oregon | $198,000 | $191,562 | $172,597 | 4.8/10 | 29 |
| Louisiana | $190,000 | $215,402 | $208,940 | 6.9/10 | 6 |
| Ohio | $180,000 | $194,020 | $187,229 | 7.3/10 | 6 |
| Alaska | $178,963 | $174,839 | $174,839 | 1.5/10 | 5 |
| North Carolina | $177,500 | $188,177 | $180,180 | 6.3/10 | 41 |
| Florida | $175,000 | $169,223 | $169,223 | 5.7/10 | 17 |
| Michigan | $167,500 | $174,086 | $166,687 | 6.5/10 | 21 |
| Missouri | $167,500 | $184,437 | $175,768 | 5.5/10 | 18 |
| Washington | $162,236 | $151,604 | $151,604 | 4.7/10 | 55 |
| Minnesota | $160,000 | $162,237 | $146,257 | 5.7/10 | 64 |
| South Carolina | $160,000 | $170,668 | $160,087 | 6.0/10 | 14 |
| Kentucky | $159,900 | $177,353 | $170,259 | 7.3/10 | 12 |
| Texas | $158,340 | $163,141 | $163,141 | 4.6/10 | 15 |
| California | $156,000 | $140,896 | $127,793 | 5.1/10 | 168 |
| Georgia | $154,991 | $160,958 | $152,282 | 6.0/10 | 21 |
| New Jersey | $154,991 | $142,448 | $133,374 | 7.1/10 | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $154,000 | $145,617 | $138,336 | 6.5/10 | 17 |
| New Hampshire | $154,000 | $147,842 | $147,842 | 6.7/10 | 8 |
| Connecticut | $152,620 | $147,302 | $137,006 | 6.0/10 | 5 |
| Kansas | $152,500 | $169,317 | $159,869 | 4.6/10 | 10 |
| New York | $151,122 | $140,030 | $130,438 | 5.2/10 | 163 |
| Pennsylvania | $151,122 | $154,883 | $150,128 | 5.5/10 | 50 |
| Colorado | $150,000 | $145,558 | $139,153 | 5.5/10 | 56 |
| Arizona | $150,000 | $148,991 | $145,267 | 6.2/10 | 11 |
| Virginia | $149,500 | $147,868 | $139,365 | 6.8/10 | 37 |
| New Mexico | $149,500 | $162,126 | $152,561 | 5.7/10 | 9 |
| Illinois | $149,261 | $149,324 | $141,932 | 5.4/10 | 71 |
| Maryland | $149,261 | $142,209 | $134,032 | 5.5/10 | 55 |
| Indiana | $145,600 | $156,007 | $151,327 | 5.5/10 | 7 |
| Wisconsin | $139,932 | $148,714 | $140,832 | 4.1/10 | 8 |
Common questions
Which state pays optometrists the most?
Oklahoma currently has the highest median optometrist salary at $208,000, based on 6 real job listings.
Which state offers the best after-tax optometrist pay?
Oklahoma currently leads the take-home view at $225,539 — the state median after its state income tax (Tax Foundation state income tax rates (2025)), divided by the local cost-of-living index. No-income-tax states like Texas, Florida and Tennessee often outrank nominally higher-paying states here.
Why adjust optometrist salaries for cost of living?
Prices differ across states. The adjusted view divides each state's pay benchmark by its regional price index (U.S. average = 100). Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (2024). This is a state-level comparison, not a personal budget or a city-level cost estimate. Missing price data is shown as unavailable.
Which state has the best optometrist lifestyle scores?
Ohio currently has the highest average WeekdayDoc burnout score (7.3/10, higher is better) for optometrist listings — a measure of call burden, weekend requirements, and schedule flexibility across postings.
More salary maps
See the full percentile breakdown on the Optometrist salary page.