Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Alabama make a median of $145,090 a year, or about $69.75 an hour. The range runs from $57K at the entry level to $197K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $164,203 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,085/month, or 12.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $145K get you in Alabama?
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What this looks like in Alabama
Optometrists pay in Alabama tracks closely to the national median, $145K locally vs. $137K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,085/month, 12.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $57K. Mid-career wages sit at $145K. Top earners bring in $197K or more, a $140K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in Alabama
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | $163K | +12% | 110 |
| Huntsville | $161K | +11% | 50 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $161K | +11% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
Yes — at the median salary of $145K, rent takes 12.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $57K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,404/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 32% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in Alabama?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $145K locally vs. $137K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for optometrists?
Alabama pays $145K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $164K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Alabama?
The median is $145,090 a year, that works out to about $70 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $56,740, and experienced optometrists can clear $196,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $145K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,569/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 12.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a optometrists salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median optometrists salary is worth about $164,203 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do optometrists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.