Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Missouri make a median of $133,810 a year, or about $64.33 an hour. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $175K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $150,399 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 13.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $134K get you in Missouri?
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What this looks like in Missouri
Optometrists pay in Missouri tracks closely to the national median, $134K locally vs. $137K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,097/month, 13.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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, Missouri
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $134K. Top earners bring in $175K or more, a $111K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in Missouri
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $139K | +4% | 450 |
| Springfield | $138K | +3% | 70 |
| St. Louis | $135K | +1% | 340 |
Compare to other states
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $134K, rent takes 13.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,877/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is optometrist a high-paying job in Missouri?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $134K locally vs. $137K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for optometrists?
Missouri pays $134K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $150K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Missouri?
The median is $133,810 a year, that works out to about $64 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,610, and experienced optometrists can clear $175,270. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $134K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,050/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 13.6% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $150,399 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.