Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Arkansas make a median of $124,470 a year, or about $59.84 an hour. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $182K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $142,024 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 13.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $124K actually covers in Arkansas, month by month
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Optometrists pay in Arkansas tracks closely to the national median, $124K locally vs. $137K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,021/month, 13.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (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, Arkansas
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $124K. Top earners bring in $182K or more, a $124K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in Arkansas
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $132K | +6% | 80 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $114K | -8% | 70 |
| Fort Smith | $109K | -12% | 40 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $124K, rent takes 13.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,876/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in Arkansas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $124K locally vs. $137K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for optometrists?
Arkansas pays $124K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s -9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $142K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Arkansas?
The median is $124,470 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $57,960, and experienced optometrists can clear $181,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $124K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,595/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 13.4% 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 Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (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 $142,024 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.