Optometrists Salary
Optometrists in New Jersey make a median of $159,040 a year, or about $76.46 an hour. The range runs from $105K at the entry level to $233K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $160,097 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,067/month, or 22% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $159K get you in New Jersey?
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What this looks like in New Jersey
New Jersey sits well above the national pay line for optometrists, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $137K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,067/month, 22.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, New Jersey offers a genuinely strong financial position for optometristss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level optometrists (10th percentile) start around $105K. Mid-career wages sit at $159K. Top earners bring in $233K or more, a $128K spread from bottom to top.
Optometrists salary by metro in New Jersey
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton | $156K | -2% | 70 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a optometrist afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
Yes — at the median salary of $159K, rent takes 22.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for optometrists in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new optometrists typically earn — is $105K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,284/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $159K here vs. $137K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for optometrists?
New Jersey pays $159K median vs. the U.S. average of $137K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $160K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do optometrists make in New Jersey?
The median is $159,040 a year, that works out to about $76 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $104,730, and experienced optometrists can clear $232,960. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $159K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,288/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 22.3% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $160,097 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.