Optometrists Salary in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Optometrists in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC make a median of $159,190 a year, or about $76.54 an hour. Entry-level workers start around $97K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.) Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.57), that's roughly $163,155 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,711/month, or 17.3% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $159K get you in Durham-Chapel Hill?
About optometrists
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $97K. Mid-career wages sit at $159K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
Optometrists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $166K | +23% | 70 |
| New York | $163K | +21% | 2,500 |
| Maryland | $158K | +17% | 870 |
| Washington | $158K | +17% | 930 |
| Vermont | $156K | +16% | 100 |
| New Jersey | $156K | +16% | 950 |
| New Mexico | $155K | +15% | 140 |
| District of Columbia | $154K | +14% | 60 |
| North Carolina | $154K | +14% | 1,400 |
| Massachusetts | $151K | +12% | 1,120 |
| Minnesota | $150K | +11% | 700 |
| Nevada | $147K | +9% | 360 |
| Rhode Island | $144K | +7% | 220 |
| Connecticut | $143K | +6% | 410 |
| Delaware | $138K | +2% | 180 |
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Durham-Chapel Hill numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do optometrists make in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC?
The median is $159,190 a year - that works out to about $76.54 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $97,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $159K enough to live in Durham-Chapel Hill?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,366/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,711/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 18.3% 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 Durham-Chapel Hill?
Durham-Chapel Hill has a Regional Price Parity of 97.57 (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 $163,155 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.