Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Connecticut make a median of $150,340 a year, or about $72.28 an hour. The range runs from $99K at the entry level to $214K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.88), that's roughly $146,131 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,679/month, or 18.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Connecticut. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $150K get you in Connecticut?
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What this looks like in Connecticut
Optometrists pay in Connecticut tracks closely to the national median, $150K locally vs. $137K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,679/month, 19.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 102.88) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Connecticut
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $99K. Mid-career wages sit at $150K. Top earners bring in $214K or more, a $115K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in Connecticut
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven | $151K | +0% | 90 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford | $150K | +0% | 190 |
| Waterbury-Shelton | $137K | -9% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Connecticut numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Connecticut?
Yes — at the median salary of $150K, rent takes 19.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,679/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Connecticut?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $99K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,952/month. At HUD’s $1,679/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in Connecticut?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $150K locally vs. $137K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Connecticut compare to the national average for optometrists?
Connecticut pays $150K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s +10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $146K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Connecticut?
The median is $150,340 a year, that works out to about $72 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $99,200, and experienced optometrists can clear $214,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $150K enough to live in Connecticut?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,787/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,679/month, which eats 19.1% 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 Connecticut?
Connecticut has a Regional Price Parity of 102.88 (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 $146,131 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.