Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Maryland make a median of $165,840 a year, or about $79.73 an hour. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $215K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $167,922 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,795/month, or 18.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maryland. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $166K get you in Maryland?
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What this looks like in Maryland
Maryland sits well above the national pay line for optometrists, local pay runs about 21% higher than the U.S. median of $137K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,795/month, 18.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Maryland offers a genuinely strong financial position for optometristss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $166K. Top earners bring in $215K or more, a $165K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in Maryland
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $144K | -13% | 330 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maryland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
Yes — at the median salary of $166K, rent takes 18.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,034/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 59% 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 Maryland?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $166K here vs. $137K nationally.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for optometrists?
Maryland pays $166K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s +21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $168K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Maryland?
The median is $165,840 a year, that works out to about $80 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,560, and experienced optometrists can clear $215,420. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $166K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,676/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 18.6% 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 Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (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 $167,922 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.