Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Arizona make a median of $122,250 a year, or about $58.78 an hour. The range runs from $100K at the entry level to $171K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $126,802 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,437/month, or 19% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $122K get you in Arizona?
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What this looks like in Arizona
Optometrists pay in Arizona tracks closely to the national median, $122K locally vs. $137K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,437/month, 18.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $100K. Mid-career wages sit at $122K. Top earners bring in $171K or more, a $72K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in Arizona
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $158K | +29% | 80 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $116K | -5% | 860 |
Compare to other states
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
Yes — at the median salary of $122K, rent takes 18.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $100K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,974/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in Arizona?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $122K locally vs. $137K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for optometrists?
Arizona pays $122K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $127K — below the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Arizona?
The median is $122,250 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $99,570, and experienced optometrists can clear $171,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $122K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,605/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 18.9% 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 Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (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 $126,802 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.