Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Birmingham, AL make a median of $162,890 a year, or about $78.31 an hour. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $197K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.64), which stretches that salary to about $177,750 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,266/month, or 12.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $163K get you in Birmingham?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Birmingham’s Regional Price Parity (91.64). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About optometrists
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What this looks like in Birmingham
Birmingham sits well above the national pay line for optometrists, local pay runs about 19% higher than the U.S. median of $137K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,266/month, 13.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Birmingham offers a genuinely strong financial position for optometristss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for optometrists in metros near Birmingham, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | $161K | $173K |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $161K | $170K |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $126K | $110K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $129K | $129K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Birmingham, AL
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $163K. Top earners bring in $197K or more, a $123K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Optometrists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $170K | +25% | 60 |
| Maryland | $166K | +21% | 780 |
| North Carolina | $162K | +18% | 1,140 |
| Delaware | $161K | +18% | 190 |
| New York | $161K | +18% | 2,390 |
| New Jersey | $159K | +16% | 1,380 |
| Minnesota | $159K | +16% | 710 |
| Washington | $158K | +15% | 760 |
| Hawaii | $155K | +13% | 230 |
| Maine | $154K | +13% | 180 |
| Colorado | $152K | +11% | 880 |
| Massachusetts | $152K | +11% | 950 |
| Florida | $152K | +11% | 2,350 |
| Connecticut | $150K | +10% | 490 |
| South Carolina | $146K | +7% | 480 |
| Illinois | $146K | +7% | 1,540 |
| Alabama | $145K | +6% | 460 |
| New Mexico | $145K | +6% | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $140K | +2% | 790 |
| Kansas | $139K | +1% | 660 |
| Vermont | $137K | +1% | 90 |
| California | $136K | -0% | 6,890 |
| Michigan | $136K | -1% | 1,410 |
| Nevada | $136K | -1% | 430 |
| Indiana | $136K | -1% | 1,040 |
| Pennsylvania | $135K | -1% | 1,720 |
| Ohio | $135K | -1% | 1,300 |
| District of Columbia | $135K | -1% | 50 |
| Rhode Island | $135K | -2% | 250 |
| Tennessee | $134K | -2% | 660 |
| Missouri | $134K | -2% | 630 |
| North Dakota | $132K | -3% | 140 |
| Oregon | $132K | -3% | 560 |
| Virginia | $132K | -4% | 1,110 |
| Kentucky | $129K | -6% | 430 |
| Georgia | $129K | -6% | 870 |
| Texas | $126K | -8% | 4,110 |
| New Hampshire | $126K | -8% | 210 |
| Iowa | $125K | -8% | 450 |
| Nebraska | $125K | -8% | 340 |
| Arkansas | $124K | -9% | 320 |
| Arizona | $122K | -10% | 1,080 |
| Utah | $119K | -13% | 380 |
| Louisiana | $118K | -14% | 250 |
| West Virginia | $118K | -14% | 150 |
| Wyoming | $111K | -18% | 90 |
| Mississippi | $108K | -21% | 240 |
| Montana | $104K | -24% | 140 |
| Idaho | $103K | -24% | 160 |
| South Dakota | $102K | -25% | 190 |
| Oklahoma | $97K | -29% | 570 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Birmingham numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Birmingham?
Yes — at the median salary of $163K, rent takes 13.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,266/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Birmingham?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,425/month. At HUD’s $1,266/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in Birmingham?
Local pay is 19% above the national median — $163K here vs. $137K nationally.
How does Birmingham compare to the national average for optometrists?
Birmingham pays $163K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s +19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $178K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Birmingham, AL?
The median is $162,890 a year, that works out to about $78 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $73,750, and experienced optometrists can clear $196,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $163K enough to live in Birmingham?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,509/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,266/month, which eats 13.3% 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 Birmingham?
Birmingham has a Regional Price Parity of 91.64 (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 $177,750 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.