Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Colorado make a median of $152,000 a year, or about $73.08 an hour. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $212K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.71), that's roughly $146,563 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,832/month, or 19.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $152K actually covers in Colorado, month by month
About optometrists
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What this looks like in Colorado
Colorado sits well above the national pay line for optometrists, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $137K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,832/month, 20.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 103.71) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Colorado offers a genuinely strong financial position for optometrists at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $152K. Top earners bring in $212K or more, a $146K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in Colorado
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $163K | +7% | 80 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $158K | +4% | 470 |
| Boulder | $154K | +1% | 60 |
| Colorado Springs | $132K | -13% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Colorado 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 Colorado?
Yes — at the median salary of $152K, rent takes 20.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,832/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,321/month. At HUD’s $1,832/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Colorado?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $152K here vs. $137K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for optometrists?
Colorado pays $152K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.71), the purchasing-power equivalent is $147K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Colorado?
The median is $152,000 a year, that works out to about $73 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,910, and experienced optometrists can clear $212,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $152K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,996/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,832/month, which eats 20.4% 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 Colorado?
Colorado has a Regional Price Parity of 103.71 (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 $146,563 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.