Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Kansas make a median of $138,580 a year, or about $66.63 an hour. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $193K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.54), which stretches that salary to about $154,769 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,066/month, or 12.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $139K get you in Kansas?
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What this looks like in Kansas
Optometrists pay in Kansas tracks closely to the national median, $139K locally vs. $137K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,066/month, 13% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.54 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Kansas
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $139K. Top earners bring in $193K or more, a $108K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in Kansas
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka | $131K | -6% | 30 |
| Wichita | $124K | -11% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kansas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $139K, rent takes 13% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,066/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Kansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,101/month. At HUD’s $1,066/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in Kansas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $139K locally vs. $137K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Kansas compare to the national average for optometrists?
Kansas pays $139K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s +1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.54), the purchasing-power equivalent is $155K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Kansas?
The median is $138,580 a year, that works out to about $67 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $85,010, and experienced optometrists can clear $192,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $139K enough to live in Kansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,186/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,066/month, which eats 13% 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 Kansas?
Kansas has a Regional Price Parity of 89.54 (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 $154,769 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.