Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Maine make a median of $154,110 a year, or about $74.09 an hour. The range runs from $103K at the entry level to $241K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.7), that's roughly $157,738 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,281/month, or 14.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maine. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $154K get you in Maine?
About optometrists
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What this looks like in Maine
Maine sits well above the national pay line for optometrists, local pay runs about 13% higher than the U.S. median of $137K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,281/month, 14.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97.7) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Maine offers a genuinely strong financial position for optometristss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maine
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $103K. Mid-career wages sit at $154K. Top earners bring in $241K or more, a $139K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in Maine
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland | $161K | +5% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maine numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maine?
Yes — at the median salary of $154K, rent takes 14.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,281/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Maine?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $103K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,156/month. At HUD’s $1,281/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in Maine?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $154K here vs. $137K nationally.
How does Maine compare to the national average for optometrists?
Maine pays $154K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s +13%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $158K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Maine?
The median is $154,110 a year, that works out to about $74 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $102,600, and experienced optometrists can clear $241,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $154K enough to live in Maine?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,881/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,281/month, which eats 14.4% 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 Maine?
Maine has a Regional Price Parity of 97.7 (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 $157,738 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.