Optometrist Salaries: Vision Care Compensation by State

Optometrists hold Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degrees and provide primary eye care — vision examinations, contact lens fittings, and management of common eye conditions. The four-year professional doctorate and state licensure requirements support wages in the upper tier of the healthcare practitioner workforce.

National Wage Overview

Optometrist wages rank well above the workforce median and sit in the mid-tier of doctoral health profession wages — above audiologists and physical therapists, below dentists and physicians. Browse wages in the Healthcare Practitioners group for full comparison.

Private Practice vs. Retail

Optometrists work in private practices (standalone and multi-provider), retail optical chains (Warby Parker, LensCrafters), and hospital/health system settings. Private practice ownership typically yields the highest income but requires capital investment and business management. Retail chains offer corporate employment with defined compensation.

Rural Shortage Areas

Like many healthcare professions, optometry has significant geographic maldistribution — rural areas are underserved, and federal Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designations come with loan repayment incentives. Optometrists willing to work in rural settings may command above-average wages alongside these government benefits.

Top States

Alaska, Nevada, and North Dakota sometimes rank highest for optometrist wages, driven by shortage-area premiums. Browse all states on WageDepth.