Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Flint, MI make a median of $134,030 a year, or about $64.44 an hour. The range runs from $97K at the entry level to $225K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.03), which stretches that salary to about $144,072 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,033/month, or 12.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $134K get you in Flint?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Flint’s Regional Price Parity (93.03). 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 Flint
Optometrists pay in Flint tracks closely to the national median, $134K locally vs. $137K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,033/month, 12.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for optometrists in metros near Flint, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $143K | $142K |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $134K | $141K |
| Kalamazoo-Portage | $132K | $139K |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $131K | $138K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Flint, MI
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $97K. Mid-career wages sit at $134K. Top earners bring in $225K or more, a $128K 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 (all 50 states + DC)
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Flint numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Flint?
Yes — at the median salary of $134K, rent takes 12.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,033/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Flint?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $97K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,806/month. At HUD’s $1,033/month FMR, rent would take 18% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in Flint?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $134K locally vs. $137K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Flint compare to the national average for optometrists?
Flint pays $134K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $144K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Flint, MI?
The median is $134,030 a year, that works out to about $64 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $96,770, and experienced optometrists can clear $225,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $134K enough to live in Flint?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,056/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,033/month, which eats 12.8% 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 Flint?
Flint has a Regional Price Parity of 93.03 (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 $144,072 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.