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.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $152K get you in Colorado?
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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 quarterly. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
Yes — at the median salary of $152K, rent takes 22.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/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 $3,955/month.
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%.
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 $2,044/month, which eats 22.7% 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 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median optometrists salary is worth about $152,000 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.