Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Idaho make a median of $103,390 a year, or about $49.71 an hour. The range runs from $52K at the entry level to $190K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.88), which stretches that salary to about $110,130 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,136/month, or 17.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Idaho. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $103K get you in Idaho?
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What this looks like in Idaho
Pay for optometrists in Idaho runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $137K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,136/month, 17.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.88 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Idaho can be a reasonable trade-off for optometristss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Idaho
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $52K. Mid-career wages sit at $103K. Top earners bring in $190K or more, a $138K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in Idaho
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City | $104K | +0% | 60 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Idaho numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Idaho?
Yes — at the median salary of $103K, rent takes 17.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,136/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Idaho?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $52K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,120/month. At HUD’s $1,136/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Idaho?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $103K here vs. $137K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Idaho compare to the national average for optometrists?
Idaho pays $103K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $110K — below the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Idaho?
The median is $103,390 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,000, and experienced optometrists can clear $189,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $103K enough to live in Idaho?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,349/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,136/month, which eats 17.9% 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 Idaho?
Idaho has a Regional Price Parity of 93.88 (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 $110,130 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.