Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Delaware make a median of $161,270 a year, or about $77.54 an hour. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $188K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.51), that's roughly $165,388 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,448/month, or 15.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Delaware. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $161K get you in Delaware?
About optometrists
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What this looks like in Delaware
Delaware sits well above the national pay line for optometrists, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $137K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,448/month, 15.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.51) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Delaware offers a genuinely strong financial position for optometristss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Delaware
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $161K. Top earners bring in $188K or more, a $111K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in Delaware
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | $166K | +3% | 30 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Delaware numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Delaware?
Yes — at the median salary of $161K, rent takes 15.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,448/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Delaware?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,679/month. At HUD’s $1,448/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Delaware?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $161K here vs. $137K nationally.
How does Delaware compare to the national average for optometrists?
Delaware pays $161K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $165K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Delaware?
The median is $161,270 a year, that works out to about $78 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,980, and experienced optometrists can clear $188,490. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $161K enough to live in Delaware?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,299/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,448/month, which eats 15.6% 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 Delaware?
Delaware has a Regional Price Parity of 97.51 (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 $165,388 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.