Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Indiana make a median of $135,500 a year, or about $65.14 an hour. The range runs from $77K at the entry level to $193K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $147,587 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 13.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $136K get you in Indiana?
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What this looks like in Indiana
Optometrists pay in Indiana tracks closely to the national median, $136K locally vs. $137K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,144/month, 13.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (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, Indiana
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $77K. Mid-career wages sit at $136K. Top earners bring in $193K or more, a $116K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in Indiana
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Bend-Mishawaka | $138K | +2% | 30 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $138K | +2% | 340 |
| Lafayette-West Lafayette | $135K | -0% | 50 |
| Evansville | $134K | -1% | 40 |
| Fort Wayne | $129K | -5% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $136K, rent takes 13.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $77K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,612/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in Indiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $136K locally vs. $137K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for optometrists?
Indiana pays $136K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $148K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Indiana?
The median is $135,500 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,860, and experienced optometrists can clear $193,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $136K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,270/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 13.8% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $147,587 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.