Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in Montana make a median of $104,280 a year, or about $50.14 an hour. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $163K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $107,505 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 17.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Montana. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $104K get you in Montana?
About optometrists
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for optometrists in Montana runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $137K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 17.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Montana can be a reasonable trade-off for optometristss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $163K or more, a $105K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track optometrists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 17.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,507/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 32% 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 Montana?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $104K here vs. $137K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for optometrists?
Montana pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $108K — below the national median.
How much do optometrists make in Montana?
The median is $104,280 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,450, and experienced optometrists can clear $163,030. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,392/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 17.7% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 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 $107,505 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.