Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Alaska make a median of $170,310 a year, or about $81.88 an hour. The range runs from $99K at the entry level to $218K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.31), that's roughly $163,273 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,643/month, or 15% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alaska. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $170K get you in Alaska?
About optometrists
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What this looks like in Alaska
Alaska sits well above the national pay line for optometrists, local pay runs about 25% higher than the U.S. median of $137K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,643/month, 15.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 104.31) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Alaska offers a genuinely strong financial position for optometristss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alaska
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $99K. Mid-career wages sit at $170K. Top earners bring in $218K or more, a $120K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in Alaska
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | $167K | -2% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alaska numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alaska?
Yes — at the median salary of $170K, rent takes 15.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,643/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Alaska?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $99K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,912/month. At HUD’s $1,643/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in Alaska?
Local pay is 25% above the national median — $170K here vs. $137K nationally.
How does Alaska compare to the national average for optometrists?
Alaska pays $170K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s +25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.31), the purchasing-power equivalent is $163K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Alaska?
The median is $170,310 a year, that works out to about $82 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $98,530, and experienced optometrists can clear $218,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $170K enough to live in Alaska?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,597/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,643/month, which eats 15.5% 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 Alaska?
Alaska has a Regional Price Parity of 104.31 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median optometrists salary is worth about $163,273 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.