Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Georgia make a median of $128,830 a year, or about $61.94 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $190K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $140,200 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,434/month, or 18.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $129K get you in Georgia?
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What this looks like in Georgia
Optometrists pay in Georgia tracks closely to the national median, $129K locally vs. $137K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,434/month, 18.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $190K or more, a $139K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in Georgia
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah | $159K | +24% | 30 |
| Albany | $134K | +4% | 40 |
| Augusta-Richmond County | $130K | +1% | 70 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $129K | +0% | 450 |
| Columbus | $122K | -5% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
Yes — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 18.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,062/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Georgia?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $129K locally vs. $137K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for optometrists?
Georgia pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s -6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $140K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Georgia?
The median is $128,830 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $51,030, and experienced optometrists can clear $189,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,682/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 18.7% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $140,200 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.