Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Columbus, GA-AL make a median of $121,830 a year, or about $58.57 an hour. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $178K for experienced workers.
So what does $122K get you in Columbus?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbus’s Regional Price Parity (89.3). 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 Columbus
Pay for optometrists in Columbus runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $137K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,088/month, 14.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.3 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Columbus can be a reasonable trade-off for optometristss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for optometrists in metros near Columbus, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $129K | , |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $130K | , |
| Albany | $134K | , |
| Savannah | $159K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbus, GA-AL
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $122K. Top earners bring in $178K or more, a $100K 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 states
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbus numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Columbus?
Yes — at the median salary of $122K, rent takes 14.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,088/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Columbus?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,703/month. At HUD’s $1,088/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in Columbus?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $122K here vs. $137K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Columbus compare to the national average for optometrists?
Columbus pays $122K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.3), the purchasing-power equivalent is $136K — below the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Columbus, GA-AL?
The median is $121,830 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,380, and experienced optometrists can clear $178,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $122K enough to live in Columbus?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,316/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,088/month, which eats 14.9% 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 Columbus?
Columbus 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 $136,428 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.